I have to say, this game is impressive.  It’s of the 4X genre: eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate.  You’re allowed to choose one of three races, and are then given your own planet to begin with.  There’s a wide range of campaigns to choose from, including several random missions.  All of them are similar in that your objective is to eliminate the enemy – even peace offerings are really only a tool for eliminating mutual enemies.  There’s also missions given in the larger campaigns where do favors for other factions and receive rewards.

So criticism?  One, this game is bone crushingly mind meltingly difficult even on easy settings.  Enemies tend to gang up on you, and being attacked by the space pirates can set you back a lot.  It’s very hard to set a balance between expansion and your defenses, and resources are extremely scarce at best.  The three races are virtually identical – there are almost no differences in technology, slight differences in ships, and a few differences in the flagships.  The fact that there is enemy presence everywhere around you right from the start definitely complicates things.  Even a short campaign can take several hours (my shortest is 8 hours so far).

The best point is the zoom in this game.  You can zoom all the way out, and see how each star system connects to each other.  Then with a flick of the mouse wheel you can zoom all the way in on one ship, and watch it fight other ships within a star system.  It’s also delightful to play (assuming you like tactical simulations or empire building games).  It’s also great since you can play a huge campaign online with your friends (I also understand you can save an online campaign, but I haven’t tried it yet)

I do think it could be better – the inclusion of mods could allow for player created races, more skills, and a wide variety of new ships.  I look forward to more titles from this company though (the name slips my mind) – despite a few shortcomings, I highly recommend it to anyone who likes empire games or tactical simulations.  I do note it’s graphically intensive, so be sure to check your graphics settings on your portable laptop, or it will run very slowly.

If you’re looking for an ultra portable laptop with both a balanced system and price point, I gotta recommend this one to you.  Coming with a classy design (and some interesting extras like leather palm rests – I’ve never had leather on a computer before!) on the outside and a solid system on the inside (Windows Vista Business), I think that everyone who is reasonable using their laptop will be satisfied with this ultra portable laptop.

Coming in with a dual core processor, 4 gigs of RAM, and an nVidia integrated graphics chip, this computer isn’t incredibly powerful, but it definitely was able to handle everything I threw at it.  It’s definitely able to handle gaming, but you will have to turn down the graphics settings a wee bit.  This is of course standard – ultra portable laptops aren’t exactly designed for the gaming market.  Of course the nVidia graphics chip makes it outperform lots of competitors.  And with a 12″ screen (large for an ultraportable) you’ll likely be able to enjoy those graphics well!

One thing I also like is the roomy hard disc – 320 gigs is a lot of storage space.  I bet you can fit most if not all of your media on this one machine – music, video, and games included.  Unfortunately to enjoy all of this you’ll likely need some nice headphones (I hear Skullcandy is a good brand, or Bose), since as with most ultra portable laptops the sound system is one of the first areas to be cut.  Thankfully though the keyboard is reasonably sized – although the buttons placed on the right side made it feel a little cramped for me.  The setup for the palmrest was OK, but I don’t really like the fingerprint reader located between the buttons.  Personally, I feel it makes the system feel very cramped.  At least it comes with three USB ports and a built in webcam plus the usual selection (like Ethernet) – if you don’t like the keyboard you can always plug in a new one.

As for weight, At 3.5 lbs with the average, I consider it a little high for an ultra portable laptop.  Unfortunately you’ll have to add to this the weight of the power adapter.  The battery on this machine only lasts a little over three hours, which I consider abysmal as far as portability.  One feature I found cool though was this portable laptop’s ability to open up several programs like browsers and Skype without ever having to load Windows – it can really speed things up for you.

So if you’re looking for a computer with very few bad points but also few great points, I’d recommend it to you.  It’s a solid machine even if its battery life is quite short.  At least they throw in an extra 3 cell battery free of charge.  At around 1.6k it is definitely an option to consider.

This is a sleek little ultra portable laptop, and very light to boot.  But this won’t be the first thing you notice – it’ll be the price tag.  Starting at 1.5 k and ranging up almost to 5k, this is one expensive piece of hardware – you can get a used car for that amount of cash, or a really nice bike!  It has a 12 by 8 inch screen and weighs 3 lbs, which makes it a little bit large for an ultra portable laptop.

One factor which raises the price is your hard drive option.  You can equip this baby with a pair of 128 gig solid state hard drives.  I’m so glad that this kind of technology is advancing – I think almost every computer and laptop I’ve used has suffered some kind of hard disc malfunction (but admittedly my usage is very intense).  What’s great about these drives is that you can throw your computer across the room or hit it with a sledgehammer, and you’ll still be able to recover almost everything for the drive.  One of my older laptops with a classic hard disc dropped on my foot – not even a heavy blow – and the hard disc became unusable.  Recovering this can be done, but it’s unreliable and costs easily as much of your laptop itself.  I’ll say it outright – I love solid state hard drives, and this one can come with a lot of solid state memory.  It can also come with 4 gigs of ram and comes with a nVidia graphics card.

A cool feature of this graphics card is that you can freely switch between it and the integrated card – no reboot required.  It also helps save battery life!  Unfortunately, despite this option the battery life is only about 4 hours – not so good for an ultra portable laptop.  Thankfully for a small-ish design the keyboard is nicely sized and usable despite my ham fists.  I can safely say that anyone can use this keyboard with ease, but the buttons for the mouse are a little small for my liking.  I do like how there are programmable shortcut buttons – added versatility is always a big plus for me.  It is a little skimpy on extra ports, but at least it comes with Firewire and two USB jacks.

Unfortunately, the sound system on this machine is the place that was most cut.  Don’t even bother with iTunes unless you have a good set of headphones.  At least with this degree of power you should be able to use most programs with ease – I think this computer has great usage versatility.  It’s especially good if you’re looking to protect your data – the solid state hard discs are a great option if you can afford them.  So in conclusion it’s a great laptop but definitely a little high in price.  It may be worth it for you though.  Just be sure to back your stuff up – SS drives are much more reliable, but everything has a chance of failure.

Are you in the generation of people who grew up with Sonic or Mario?  These games are platformers, aptly named for the platforms that you jump to and from.  Most of these games are characterized by a large volume of enemies you have to under or around or defeat.  The Knytt series is totally unlike this – in a great way!

The Knytt series focuses on exploration – instead of crevasses leading down to death, they lead down to underground passageways interconnecting in a maze.  The game is extremely environmental, and there are few things that will kill you short of water.  You’re encouraged to explore and take in all the strange and beautiful surroundings.

In the first game, Knytt, you are abducted by a little alien who them proceeds to crash on a nearby planet.  You are then tasked with disocering parts used to repair the alien’s spaceship, so you can return home.  There are virtually no enemies in this game (save a spider and a few jelly things), and the only things that kill you are some crystal formations and water.  There are no powerups – you merely wander the landscape, looking for ways into the clouds and deep into the underground.  The world around you is beautiful and strange – and many things frowned upon by Mario like jumping into holes are vital strategies.  You must jump, run and climb your way through this beautiful world!

Knytt stories is a slightly different experience – there are more enemies around, and more things that can be the death of you.  There are also now powerups, which grant you abilities like running, climbing, a higher jump, and a double jump.  There’s also an umbrella which slows your descent, keys which unlock doors, and an eye which shows invisible platforms.  The two most important however are the enemy detector (you glow in the presence of hostiles) and the hologram – it makes a decoy which draws enemy fire.  The greatest thing about this version however is the inclusion of a level editor – although it is really more of a world editor.  With time, patience, and some graphical skills you can create your own vibrant environment.  What’s more, there are thousands of other worlds easily downloaded and installed from the web.

So get out there and explore the world of Knytt!  You can get it at http://nifflas.ni2.se/ .  While you’re there, check out Within a Deep Forest – it’s the game that led to Knytt, and its ball-based physics lends itself to a very interesting game – more challenging than Knytt, but also very environmental.  I guarantee you’ll have a fun time!

Wow, they really mean it when they say not to judge a book by its cover – but in this case an ultra-portable laptop!  Seriously, this computer doesn’t look that flashy, but it’s really a very solid machine.  Weighing in at just under 3 lbs with the smallest battery and with one of the new Centrino 2 processors, it’s a solid machine.  With a 1280 by 800 pixel 12.1″ widescreen, I consider it to be on the larger und of the ultra-portable laptop line.  It also thankfully comes equipped with a built-in webcam (a feature that is thankfully becoming more and more commonplace).

The keyboard is certainly large enough that no one could ever have issues with it.  Even with my large hands I have no problems.  It also has some great features like dedicated page up and down buttons, spill resistance, and the ThinkVantage button.  This one button gives support for manuals, security, recovery, and a host of other advantages.  Interestingly enough, it doesn’t have a touchpad – only one of those nubs.  I consider this a large disadvantage, but it does allow for a larger keyboard.

Most of these come with 2 Gb RAM and Intel Duo processors, so it certainly has some solid processing power.  Unfortunately it only comes with integrated graphics, so you game users will suffer somewhat.  A feature I liked though was the choice of three battery sizes – the largest of which offers a whopping nine hours of computer usage.  Unfortunately it does add weight up to about 4 lbs, but nine hours of usage is massive in my world – you could effectively use it all day and not run out of juice.  Two of these batteries will last you through a plane ride to almost anywhere.

One somewhat strange feature is an extra modular bay – you can plug in another battery or another hard disc here, which adds versatility.  Unfortunately, it has no built in optical drive – meaning you have to shell out extra to be able to do anything with discs.  Thankfully it does come with 3 USB slots., with fo course mic, headphone, and Ethernet jacks.  You can also pick SD card slot and no modem, or modem slot + 5-in-one card reader.  Your choice of hard discs is excellent too – you can choose regular disc drives around 160 Gb, or you can go for crash proof solid state hard drives up to 64 Gb – perfect for protecting your data.  I also like how it offers wifi, Bluetooth, and even GPS!

In conclusion, this laptop is excellent for the ultra portable line.  It has a host of options for customization, so I think almost anyone can find a setup they would like.  It also has a magnesium alloy cover and bottom, lending itself to a very solid ad durable design.  I highly recommend it.

Have you ever done something on your computer that was incredible or awe inspiring?  Have you ever wanted to share that moment?  Have you ever been able to?  Chances are many of you have used the native screen capture functionality of windows.  I know I have, especially when troubleshooting my computer.  The problem with this is that it can only take a picture of the entire screen.  With a screen capture utility you have the option of taking a snapshot of just one of your pictures.  Really, it’s great to have when you need to show someone else a problem with your computer.  So what program should you be using?  I’ve heard great things about ScreenHunter – but I haven’t had the chance to use it yet.  It has a free version, so there’s nothing to be lost by giving it a try!

Nowadays information security is a huge concern.  With rampant identity theft data security issues, protecting the personal data on your computer should be one of your top concerns.  Unfortunately there are many enemies in this battle.  Viruses are out there trying to corrupt your data.  Spyware harvests data as your surf the web and use your programs.  Key loggers follow your every keystroke.  Trojan horses offer backdoor access to hackers.  Malware has a variety of unfortunate effects.  And these are just a few of the major players.  So what can you do to protect your computer?

Thankfully one of your best choices is free with most Windows machines.  It’s Windows Defender!  It offers a great first line of protection, and for regular users of computers it’s a fantastic tool.  Unfortunately it can interfere with more advanced usage of your computer, which is why I often choose to shut it off.  It really depends on whether or not you get error messages or problems when using it.

So what’s a second line of defense?  Well, you need good spyware removal tools.  My favorite is Spyware Search and Destroy.  You can find it over at http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html.  One fantastic feature is that it’s free.  It’s also easy to install and easy to use.  To date I’ve had nothing but good experiences with it.  A few of my friends have had issues with it, but they have all said that the tech support they offer is great.  I’d definitely recommend it for your spyware and adware removal needs.

For anti-virus, what I’ve been using is AVG.  It’s found at http://free.avg.com/.  As you might notice from the URL, it is also free.  This free version offers basic functionality – you also have the option of paying for extended features and coverage.  I personally have always used the free version, and never had any problems.  You do always have the option of buying even more expensive programs like Norton (even better if your computer comes with it), but I think you’ll find that this free version offers all the functionality you’ll need.

Given that these three programs all have regular updates, they should cover all of your needs.  But always remember to practice safe internet usage.  If something looks too good to be true, it probably is.  Don’t ever open suspicious emails.  Don’t open suspicious files.  And never give out your personal info to anyone other than those your trust.  With these programs and safe surfing skills, you should be able to avoid any spyware or virus problems!

If I’m not mistaken, the two most common usages for portable laptops are word processing and e-mail.  But more and more now, I hear about people filling their reading needs with e-books.  But if you’re one of these people, you’ve surely noticed a few problems.  Most notably, after a while your eyes begin to hurt.  Well, FinePrint can help you with that – by printing out your e-books!

I’m sure you’ll say now that your printer with its drivers can do this.  But FinePrint does that and more.  See, it has the ability to customize how many pages are printed out on one sheet of paper.  Most regular printer software is limited to one page per sheet.  FinePrint lets you print up to 8 pages per sheet.  Also, you can print front and back – meaning you can get a maximum 16 pages of your book on one sheet of paper.  Of course for many e-books this will result in incredibly small text.  To further save on ink, you can choose to disable the images, instead only printing the text portions of the pdf or e-book.  It’s also extremely easy to install and use – once installed, you just use File / Print like usual.

If this sounds like your cup of tea, check out FinePrint over at http://www.fineprint.com.  You can get a fully functional trial version for free here!  The only caveat is that it prints a small tag on every sheet – if you’re doing extremely formal documents you should go for the full version.  If you’re just a student though, this is a great option for saving on paper and ink!  It’s a fantastic printing tool for your portable laptop!

I have to say, I love the way this laptop looks.  It comes in black or red, with a  nice sleek design.  It also has the large singular hinge I love.  Its design is primarily lightweigh aluminum, which gives it a sturdy metal design without too much weight.  You’ll find its 11 inch screen a nice size for most forms of usage, and they keyboard is large enough to be easily usable too.  At a price just under 2000 dollars, it’s a little pricey, but a great quality ultra portable laptop.  Coming in at 2.4 pounds, it’s a great choice to consider.

One thing you’ll notice is that all components of the keyboard are all in one flat surface – a feature that took a little to get used to.  Thankfully the keys go all the way to the edges, which accommodate a slightly larger keyboard.  It also has slightly curved keys, which actually help a lot with your typing.  These features combine to make a great typing experience – despite a smaller size I had no problems.   The touchpad was a little hard to use – it sits very close to the front edge, and the mouse buttons are actually on it.  It’s a slight acquired taste, but I think you’ll find it enjoyable.  The glossy finish also looks nice, at least until you start typing – it gets smudged very easily.  Its quick-launch buttons are also pretty cool – they only light up when you put your fingers near them, plus the design is very pretty.

With this screen size and resolution, for most portable use you will have no issues at all.  After a while of using this laptop though you’ll find your eyes being strained, so try not to use this laptop for too many hours on end.  If it’s your primary laptop, I suggest some alternative arrangements like hooking it up to an external monitor.  On the note of external, I have to bring up what I consider to be this laptop’s biggest shortcoming – it lacks a built -in optical drive.  Yes, you heard me right – your DVD or Blu-Ray drive is going to have to be packed in with your luggage when you’re on the go.  As for performance you will have no issues running most programs such as word and excel.  It has an Intel Core Duo processor plus 2 Gigs of RAM, so I doubt you’ll find much you can’t run.  I guess as long as your games support the resolution you won’t have any issues.  It also has a built-in webcam, which is ideal for using Skype.

So overall, this is a great quality ultra portable laptop for a respectable price.  It certainly is fantastic looking – it almost seems like you should look at it rather than use it.  It’s powerful for an ultraportable laptop, and you should have no performance issues.  You might have a few issues with screen resolution with games, but that should be the only issue unless you’re running lots of programs at the same time.  The only real issue is the lack of a built in optical drive.  I suppose it is a concession you have to make for a lightweight yet sturdy design.

Wow, for an ultra-portable laptop this is really cool.  Unfortunately this coolness also has a price – unlike the less than 1000 price point of most ultra-portables, this one ranks up in the 4000’s.  On to appearances!  This computer looks cool, as well it should!  It’s got a cool black carbon-fiber chassis – space age-y!  It also comes with a Blu-Ray drive (doubt you’ll find that in other ultra-portable laptops) and two 128 gig hard disks.  That’s an absolutely crazy amount of space for such a small computer.  I think it’s safe to say that the price is due to those hard disks.  Of course you can compromise on some of these features, but you’re still looking at a few thousand.  It’s great if you have that kind of cash though!  This really looks cool though – very sleek, and it even sports an eleven inch screen!  And surprisingly for this size of computer it’s still less than 3 lbs.

You’ll see that this screen is attached by one large hinge – I like this design because it’s very hard to break.  The hinge is also used for a few buttons which helps save space.  The keyboard is also a comfortable size – I think anyone will be able to use it easily.  It also has assignable shortcut buttons on the right side, which is a feature I absolutely love!  Lets you streamline your experience just the way you want!  It also has a fantastic selection of ports – the usual USB and SD card slots, plus mini Firewire port, VGA, and HDMI outputs.  The screen resolution is also very good.

Obviously a lacking place is the processor – compared to larger laptops it can’t quite measure up.  However, it is a dual core and very strong for an ultra portable laptop.  I imagine it has some issues with graphically intensive programs like some games, but I think that by and large it will be adequate for most use.  Just be sure to close programs, and don’t expect too much out of some of your newer games.  Thankfully it can handle Vista well, unlike many net books or ultra-portables.  The final factor is battery life – not as good as some, but on video playback it lasts almost four hours, which I consider more than adequate.

In conclusion, this is a very sweet ultra-portable laptop.  The main problem is the price point – there is no arguing that it’s very expensive.  But its performance outclasses pretty much everything you will find In the ultra portable category, and will beat out many larger and heavier laptops.  So if you have Blu-Ray discs, a sizable paycheck, and no need for games, this is a fantastic choice to consider.  For pretty much anyone who can afford it this is a good choice – the question is not in performance, but instead in price.