BACK TO SCHOOL GADGET GUIDE

In a back-to-school “gadgets lowdown”, the Sunday Business Post rated operating systems, laptops, netbooks,  desktop computers, online resources, phones and useful student accessories. Among four laptops recommended are the HP Pavilion DM3 2040 and the Apple MacBook. Selling at €850, the Business Post says that the Pavilion positions itself half-way between a netbook and a laptop. That said, there isn’t much you can’t do with it – it has 4GB of Ram, A HDMI port for using external monitors, 4 USB slots and a memory card reader. Apple’s entry-level laptop is described as very well powered with a superb battery life (up to 10 hours) compared to its rivals. The MacBook has a glass, multi-touch trackpad which allows you to zoom in and scroll up and down without using the mouse or the keyboard.
Netbooks range from the Sony Vaio P Series, selling at €950, to the HP CQ10, which costs €310 at PC World. The Sony Vaio is the lightest netbook on the market, at half the weight of rival machines. It is also the sleekest and most attractive to look at – the only problem is that it is harder to use than other netbooks. The HP CQ10 is HP’s most basic model but it is nicely designed and with all the usual extras, it is good value.
The Business Post recommends four phones: the  iPhone3GS/4 (no other phone has the depth of productivity and educational tools); the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini (fast handset, slim design and high quality screen); the Samsung Galaxy X; and the HTC Desire (crisp screen, powerful 1Ghz processor under the hood of Google’s powerful smartphone).