New Technology Reviews!.: Christmas

In Depth: Intel Ultrabook: what you need to know

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Intel has announced a massive $300m (£185m) fund to help develop Ultrabook hardware and software, and it's confident that Ultrabooks will make up 40% of the market by 2012.</div>
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So what is an Ultrabook and why should you care? Let's find out.</div>
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Ultrabooks are a bit like things you've already seen</h4>
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The best way to think of an Ultrabook is a MacBook Air that isn't made by Apple, a netbook that isn't underpowered or a laptop that's been on a crash diet.</div>
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Ultrabook designs we've seen so far look awfully Apple-y, with super-thin cases and aeroplane-friendly 11.6-inch displays.</div>
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Ultrabook specs will not be low-end</h4>
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Although Ultrabooks are designed for maximum portability, we're told that they won't make the same compromises that netbooks did: the Ultrabook specifications should be akin to mainstream laptops, not cheap netbooks.</div>
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The first models will ship with Sandy Bridge Core processors, followed by Ivy Bridge chips in 2012 and Haswell processors in 2013. The first Ultrabook to break cover, the Asus UX21, boasts SSD storage and USB 3.0 connectivity.</div>
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There are three Ultrabook manufacturers so far</h4>
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Lenovo, Asustek and Acer are the first firms to throw their hats into the Ultrabook ring, although we'd expect everybody else to join in if the sector proves popular.</div>
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Ultrabook features will become more impressive over time</h4>
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That's where Intel's $300m fund comes in: the firm wants to create "a cycle of innovation and system capabilities". Whatever that means.</div>
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Ultrabook specifications are heavy on battery life and portability</h4>
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Haswell chips promise to use half the power of current-generation processors, although even today's Core processors are more efficient than processors of old. Just ask Apple, whose Core-powered MacBook Air runs for ages.</div>
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The Ultrabook price should eventually undercut Apple</h4>
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Intel's pushing hard for sub-$1,000 price tags, which just happens to be the price of a MacBook Air. However, it seems that Ultrabook manufacturers are finding that hard to achieve: DigiTimes reports that the Bill of Materials, the total cost of building an Ultrabook, will be more than $700 - and there are software licenses on top of that.</div>
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Manufacturers are already demanding Intel cuts its prices or subsidises their efforts. Intel points out that as sales go up, prices will drop. We're taking that to mean that the typical Ultrabook price won't be sub-$1,000 for a while.</div>
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The Ultrabook release date could be before Christmas</h4>
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Manufacturers are keen to sell some kit before Christmas, so Ultrabooks such as the Asus UX21 should turn up in late 2011 with Core i7 processors. The Asus Ultrabook price hasn't been announced yet, but we're expecting a September release date.</div>
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In Depth: Intel Ultrabook: what you need to know

Intel has announced a massive $300m (£185m) fund to help develop Ultrabook hardware and software, and it's confident that Ultraboo...

OpenFeint sees giant spike in Christmas users and downloads

<img align="right" alt="" border="0" hspace="8" src="http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/9663/openfeinticonjpg3973211.jpg" vspace="8" />Here's some more evidence that the App Store had a really amazing holiday weekend last week. OpenFeint has announced that it saw a 184% spike in new users on Christmas Day last week, the largest single day in the service's history for new users. Over the four days around the holiday, OpenFeint reportedly added more than 1.4 million new users to the service. 
 
Downloads were also really high, with five million OpenFeint-enabled games downloaded over the holiday weekend. That includes Android games, which saw 73% growth, and iOS games, which spiked by 187% over the weekend. That's a lot of new games and new players. 
 
We've heard other evidence already that last weekend was really busy for the App Store. Apple hasn't released any stats so far (and we've got a line in to EA to try and find out if it can share any of its download figures from the weekend), but we can tell you with some certainty that last weekend saw plenty of new traffic for the App Store and its apps. 
<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/31/openfeint-sees-giant-spike-in-christmas-users-and-downloads/"></a> 
<h6></h6><a href="http://techcrunch.com/2010/12/31/openfeint-sees-187-spike-in-downloads-of-ios-games-over-holiday">Source</a>

OpenFeint sees giant spike in Christmas users and downloads

Here's some more evidence that the App Store had a really amazing holiday weekend last week. OpenFeint has announced that it saw a 184% ...

Six awesome iOS exercise and dieting apps

Six awesome iOS exercise and dieting apps

Ahhh, the holidays. It's a time to reflect on the year, enjoy time with family and friends, and pack as much food into your body as po...

Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite for iPad gets PowerPoint editing for Christmas

<img align="right" alt="" border="0" hspace="8" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/12/qocmsipadtitle.jpg" vspace="8" />The <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/quickoffice-connect-mobile/id376212724?mt=8">Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite for iPad</a> has gained some new features that make it even more useful to business people on the go. 
 
Quickoffice, Inc. announced today that its mobile office suite for the iPad now has an editor for Microsoft PowerPoint files in addition to the Excel and Word editors that were available earlier. You can manipulate font type, color, size and style, and you can add, delete or reorder slides in a PowerPoint deck. Graphical editing tools allow object layering changes, insertion and editing of text boxes, and insertion and rotation of common shapes, images and text boxes. 
 
Another feature of the PowerPoint editor is that it allows the insertion of images from inside the app or from the iPad's Photo Library. When presenting from Quickoffice, the app supports video output using the Apple Dock Connector to VGA Adapter and provides a built-in "laser pointer" for pointing out highlights on the slides. There's also a filmstrip preview of slides to assist in making presentations on external monitors. 
 
While Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite for iPad now allows round-tripping of animations and transitions between the desktop app and iPad, there is still no way to edit or show custom transitions or animations on the iPad. The Quickoffice developers have noted that this is in consideration for a future update. It's also worth mentioning that the PowerPoint editing feature only supports PPT (Office 2003 format) files; PPTX (Office 2007/2010/2011 native format) presentations can be viewed and shown, but not edited yet. 
 
The app now supports additional cloud storage services, including Box.net, Dropbox, Google Docs, Huddle, MobileMe and SugarSync. 
 
If you already own the suite, this is a free update for you. To kick off the new update, Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite for iPad is on sale on the App Store for US$14.99, 40% off of the usual $24.99 price. 
 
Thanks for Mike Rose for the gallery screenshots! 
 
<div>Gallery: Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite for iPad 
<img alt="Downloading a file from Dropbox" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/12/qocmsipad-80_thumbnail.jpg" title="Downloading a file from Dropbox" /><img alt="Loading a PowerPoint Presentation" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/12/qocmsipad-81_thumbnail.jpg" title="Loading a PowerPoint Presentation" /><img alt="Styled Text" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/12/qocmsipad-82_thumbnail.jpg" title="Styled Text" /><img alt="Text object on slide" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/12/qocmsipad-83_thumbnail.jpg" title="Text object on slide" /><img alt="Slide" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/12/qocmsipad-84_thumbnail.jpg" title="Slide" /></div><a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/23/quickoffice-connect-mobile-suite-for-ipad-gets-powerpoint-editin/"></a> 
<h6></h6><a href="http://www.quickoffice.com/ipad">Source</a>

Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite for iPad gets PowerPoint editing for Christmas

The Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite for iPad has gained some new features that make it even more useful to business people on the go. Qu...

Tesco offers free international calls over Christmas

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com///images/Tesco_Logo_Colour-200-200.jpg"> Tesco has announced that it is offering free calls this Christmas to a number of oversees destinations. As of 25 December, Tesco will allow you to call a landline for free for 10 minutes to countries as far-ranging as Sri Lanka and Iraq. The news comes after the shopping giant surveyed 2,000 people and found that one in six of us will be home alone at Christmas. Call of duty While it didn't exactly do Kevin McCallister any harm, the idea of being alone at Christmas has meant that Tesco, in a moment of altruism and a possible chance you will continue to use its calling cards, wants people to get in contact over Xmas for free. The way you can get the free calls is through the Tesco International Calling Card. Be warned, though, if you go over the ten minutes then you will be charged at the standard rate and the offer is only open on Christmas day. For information on the 50 countries you can call, goto <a href="http://www.tescocallingcard.com/">www.tescocallingcard.com</A> for more details.

Tesco offers free international calls over Christmas

Tesco has announced that it is offering free calls this Christmas to a number of oversees destinations. As of 25 December, Tesco will allow...

Tesco offers free international calls over Christmas

Tesco offers free international calls over Christmas

Tesco has announced that it is offering free calls this Christmas to a number of oversees destinations. As of 25 December, Tesco will allow...

Opinion: Why I don't want a Kinect for Christmas

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Kinect%20Xbox%20360/DSCF3752-200-200.jpg"> Trust me, it's not cynicism. I'd love to be excited about the new <a href="">Xbox Kinect</A>, and if you'd told me about it a couple of years ago, I'm sure I'd have been eagerly pre-ordering it just like I did the Wii. Unfortunately for this year's big toy, there's a small problem keeping me from being excited: I've played with one for more than five minutes. For the moment, that's all the Kinect I feel the need in my life. Progress is a funny thing. We need the small steps so that the big ones can happen, and we need people to spend money on them so that there's a reason for companies to keep working. To that end, I actually hope Kinect does well. The ideas behind it are definitely impressive. Your body is the controller. Wave at the screen and magic happens. Interact without the need for extra devices. Burned before Unfortunately, we've been burned like this before – virtual reality, augmented reality, Nintendo Wii, Sony EyeToy. Somewhere between premise and product, the magic has a tendency to slip away, or at least be crushed under the weight of reality. We keep spending our money on the next big thing, hoping that this time it'll be different, but secretly knowing that no matter how good it is, or how close it gets to perfection, it'll be gathering dust soon enough. The problem with Kinect isn't that the technology isn't interesting, it's that it doesn't really gel with modern gaming. That could be a good thing if it leads to brand new ideas, but I suspect that we're more likely to see what happened to the Wii – lots of party games and standard designs, only with the Kinect equivalent of waggling the controller. Purely in terms of wish fulfilment, it's difficult to see how most of the obvious game interactions could be done well without some kind of tool. Not only is gripping a steering wheel peripheral more efficient than holding your hands out like one, it feels better. You can't feel like a master swordsman just by clenching one fist and waving it. As for guns, we've yet to see how Kinect plans to handle them, but what can it ultimately offer beyond pointing two fingers at the screen and yelling 'bang'? If anything, Kinect's open controls feel more limited than a primitive controller. Something like a DualShock may be more of an abstraction of the action than making the right moves, but it quickly becomes invisible. When you press B, you press B – the console doesn't have to work out whether you really meant to press X, or bring up the menu, or were just picking your nose. Playing via a console also removes the subconscious expectation of haptic feedback. Hitting an enemy with a force feedback rumble effect can feel weighty, but swinging your fist through empty air in exchange for a mere sound effect has no, well, punch. Appealing technology All this said, despite my lack of interest in the initial selection of games – most of which seem to be variants of old stuff like Wii Sports, Nintendogs and dancing titles – the technology does appeal. As a multimedia control system, Kinect definitely has merits (even though I suspect that a traditional remote control would be faster and less prone to error), and there'll certainly be some interesting games and projects that make good use of it in the near future. The irony is that, right now, the best use for Kinect wouldn't be replacing existing control systems, but supplementing them instead. Head-tracking to control vague camera movements. Leaning around corners in-game by actually leaning. On a wider level, maybe detecting the number of people in the room and adjusting a few settings automatically. Think along the lines of force feedback – the sort of things you don't really notice until you don't have them any more. Kinect with the PC Transplant that to the PC, and software developers could finally live the dream of writing an application that really does watch out for the worst possible moment to crash and delete all your hard work. The trouble is that such subconscious improvements aren't the kind of things that sell £130 worth of hardware, or warrant claims of extending a console's life by several years. Just ask Nintendo, which has yet to get much other than laughter for its Wii Vitality Sensor (a pulse monitor) despite its possibilities for action, horror and fitness games. Still, there's time. The real benefit of Microsoft's Kinect push isn't that it'll take over the world, but that a technology with definite potential will spread. If and when we see some great games that use it, I'll consider picking one up. Until then, my mouse, keyboard and standard Xbox controller are all I need to control my digital life.

Opinion: Why I don't want a Kinect for Christmas

Trust me, it's not cynicism. I'd love to be excited about the new Xbox Kinect , and if you'd told me about it a couple of years...

Dell Venue Pro arriving before Christmas if you ordered by the 14th

<DIV class=separator style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCpWKeDxPPtomPfnHR1UTxjQFry7eHO7-MYyiqe_guNovLw6soQmRQsp1sy7VJdTMC09SpFRprNoXBYLIfn1jPXaDWYWsgS8kPEG_jlw3AytXwfj3XuI01Wl1klhPDZPvPsVNaJrTErU/s1600/venue-pro-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCpWKeDxPPtomPfnHR1UTxjQFry7eHO7-MYyiqe_guNovLw6soQmRQsp1sy7VJdTMC09SpFRprNoXBYLIfn1jPXaDWYWsgS8kPEG_jlw3AytXwfj3XuI01Wl1klhPDZPvPsVNaJrTErU/s1600/venue-pro-sm.jpg"></A></DIV>Dell, you wouldn't toy with our emotions again, would you? The latest official update from the boys and girls in Round Rock says that if you managed to get an order for a Venue Pro in by the 14th of this month, you're golden for receiving it before Christmas -- which is a considerably friendlier estimate than before, when some folks were being told January 6th. If you've ordered since the 14th, the company advises that you "use the Estimated Delivery Date to understand when you will receive it." Meanwhile, if your Venue Pro has already managed to leave the warehouse, we recommend you use this opportunity to gloat in this post's comments and as many forums as you possibly can.

Dell Venue Pro arriving before Christmas if you ordered by the 14th

Dell, you wouldn't toy with our emotions again, would you? The latest official update from the boys and girls in Round Rock says that if...

Christmas lights hack puts your IM contacts on the wall above your desk (video)

<DIV class=separator style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ieMlo6s1TuI8pSmXGyrvgkJ07wOBdguDH8beCYIIXwlJXbMhk-2Ed4yKfCXPLLavkHJ7UX_pBRyDxK6drhjKur2k8Irapa2NWnDwzBbFi6WNMG0kj2hANtYW5y2FDkhUFY4sel9N98I/s1600/101215-lights-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ieMlo6s1TuI8pSmXGyrvgkJ07wOBdguDH8beCYIIXwlJXbMhk-2Ed4yKfCXPLLavkHJ7UX_pBRyDxK6drhjKur2k8Irapa2NWnDwzBbFi6WNMG0kj2hANtYW5y2FDkhUFY4sel9N98I/s320/101215-lights-01.jpg" width="320"></A></DIV>As you well know, if it exists it can be hacked. And what better way to ring in the holidays than by taking a string of GE Color Effects G-35 lights and -- thanks to some hand-crafted drivers and a Microsoft .NET Micro Framework embedded controller -- turning it into a IM notifier? Of course, these aren't any old Christmas lights: between the ability to change colors and the preset light shows, these guys boast a feature set that Clark Griswold would die for. And that's where a Microsoft employee named Andrej Kyselica comes in: using the Microsoft Lync 2010 Office Communications Server, our man has rigged a system that allows him to assign each of his instant messenger contacts to a particular bulb, which changes color according to each contact's status (for instance, green indicates that someone's available, white means away, and purple means out of the office). Pretty sweet, eh? Check out the video after the break for a closer look.

Christmas lights hack puts your IM contacts on the wall above your desk (video)

As you well know, if it exists it can be hacked. And what better way to ring in the holidays than by taking a string of GE Color Effects G-...

Apple offers up free apps, iBooks and songs over Christmas

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/images/Apple-iPad-itunes-200-200.jpg"> <IFRAME style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; WIDTH: 131px; PADDING-TOP: 5px; HEIGHT: 245px" align=right marginWidth=0 marginHeight=0 src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=latesttecompu-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002H9PTEE&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" frameBorder=0 scrolling=no></IFRAME>Apple is getting all festive with its giveaways over December and the New Year, with news that it is to bring back its 12 Days Of Christmas giveaway promotion. Beginning 26 December, Apple will be giving away a different free download every day. Apple is obviously being coy about what free stuff it will be giving away, but if it is anything like the last couple of years, then expect a few cheeky apps and songs. And this year there will be freebies available for the iPad, as well as the iPod touch and the iPhone. An Apple a day… Over on the iTunes website Apple says about the promotion: "The 12 Days of Christmas app will allow you to download a free gift from iTunes every day from 26 December to 6 January direct from your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. "Like the music, TV, iBooks, apps and films you receive? The app also offers recommendations of other content that you might like. "Download this free app now and be sure to turn on Push Notifications when prompted. You'll receive an alert every day when your new gift is available."

Apple offers up free apps, iBooks and songs over Christmas

Apple is getting all festive with its giveaways over December and the New Year, with news that it is to bring back its 12 Days Of Christmas...

In Depth: Top 10 best games you must play this Christmas

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/home-entertainment/gaming/images/GT5/GT5Trackside_crop-200-200.jpg"> <IFRAME style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; WIDTH: 131px; PADDING-TOP: 5px; HEIGHT: 245px" align=right marginWidth=0 marginHeight=0 src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=latesttecompu-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001SN8GF4&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" frameBorder=0 scrolling=no></IFRAME>2010 has undoubtedly been a golden year for videogames, with a veritable slew of triple-A titles having been released by almost every major gaming publisher throughout the year. And as the Christmas holiday season rapidly approaches, adult gamers across the land with the promise of a week or two of dead time with the family and in-laws ahead look forward to catching up with some of the gaming classics they might have missed (or just not had the time for) over the past twelve months. Whatever your preferred format - and whatever your in-grained fanboy biases – from PC through to home console through to handheld – there are a handful of games that you really should play across all the main gaming formats that were released throughout 2010. This list proves one thing, if nothing else. We at TechRadar love every single gaming console and platform out there. While many may call us out for appearing to prefer the PS3 over the Xbox 360 or Wii (feel free to change those three product names into the order of your own personal biases) we are, in actual fact, true 'platform agnostics' – in that we only really care about the games. And these are the 10 best games that we cared mostly about over the last twelve months. The games that we would urge you to spend some quality time with over the next few weeks, if you can spare some time in-between gorging on Turkey and mince pies… 1. Call of Duty: Black Ops For those that have resisted the pull of Activision's high production values war-gaming series, the lure of the 1960's James Bond-style undercover CIA-operatives on formerly classified Black Ops missions in Russia and Vietnam and elsewhere was just too much to resist. <img alt="cod" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/gaming/games/images/topxmasgames2010/Call-of-Duty-Black-Ops-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> "The CoD series is an unstoppable force these days, but, for me, Black Ops avoided some (if not all) of the pitfalls that Modern Warfare 2 experienced," says TechRadar's editor Patrick Goss. "And provided better gameplay to boot." 2. Team Fortress 2 - PC "Not new for 2010, but given the changes that it has gone through this year this has to be in my list" says Patrick Goss. <img alt="tf2" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/gaming/games/images/topxmasgames2010/Team-Fortress-2-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Goss tells us that he is "trying deparately to avoid a Valve fanboy tag," but we're not really sure why. We are all unashamed Valve fanboys, when it comes down to it. Which gamer worth his or her salt wouldn't be? "From the blog to to the awesome playability, via a big detour through a miliner's shop, TF2 is simply the most fun you can have in a multiplayer shooter." 3. Mass Effect 2 - Xbox Released waaay back in January 2010, ME2 was deservedly a massive hit with both critics and fans. <img alt="ME2" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/gaming/games/images/topxmasgames2010/Mass_Effect_2_540x303-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> And it also made us all that little bit more excited about BioWare's other massive forthcoming project: MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic. 4. Fifa 11 - Xbox/PS3/PC Fifa or Pro Evo? It was a battle that raged amongst gamers for years. And it seems that Fifa may well have finally won it. <img alt="F11" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/gaming/games/images/topxmasgames2010/fifa-11-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> We were still wavering over which was the better out of the latest versions of Pro Evo and Fifa - but this release was enough to make up our minds (until next year at least). 5. Gran Turismo 5 – PS3 The greatest car sim ever made, no question. Nit-picking petrolheads and hardcore gaming obsessives (bores) claiming that it's not as good as it should have been are just wrong. It is. It is glorious. It is everything we've been waiting for from the PS3. And boy, have we waited… <img alt="GT5" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/gaming/games/images/topxmasgames2010/GT5-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Gran Turismo 5 taught us all that a bit of patience can sometimes be a good thing. The doyenne of racing games. 6. Super Mario Galaxy 2 - Wii Lest we forget, this could well be the Wii's crowning moment. While everybody else goes on and on and on about high-def bleeding edge 3D-capable graphics, Miyamoto and co. just keep knocking utterly beautiful interactive entertainment experiences like this out of the park. <img alt="SM2" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/gaming/games/images/topxmasgames2010/super%20mario%20galaxy%202-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> "Not just the game of the year but the best ever game on the Wii," says Charlotte Martyn, editor of NGamer magazine. "Bursting with imagination, it boasts more novel platforming ideas than an entire shelf of your local games store." 7. Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels Of The Starry Skies - DS Absolutely epic RPG that eats up the hours. Ingenious Wi-Fi tag mode extends its lifespan even further, connecting you with fellow DQIX players. <img alt="DQ" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/gaming/games/images/topxmasgames2010/Dragon-Quest-IX-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 8. Professor Layton And The Lost Future - DS "Layton's latest is by far his best, offering more brilliant puzzles and a great story that gives series fans some insights into Professor's past," says NGamer magazine editor Charlotte Martyn. <img alt="PL" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/gaming/games/images/topxmasgames2010/Prof%20Layton-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 9. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker - PSP Largely overlooked in the west, due to our increasing boredom with most things PSP-related, Konami's new Metal Gear title was, for us, one of the best handheld games of 2010. Of ever, in fact... <img alt="MGSPW" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/gaming/games/images/topxmasgames2010/mgs-peace-walker-01-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> "With PSP rapidly becoming the ginger stepchild of portable games consoles, trust Japanese design guru Hideo Kojima to produce one of the year's most interesting, intricate, games on any console by playing to the strengths and weaknesses of PSP," says Daniel Dawkins, Editor of PSM3. "Ideal for byte-size, on-the-go play, Portable Ops was the Russian Doll of action games, unlocking more and more interlinking content as you play. Within hours, you're suddenly creeping around levels, whooshing fallen foes on balloons up to your mother base, juggling administration of your private army, building a giant robot and fighting wars for cash. It sounds baffling, but it makes perfect sense – dovetailing with the wider Metal Gear story on PS3. Above all its a game designed for PSP, not a clumsy retro-fitted title from PS3 or PS2. A must buy for all PSP owners." 10. Heavy Rain - PS3 "Heavy Rain was the year's most interesting, innovative PS3 game by some distance," says Daniel Dawkins, editor of PSM3. "A cinematic crime adventure, where you flipped between four characters, with interactive scenes ranging from the banal to the titillating – from making dinner for your alienated son, to stripping in real time for a seedy club boss. <img alt="HR" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/home-entertainment/gaming/games/images/topxmasgames2010/heavy-rain-4-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> "It was a game that forced you to make hard, irreversible decisions under pressure, adding emotional impact and ambiguity. Get it wrong, and the 'bad' endings were just too miserable to bear. Not faultless, but a true labour of love, and one of the year's most progressive games".

In Depth: Top 10 best games you must play this Christmas

2010 has undoubtedly been a golden year for videogames, with a veritable slew of triple-A titles having been released by almost every major...

Buying Guide: 10 cool Christmas gift gadget ideas

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/51/OWV51.f_xmas.iopd-200-200.jpg"> Christmas is a time of plenty for gadget lovers, but finding the latest technology can be tricky. We look at the tech that's hot this festive season 1. Get away from your PC When it comes to hype and anticipation, it doesn't get better than the updated <a href="">Xbox 360 S</A> with <a href="">Kinect</A>. Microsoft is expecting huge demand for its new gaming technology, which analyses and reads your body movements, facial expressions and gestures to give a new dimension of control. If active gaming isn't your cup of tea, there are plenty of traditional PC games out this Christmas to feast on. Fallout: New Vegas, Fable 3, FIFA 2011, the latest Medal of Honor and Civilization 5 will all be hitting the shelves in December. 2. Easy video recording <img alt="pocket camcorder" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/51/OWV51.f_xmas.camileo-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Pocket camcorders have exploded in popularity in the last two years, and there are some fantastic cameras on the market fighting off stiff competition from the latest phones. If you want something designed for short videos, the new Toshiba Camileo S20 is perfect, with 1080p video and 4x digital zoom for <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Toshiba-Camileo-1080p-Camcorder-version/dp/B002RL9SVC/" rel="nofollow">£130 at Amazon</A>. If it's just for the kids, try the Kodak Zx1, which is available for <a href="http://www.techstore.co.uk/details/productdetails/146366">£50 from </A><a href="http://www.techstore.co.uk/details/productdetails/146366" rel="nofollow">www.techstore.co.uk</A>, or the Busbi Digital Video Camera at <a href="http://www.firebox.com/product/2160/Busbi-Digital-Video-Camera" rel="nofollow">£40 from Firebox</A>. 3. Read your Ebooks in style Ebook readers are the hottest technology on the market, and the ubiquitous Kindle 3 is the most desirable of them all. Amazon has slashed the price to £109, or £149 for a 3G version, which enables you to browse websites and download books on demand. However, they are highly sought-after, and if you can't wait three weeks for a delivery, the iRiver Story is also extremely good. It costs <a href="http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/13007635/iRiver-Story-eBook-e-Reader/Product.html" rel="nofollow">£140 from Play.com</A>, and while there's no 3G, you do get full support for Microsoft Office documents and PDFs. 4. Great pictures <img alt="picture frames" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/51/OWV51.f_xmas.pictures-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Last Christmas was the year of the photo frame, and our love affair is set to carry on into 2011. Kodak came out with top marks in issue 50's digital frame group test with the Pulse, which can be bought for <a href="http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/13869162/Kodak-Pulse-7-inch-Touch-Screen-Wi-Fi-Digital-Photo-Frame/Product.html" rel="nofollow">£85 from Play.com</A>. If that's too much, you can opt for the bargain Jessops 8-inch frame which is just <a href="http://www.jessops.com/online.store/categories/Digital%20Photo%20Frames/products/Jessops/8%20Compact%20Digital%20Picture%20Frame-78746/Show.html" rel="nofollow">£25 on jessops.com</A>, or just pick up a keyring frame such as the Tao Digital Photo Keychain for just <a href="http://www.firebox.com/product/2552/Tao-Digital-Photo-Keychain" rel="nofollow">£13 from Firebox</A>. 5. Can you feel the noise? There are some superb value speakers doing the rounds, and if you're looking for a great gift for a music lover, you're in luck. The Logitech Z523 is a bargain at <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-980-000320-Z523-Speakers-Black/dp/B002MHYQJA/" rel="nofollow">£50 from Amazon</A>, or you can pick up the massive Teufel Concept C 100 for <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Teufel-Concept-100-2-1-multimedia/dp/B002BAWV6S/" rel="nofollow">£109 also from Amazon</A>. If volume and bass aren't your thing, the Logitech Z320 is a decent 2.0 system and costs just <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-980-000330-Z320-Speaker-System/dp/B002L3TSMK/" rel="nofollow">£35 at Amazon</A>. 6. Amazing multimedia <img alt="iPod" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/51/OWV51.f_xmas.iopd-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If you're looking for MP3 players this Christmas, the updated <a href="">iPod Touch</A> will be flying off the shelves. Apple has given its new touchscreen MP3 player the high-res, vibrant screen from the iPhone 4, as well as adding a 720p HD video camera. This makes the iPod Touch a force to be reckoned with, but at £189 for the 8GB version, it doesn't come cheap. If you're looking for a more cost-effective MP3 player, you can opt for the Sandisk Sansa Clip (<a href="http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?prodID=B149179" rel="nofollow">from £38 at www.lambda-tek.com</A>). 7. Safe and sound this Christmas Backing up doesn't conjure up images of the festive season but the fact is that hard drives and USB sticks make really useful presents. There are some great deals around, such as the Buffalo 320GB MiniStation Lite for <a href="http://www.dabs.com/products/buffalo-320gb-ministation-lite-usb-white-6P1X.html" rel="nofollow">£64 at Dabs.com</A>, which has enough room for most backups. Portable storage is also cheap at the moment, and you can get a rubberised 8GB Corsair Flash Voyager for <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-Rugged-Water-Resistant-CMFUSB2-0-8GB/dp/B000J35DR8/" rel="nofollow">£12 at Amazon</A>, or a cute USB Flash Hero cuddly toy USB drive, which is perfect for kids, from <a href="http://www.firebox.com/product/2516/USB-Flash-Drive-Heroes" rel="nofollow">Firebox for £14.99</A>. 8. Stocking fillers <img alt="gorilla pod" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/51/OWV51.f_xmas.camera-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Photographers will love a Gorillapod (<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Joby-GP1-D1EN-Gorillapod-Original-Black/dp/B000EVSLRO/" rel="nofollow">£12 from Amazon</A>), a versatile tripod that can be used anywhere. Cameraphone fanatics will also love the PoGo printer (<a href="http://www.scan.co.uk/products/polariod-pogo-digital-instant-mini-printer-battery-mains-portable-bluetooth-usb-see-details" rel="nofollow">£25 from www.scan.co.uk</A>), which enables you to print off pictures via Bluetooth. If your PC-loving relatives are a little harder to please, try some USB-powered rechargeable batteries. 9. Stay in touch with family <img alt="webcam" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/51/OWV51.f_xmas.webcam-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Christmas is about getting people together, but unfortunately, we can't always get to our family and friends over the festive season. The perfect present for distant loved ones is a webcam, so you can still wave hello on Christmas morning, and you can find great quality cameras for bargain prices. The Microsoft LifeCam HD-6000N can be bought for <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Microsoft-7PD-00003-LifeCam-HD-6000N/dp/B0033B0FMG/" rel="nofollow">£32 from Amazon</A>, and is designed to work with Windows Live Messenger, so even the most computer illiterate relatives can get to grips with it. 10. Bargain sat-navs <img alt="Sat nav" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/51/OWV51.f_xmas.satnav-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Sat-navs are expensive, but they do make great presents for road warrior family members. If your relatives are iPhone users, the <a href="">TomTom for iPhone</A> app works wonders, and at £43 it represents a big saving on the cost of a full unit. For non-iPhone users, the TomTom Start2 caters for basic navigation and is packed with cool features such as lane guidance and spoken road names for just £120. See <a href="http://www.tomtom.com/">www.tomtom.com</A> for both products.

Buying Guide: 10 cool Christmas gift gadget ideas

Christmas is a time of plenty for gadget lovers, but finding the latest technology can be tricky. We look at the tech that's hot this f...

Buying Guide: The best student laptops for Christmas

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com///Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20136/WLT136.rev1.Samsung01-200-200.jpg"> Buying the best student laptop can be a tricky purchase, because it's highly dependent on the needs of the individual. Some students will look for portability, so that they can take their laptop to the library or to lectures, and this means buying something lightweight. Anything less than 2.5kg should be fine to carry around all day, and this isn't a hugely difficult target. However, living the student life means that others will be looking for a big screen and decent performance for watching DVDs, instead of having a separate TV. This is great for the cramped conditions of student halls of residence, but portability and media performance are normally polar opposites. We've found the best student laptops to suit most needs, but before you buy, think about what it's going to be used for so you can make the right decision.?? 1. Acer Aspire 1410-742G25N – £299 <img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20135/WLT135.rev1.acer-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Performance isn't this laptop's strong point, but it isn't meant to be – instead it offers superb portability. At only 1.4kg, it's a pleasure to carry around and the small form factor makes it very easy to fit into almost any bag, which makes it great for lectures, although not so great for movies and entertainment. The 11.6-inch screen is bright, crisp and clear, and the screen is LED-backlit, which is resource-light on the battery. The Acer Aspire 1410-74G25n sets a very high bar, and the excellent battery life will be a clincher for many buyers.?? <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/acer-aspire-1410-74g25n-675385/review">Read our full Acer Aspire 1410-742G25N review??</A> 2. Acer Aspire 5551-P32G32Mn – £385 <img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20143/WLT143.rev1.Acer01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Another budget offering, the Aspire 5551-P32G32Mn is built around a 15.6-inch screen, and despite being large enough to watch movies comfortably, the 2.6kg chassis is nice and light for its size. While its 207-minute battery life is easily bettered, it provides adequate mobility for commuting or use in student digs.?? Offering impressive performance, great usability, a stunning screen and cutting-edge connectivity, the Aspire 5551-P32G32Mn is perfect for first-time buyers. Add its surprisingly generous software package and you've got a fantastic bargain on your hands.???? <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/acer-aspire-5551-p32g32mn-901549/review">Read our full Acer Aspire 5551-P32G32Mn review??</A> 3. Samsung R530 – £387 <img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20136/WLT136.rev1.Samsung01-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Not only is the Samsung R530 a nice looking laptop, it also boasts great usability, performance and portability – and all at a very competitive price. What's more, the line-up has been recently updated to include a Core i3 processor, which makes it an extremely attractive proposition.?? The more we used the Samsung R530, the more we liked it. Performance is above average and the design and usability of the machine really endeared it to us, making it a perfect study companion. <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/samsung-r530-680588/review">Read our full Samsung R530 review??</A> 4. Acer Aspire 5741-333G32Mn – £419 <img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20142/WLT142.rev1.Acer01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The Acer Aspire 5741-333G32Mn is a budget laptop that combines strong performance and mobility with a solid and highly usable chassis. At 2.5kg, the chassis is a little heavier than many in our round up, but it's still light enough to carry in your bag all day.? The Intel Core i3-330M chip offers more than enough power to comfortably multitask with fairly demanding office software, making this a successful budget entry in Acer's portfolio. Performance is assured by the Intel Core i3 processor and the strong build makes for a robust and highly usable laptop. <a href="about:%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/acer-aspire-5741-333g32mn-716125/review">Read our full Acer Aspire 5741-333G32Mn review</A> 5. HP G62-a45SA – £477 <img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20142/WLT142.rev1.hp01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> An Intel Core i3 processor provides ample performance for office tasks. The Core i3-350M chip includes integrated graphics, so while there's not enough power for running complex multimedia applications or playing the latest games, watching high-definition movies and basic photo and video editing is fine.?? Overall the G62-a45SA is a good machine that offers strong Intel Core i3 performance at a reasonable price and features such as LightScribe disc burning support and a fast hard drive are a welcome bonus.??? <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/hp-g62-a45sa-716193/review">Read our full HP G62-a45SA review??</A> 6. Packard Bell EasyNote NM86 – £499 <img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20142/WLT142.rev1.pb01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> With a weight of 2.3kg and thickness of 34mm, this is a compact and portable laptop. The 303-minute battery life is a great result and means you can leave the charger at home and work at university without too much worry. With excellent build quality and a sharp and vibrant screen, not to mention strong performance for the price, the EasyNote NM86-GN-010UK offers fantastic value for money. Granted, the limited storage is a let-down, but is forgivable considering the many strengths on offer.??? <a href="about:%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/packard-bell-easynote-nm86-716215/review">Read our full Packard Bell EasyNote NM86 review</A> 7. Samsung R730 – £515 <img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20143/WLT143.rev1.Samsung01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Over the past few years, Samsung has impressed us time and again by releasing a range of high-quality laptops at staggeringly low prices. The R730 is an entry-level, big-screen model and proves to be a fantastic home media centre for students who don't want a TV and DVD player.?? Offering bags of style, great usability and stunning big-screen entertainment, the R730 is a fantastic laptop for students looking for a work and entertainment tool for their bedroom. While it's not at the top of the range in terms of power and features of the Acer, this is still one of the best entry-level laptops you can buy at this price and comes highly recommended. <a href="about:%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/samsung-r730-901575/review">Read our full Samsung R730 review</A> 8. Asus K52F-SX065V – £579 <img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20139/WLT139.rev1.Asus01-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The Asus K52F-SX065V is a 15.6-inch laptop that packs a cutting-edge Intel Core i3-350M processor and manages to greatly impress with a long-lasting battery and high-quality build. The Core i3 processor is designed to provide impressive performance at a budget price and the results are stunning, no doubt helped by the 4GB of system memory. ?The Asus K52F-SX065V is a great performing laptop at a truly budget price – and it all comes at no cost to battery life. The solid build may be a little heavy for long days on campus, but it offers good protection and great usability.?? <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/asus-k52f-sx065v-697404/review">Read our full Asus K52F-SX065V review??</A> 9. Apple MacBook 13-inch – £849 <img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20223/MAC223.rev_mbpro17.mb_09macbook1-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The Macbook can easily be bettered by many PCs in terms of performance and value, but design students and those conscious of looking good on campus, will find the £849 price tag worth the premium. The mid-2010 refresh was useful update for the MacBook and the incremental processor boost and a significantly better graphics chipset makes it good value for money. The Nvidia GeForce 320M is a lot more energy efficient than its predecessor, giving the new MacBook a battery life of up to 10 hours on a single charge, which is enough for an entire day at uni, with plenty of juice yet for burning the midnight oil, or listening to tunes late at night.??? <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/apple-macbook-13-core-2-duo-2-4ghz--694693/review">Read our full MacBook 13-inch review??</A>

Buying Guide: The best student laptops for Christmas

Buying the best student laptop can be a tricky purchase, because it's highly dependent on the needs of the individual. Some students wil...

Buying Guide: The best student laptops for Christmas

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com///Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20136/WLT136.rev1.Samsung01-200-200.jpg" /> 
Buying the best student laptop can be a tricky purchase, because it's highly dependent on the needs of the individual. Some students will look for portability, so that they can take their laptop to the library or to lectures, and this means buying something lightweight. 
Anything less than 2.5kg should be fine to carry around all day, and this isn't a hugely difficult target. 
However, living the student life means that others will be looking for a big screen and decent performance for watching DVDs, instead of having a separate TV. This is great for the cramped conditions of student halls of residence, but portability and media performance are normally polar opposites. 
We've found the best student laptops to suit most needs, but before you buy, think about what it's going to be used for so you can make the right decision.?? 
1. Acer Aspire 1410-742G25N – £299 
<img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20135/WLT135.rev1.acer-420-100.jpg" width="420" /> 
Performance isn't this laptop's strong point, but it isn't meant to be – instead it offers superb portability. At only 1.4kg, it's a pleasure to carry around and the small form factor makes it very easy to fit into almost any bag, which makes it great for lectures, although not so great for movies and entertainment. 
The 11.6-inch screen is bright, crisp and clear, and the screen is LED-backlit, which is resource-light on the battery. The Acer Aspire 1410-74G25n sets a very high bar, and the excellent battery life will be a clincher for many buyers.?? 
<a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/acer-aspire-1410-74g25n-675385/review">Read our full Acer Aspire 1410-742G25N review??</a> 
2. Acer Aspire 5551-P32G32Mn – £385 
<img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20143/WLT143.rev1.Acer01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420" /> 
Another budget offering, the Aspire 5551-P32G32Mn is built around a 15.6-inch screen, and despite being large enough to watch movies comfortably, the 2.6kg chassis is nice and light for its size. 
While its 207-minute battery life is easily bettered, it provides adequate mobility for commuting or use in student digs.?? Offering impressive performance, great usability, a stunning screen and cutting-edge connectivity, the Aspire 5551-P32G32Mn is perfect for first-time buyers. Add its surprisingly generous software package and you've got a fantastic bargain on your hands.???? 
<a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/acer-aspire-5551-p32g32mn-901549/review">Read our full Acer Aspire 5551-P32G32Mn review??</a> 
3. Samsung R530 – £387 
<img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20136/WLT136.rev1.Samsung01-420-100.jpg" width="420" /> 
Not only is the Samsung R530 a nice looking laptop, it also boasts great usability, performance and portability – and all at a very competitive price. What's more, the line-up has been recently updated to include a Core i3 processor, which makes it an extremely attractive proposition.?? 
The more we used the Samsung R530, the more we liked it. Performance is above average and the design and usability of the machine really endeared it to us, making it a perfect study companion. 
<a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/samsung-r530-680588/review">Read our full Samsung R530 review??</a> 
4. Acer Aspire 5741-333G32Mn – £419 
<img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20142/WLT142.rev1.Acer01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420" /> 
The Acer Aspire 5741-333G32Mn is a budget laptop that combines strong performance and mobility with a solid and highly usable chassis. At 2.5kg, the chassis is a little heavier than many in our round up, but it's still light enough to carry in your bag all day.? 
The Intel Core i3-330M chip offers more than enough power to comfortably multitask with fairly demanding office software, making this a successful budget entry in Acer's portfolio. Performance is assured by the Intel Core i3 processor and the strong build makes for a robust and highly usable laptop. 
<a href="about:%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/acer-aspire-5741-333g32mn-716125/review">Read our full Acer Aspire 5741-333G32Mn review</a> 
5. HP G62-a45SA – £477 
<img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20142/WLT142.rev1.hp01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420" /> 
An Intel Core i3 processor provides ample performance for office tasks. The Core i3-350M chip includes integrated graphics, so while there's not enough power for running complex multimedia applications or playing the latest games, watching high-definition movies and basic photo and video editing is fine.?? 
Overall the G62-a45SA is a good machine that offers strong Intel Core i3 performance at a reasonable price and features such as LightScribe disc burning support and a fast hard drive are a welcome bonus.??? 
<a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/hp-g62-a45sa-716193/review">Read our full HP G62-a45SA review??</a> 
6. Packard Bell EasyNote NM86 – £499 
<img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20142/WLT142.rev1.pb01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420" /> 
With a weight of 2.3kg and thickness of 34mm, this is a compact and portable laptop. The 303-minute battery life is a great result and means you can leave the charger at home and work at university without too much worry. 
With excellent build quality and a sharp and vibrant screen, not to mention strong performance for the price, the EasyNote NM86-GN-010UK offers fantastic value for money. Granted, the limited storage is a let-down, but is forgivable considering the many strengths on offer.??? 
<a href="about:%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/packard-bell-easynote-nm86-716215/review">Read our full Packard Bell EasyNote NM86 review</a> 
7. Samsung R730 – £515 
<img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20143/WLT143.rev1.Samsung01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420" /> 
Over the past few years, Samsung has impressed us time and again by releasing a range of high-quality laptops at staggeringly low prices. The R730 is an entry-level, big-screen model and proves to be a fantastic home media centre for students who don't want a TV and DVD player.?? 
Offering bags of style, great usability and stunning big-screen entertainment, the R730 is a fantastic laptop for students looking for a work and entertainment tool for their bedroom. While it's not at the top of the range in terms of power and features of the Acer, this is still one of the best entry-level laptops you can buy at this price and comes highly recommended. 
<a href="about:%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/samsung-r730-901575/review">Read our full Samsung R730 review</a> 
8. Asus K52F-SX065V – £579 
<img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20139/WLT139.rev1.Asus01-420-100.jpg" width="420" /> 
The Asus K52F-SX065V is a 15.6-inch laptop that packs a cutting-edge Intel Core i3-350M processor and manages to greatly impress with a long-lasting battery and high-quality build. 
The Core i3 processor is designed to provide impressive performance at a budget price and the results are stunning, no doubt helped by the 4GB of system memory. 
?The Asus K52F-SX065V is a great performing laptop at a truly budget price – and it all comes at no cost to battery life. The solid build may be a little heavy for long days on campus, but it offers good protection and great usability.?? 
<a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/asus-k52f-sx065v-697404/review">Read our full Asus K52F-SX065V review??</a> 
9. Apple MacBook 13-inch – £849 
<img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20223/MAC223.rev_mbpro17.mb_09macbook1-420-100.jpg" width="420" /> 
The Macbook can easily be bettered by many PCs in terms of performance and value, but design students and those conscious of looking good on campus, will find the £849 price tag worth the premium. 
The mid-2010 refresh was useful update for the MacBook and the incremental processor boost and a significantly better graphics chipset makes it good value for money. 
The Nvidia GeForce 320M is a lot more energy efficient than its predecessor, giving the new MacBook a battery life of up to 10 hours on a single charge, which is enough for an entire day at uni, with plenty of juice yet for burning the midnight oil, or listening to tunes late at night.??? 
<a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/apple-macbook-13-core-2-duo-2-4ghz--694693/review">Read our full MacBook 13-inch review??</a>

Buying Guide: The best student laptops for Christmas

Buying the best student laptop can be a tricky purchase, because it's highly dependent on the needs of the individual. Some students w...