June 29th, 2010
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0 If you’re searching for a small, light laptop with a lengthy battery life for all-day computing, your first thought might be to nab a netbook. But there is another option which will give you a fuller set of features in a similarly slimmed down package – a consumer ultra low voltage (CULV) laptop. Read on for details of what CULV machines have to offer…
Intel CULV processors are designed to guzzle less power than traditional laptop processors. That allows for battery life that can last all day and a machine that doesn’t get nearly as hot. With less heat surging through the laptop, manufacturers can use smaller fans and cooling systems which leads to lighter, thinner machines.
By using Intel CULV chips, laptops like the Toshiba Satellite T110 or T210 and the Satellite T130 or T230 can last longer between charges, but still have the grunt for intensive tasks like video editing, which netbooks could struggle to handle. These models can deliver up to nine hours on a single charge. That’s enough for a full working day, as well as a spot of entertainment on the train or bus home!
Another big advantage of CULV laptops over netbooks is their screens. More powerful processors mean machines packing CULV chips can include higher resolution screens. It all means an end to the lower quality graphics found in netbooks, and an experience that’s more in line with a standard-sized laptop.
Higher resolutions make manhandling multiple windows or watching movies a much more pleasant experience. All our CULV laptops include LED backlit 16:9 widescreen displays with a 1366 x 768 resolution. The Satellite T210/T110 has a 29.5cm (11.6”) screen, while the Satellite T230/T130 has a 22.8cm (13.3”) display.
Going for a laptop using a CULV processor does mean making a slight compromise though. You won’t get the kind of processing power you’d expect from a larger machine with a more energy-hungry chip to carry out heavy multi-media work. However, you will get a great combination of fully-featured all-day computing with a laptop that’s light enough to easily slip into your bag.
