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How We Tested<br />
Laptops<br />
PERFORMANCE<br />
Overall system<br />
capabilities were<br />
evaluated with the<br />
PCMark05 benchmark<br />
program.<br />
GAMING We ran<br />
Quake 4 at mediumquality,<br />
800 x 600pixel<br />
resolution, and<br />
logged the framesper-second<br />
each laptop<br />
managed, if any.<br />
FEATURES We considered<br />
the blend<br />
of price, configuration,<br />
and installed<br />
options, such as<br />
hi-def optical drives,<br />
memory card slots,<br />
and screen quality.<br />
BATTERY LIFE For<br />
those with optical<br />
drives, we played<br />
a standard DVD<br />
in full-screen, highperformance<br />
mode.<br />
For those without,<br />
we looped a fullscreen<br />
MPEG.<br />
VALUE We factored<br />
overall cost against<br />
all of the above<br />
issues, giving high<br />
marks to lesspowerful<br />
machines<br />
offered at deep<br />
discounts.<br />
1 3 4 WIRED TEST<br />
Laptops<br />
Accessories<br />
While numerous gadgets make taking your show on<br />
the road even easier, the premiums for convenience,<br />
portability, and style can pinch. —CHARLIE WHITE<br />
EDITORS’<br />
PICK<br />
Sprint Sierra Wireless<br />
AirCard USB Modem<br />
$280; $80 per month for unlimited data<br />
plan • nextelonline.nextel.com<br />
Sprint’s cellular network provides data access that’s nearly<br />
broadband-fast in some areas, thanks to EV-DO Rev. A. This<br />
is the modem you want: easy to configure, with a GPS<br />
receiver and built-in battery that won’t mooch off your laptop.<br />
Casio Super Slim<br />
XJ-S35 Projector<br />
$1,399 • superslimprojector.com<br />
Few projectors are this thin and portable.<br />
A USB drive lets you plug in with<br />
no PC. Surprisingly sharp and bright<br />
for 1024 x 768, even in a well-lit room.<br />
MoGo Mouse X54 Pro<br />
$80 • newtonperipherals.com<br />
The superclever second-generation<br />
MoGo Mouse has Bluetooth and can be<br />
stashed in your laptop’s ExpressCard<br />
slot. Push a button and it controls<br />
PowerPoint; it even has a laser pointer.<br />
Moixa Energy<br />
USBCell<br />
$20 for a two-cell pack of<br />
AAs • usbcell.com<br />
These draw from any USB port, and<br />
their 500 charge cycles do offset<br />
the steep price. But they last only half<br />
as long as alkaline batteries.<br />
GENE LEE, STYLED BY ROB OXENHAM/ARTIST UNTIED
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