Windows 7: the first wave of system reviews

If you're eager to hit the ground running, we've already reviewed several Windows 7 PCs, from big names such as Lenovo, Toshiba, and HP. The list below represents the first wave of Windows 7 computers -- but after October 22, it'll be rare to find a Vista or XP desktop or laptop for sale anywhere.

Dan Ackerman

Dan Ackerman leads CNET's coverage of computers and gaming hardware. A New York native and former radio DJ, he's also a regular TV talking head and the author of "The Tetris Effect" (Hachette/PublicAffairs), a non-fiction gaming and business history book that has earned rave reviews from the New York Times, Fortune, LA Review of Books, and many other publications. "Upends the standard Silicon Valley, Steve Jobs/Mark Zuckerberg technology-creation myth... the story shines." -- The New York Times

See full bio

Dan Ackerman

Oct. 21, 2009 12:37 p.m. PT

1 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q850

The good: Top-of-the-line components, including Intel Core i7; second solid-state hard drive; massive 18-inch 1080p display.

The bad: Expensive; tiny touch pad; surprisingly cramped keyboard; mute button beeps loudly when pressed.

The bottom line: Toshiba revives its Qosmio gaming line with the high-end X505. It has everything from Blu-ray to an Intel Core i7 CPU, but it also carries a premium price.

Read the full review here.

2 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

HP TouchSmart 600

The good: Matches Sony in capability to connect and switch between external video sources easily; Recipe Box touch program best kitchen app we've seen; smart touch app partnerships with Hulu, Twitter, and Netflix; loud enough to fill a room.

The bad: Slow performance; touch input suffers from occasional unresponsiveness.

The bottom line: If HP's TouchSmart 600 won't at least get you thinking about the idea of bringing a PC into your kitchen, the concept truly has no hope. With well-though-out touch apps, a wide, easy-to-use array of digital media features, and an attractive, flexible design, HP's new all-in-one is not the fastest new all-in-one, but it has the most comprehensive and compelling set of features of any all-in-one launching alongside Windows 7.

Read the full review here.

3 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

Lenovo ThinkPad T400s (MultiTouch)

The good: Excellent quality and construction; thoughtful keyboard layout; inventive touch-screen features.

The bad: Expensive; touch-screen features have limited real-world usefulness for most.

The bottom line: A revamped version of Lenovo's slim ThinkPad T400s adds an innovative touch-screen package to the first Windows 7 laptop we've reviewed.

Read the full review here.

4 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

Gateway One ZX6810-01

The good: Handsome case design; kicks-off the new generation of Windows 7-based all-in-one PCs with fast performance; decent mainstream gaming capability; solid-state hard drive speeds OS and application loading.

The bad: Occasionally unresponsive touch input; lacking higher-end multimedia features like Blu-ray and wall mounting; TV tuners are lame.

The bottom line: The Gateway One ZX6810-01 makes a strong first impression for Windows 7-based all-in-ones PCs, with fast performance and an attractive case design. Its touch input and accompanying applications fall flat, but there's enough respectable computer here that it's worth a look. Our only suggestion is that you wait to inspect the rest of the new Windows 7 crowd once they are released.

Read the full review here.

5 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

HP Envy 13

The good: Slick, modern design; big touch pad; bright display; premium support services.

The bad: Very expensive; heavier than it looks; no backlit keyboard; limited ports and connections.

The bottom line: HP's upscale Envy 13 looks and feels like an expensive status symbol, with performance and features that impress us--but its high price makes it a tough sell over the similar-looking MacBook Pro.

Read the full review here.

6 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

Lenovo ThinkPad SL510

The good: Solid construction; matte 16x9 screen; flexible configurations and pricing.

The bad: Bland, boxy design; somewhat bulky frame.

The bottom line: Lenovo's Windows 7 upgrade to the ThinkPad SL500 keeps the price affordable, and features a consumer-friendly 16:9 display.

Read the full review here.

7 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

Toshiba Satellite T135-S1300

The good: Lightweight body, Windows 7 preinstalled, very good battery life.

The bad: Underperforming single-core CPU, weak speakers.

The bottom line: Toshiba's slick entry into the thin-and-light laptop world is timed for Windows 7, but the Satellite T135-S1300 isn't as multimedia-savvy as it seems to be at first glance.

Read the full review here.

8 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

Asus Eee Top ET2002

The good: Nvidia graphics chip gives games and 720p video a helpful nudge; HDMI video input.

The bad: It's a Nettop; better, low-cost video and gaming options out there; atrocious general computing performance; labyrinthine online support.

The bottom line: Nvidia's Ion graphics chip gives the Asus Eee Top ET2002 better-than-average video performance for a Nettop, but that does little to spare this system from its weak overall performance and the variety of competitive, more well-rounded alternatives for low-cost video and gaming. Nettops might be competitive someday, but for now this category as a whole is a disappointment.

Read the full review here.