DELL VOSTRO V131 LAPTOP
Background
The Dell designers and technicians knocking this Vostro V131 laptop together were clearly given a simple brief. And that was, ‘come up with a laptop ideally suited to the business traveller on the go’. As a result, what you have is a thin (which, in turn means ‘light’, and less likely to be a pain, lugging it around from desks to car boots, to meetings, to airports etc), powerful (to process all that supposedly important data you need for those supposedly important presentations, and sleek (well, you’ve got to look cool, don’t you?) laptop.
Look
As one of the lightest and thinnest products in the Vostro portfolio, the V131 is designed specifically for highly mobile business customers. An ultra-thin, stylish chassis houses the Intel Core i5 processor, ensuring that the Vostro V131 packs enough power and never leaves you wanting, in terms of business productivity. A removable 6-cell battery with 2nd generation Intel Core processors, will deliver up to 9.5 hours of battery life, allowing users to work virtually anytime, anywhere. So, even if you’re stuck at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, and have a couple of hours to kill, with not a suitable plug point in sight, there’s more than enough battery life to ensure that you can still get some work done.
Main Features
The Vostro V131 was designed to deliver fast, uninterrupted multi-tasking for any potential business challenges, and the manufacturers are keen to emphasis its range of features, which, they believe, ideally suit the mobile professional, who wants full performance to support his or her technology demands, without sacrificing design and portability. In terms of options and security, the Vostro V131 offers a wide variety, including WWAN, WLAN and Bluetooth 3.0, and the standard fingerprint reader to provide exceptional security. Further to that, the laptop is well-suited to everyday office operations, such as document editing, presentations and email, and also features the following: full HD camera, SRS Premium Voice Pro, digital array mics and built-in Skype. In addition, the laptop offers two USB 3.0 ports, a chiclet keyboard with a backlit option, and quick launch keys.
Price
R10 999
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SAMSUNG NETBOOK NC215S
Background
It’s the world’s first solar-powered 10” netbook PC, with a big focus on it being both environmentally and economically friendly, whilst also fulfilling the standard requirements of a new-range laptop, in terms of portability, power and performance. However, the solar panel could be more effective, if it was connected to the laptop somewhere other than the back of the screen, as the back of most laptops face down, when open, making it less conducive to absorbing sunlight.
Main Features
Obviously, the USP is the solar-powered offering, with the manufacturers claiming that two hours of sunlight can provide up to an hour of power, with zero cost or carbon emissions. An integrated solar panel allows it to automatically charge when in sunlight. There’s also an overall battery life of up to 14.5 hours and ‘Fast Start’ technology, in the form of an ‘Instant On’ button, so that you can get started within a few seconds. Other features include a dual core Intel Atom processor, combined with an Intel GMA 3510 graphics processor, and a unique ‘Sleep-and-Charge’ USB port, allowing for portable devices, such as smartphones or MP3 players, to be charged even when the PC is sleeping, turned off, or if the battery has run out – all through the use of solar power.
Look
It’s light at just 1.32 kilograms, with a screen size of 10.1”, and an island keyboard featuring isolated keys.
Price
R3 499
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PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 5073
Background
Don’t even bother, unless you are a wristwatch connoisseur, with rather deep pockets. This Swiss luxury watch manufacturer has been making elegant timepieces since 1868, and pioneered the perpetual calendar, split-seconds hand, chronograph and minute repeater in watches.
Main Features
The watch houses a 467-part self-winding movement that fuses two of high-end watch-making’s most sought-after complications – a minute repeater with cathedral gongs, and a perpetual calendar that requires no adjustment until the year 2100. Other standout features include breathtaking sound quality and the 103 baguette diamonds on its bezel. For final finishing touches, hour markers on the black lacquered solid-gold dial are set with 13 baguette diamonds, while a further 42 baguette diamonds line the clasp.
Price
Allegedly, this timepiece goes for upwards of R200 000, but there is no set price, because it’s POA – Price on Application. One has to apply to purchase, as well as provide a written motivation, but don’t even bother if you don’t already have a Patek Philipe in your collection. A bit snobby for my liking. If you fancy your chances, go along to the Watch and Jewellery Gallery in Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton, Johannesburg.