Toshiba is well respected for making some great consumer laptops and business notebooks, but you may not know that Toshiba makes one of the most popular universal USB docking stations for laptops ... the Toshiba Dynadock U. Last month, Toshiba introduced a new wireless version of the universal docking station: the Toshiba Dynadock Wireless U.

The Dynadock does not need to be connected to the notebook by a cable like traditional docking solutions. You simply connect peripheral devices to the dock and your laptop communicated wirelessly with the docking station via a wireless USB adapter. Devices including keyboards, mice, speakers, and even monitors can be connected via the Dynadock.

We took a closer look at this wireless USB docking station to find out if it makes a good replacement for the original "wired" Toshiba Dynadock U.

Features and Specs of the Toshiba Dynadock Wireless U:

• Wireless USB connection from your laptop to all your accessories
• Built-in HD digital video card supports an additional monitor up to 1680 x 1050 resolution
• Ability to view up to three displays simultaneously
• Built-in digital audio card supports 7.1 surround sound through S/PDIF port
• Six USB ports - including 2 front Sleep-and-Charge USB ports to supply power even if your PC is off; charge your cell phone, MP3 player, etc.
• Includes a Wireless USB dongle
• One touch undock/dock button
• Easy installation software
• Universal compatibility with all Windows-based PC brands
• Dimensions and weight: 1.8" x 3.1" x 8.75" ; 1.13 lb
• MSRP: $299 from the Toshiba website

Build and Design
Anyone familiar with Toshiba's original Dynadock U will instantly recognize the design of the new Dynadock Wireless U. In fact, the only things that have changed between the wired Dynadock and the wireless Dynadock are the addition of two antennae and a subtle color change from silver to bronze.

Like the original Dynadock U, the new wireless docking station includes six USB 2.0 ports, S/PDIF, Ethernet (10/100 LAN), DVI, mic, headphone and lock slot. Toshiba removed the VGA port from the back of the Dynadock Wireless U in order to make room for the wireless antennae and wireless switch, but they include a DVI-to-VGA adapter in case you need it for connecting older displays or projectors.

Of course, the biggest thing that sets this docking station apart from most is the inclusion of a wireless USB adapter that allows you to stay connected to all your peripherals without needing to plug in a bunch of cables to your laptop.

Setting up the Dynadock Wireless U is relatively simple thanks to the included installation DVD that comes with the docking station. Simply insert the disk into your computer's optical drive and follow the on-screen instructions. Next, plug-in the wireless USB adapter and you're ready to roll. You may be asked to temporarily connect a USB cable to establish the initial connection, but after that is done you'll never need the USB cable again. Your laptop will work wirelessly with your peripherals just as if they were connected via USB. Well ... almost.

Performance
Although it's nice to have a sleek, all-in-one wireless docking station, the main reason that people buy docking stations for their notebooks is to connect multiple external devices without needing to connect multiple cables. If those external devices don't work when connected to the docking station then there isn't much point in using the docking station.

The first thing we wanted to do when the Toshiba Dynadock Wireless U arrived was test its performance compared to using either the standard USB port built into your laptop or the old wired Dynadock docking station. In order to take a closer look at the performance we used HDTune to measure the data transfer rate of a generic SDHC USB card reader.

SDHC USB Card Reader using notebook USB port:

SDHC USB Card Reader using Toshiba Dynadock wired USB dock:

These two tests gave us a nice baseline for judging the performance of the Dynadock Wireless U docking station. As you can see above, the average data transfer rate (read speed) for the USB card reader is about 17MB/sec using the USB port in my laptop and about 15MB/sec when using the original wired version of the Toshiba Dynadock U. This is not the maximum possible speed for either the laptop's USB port or the Toshiba docking station, but it does provide a performance baseline for this particular USB card reader.

Next, we tested the data transfer speed of the new Toshiba Dynadock Wireless U at a distance of 12 inches (305mm) from the laptop's wireless USB adapter to find out how this docking station performs compared to a standard USB docking station.

SDHC USB Card Reader using Toshiba Dynadock Wireless U at a distance of 12 inches:

It's easy to see from the HDTune image above that the data transfer speed of USB devices is significantly reduced when connected to the Toshiba Dynadock Wireless U. However, since the speed and reliability of wireless USB decreases as the distance between the transmitter and receiver increases, we also wanted to test the performance of the wireless docking station as you walk away from the docking station. For this test, we started at a distance of six inches (152mm) and began walking away from the docking station to a maximum distance of 10 feet (3 meters).

SDHC USB Card Reader using Toshiba Dynadock Wireless U walking from a distance of 6 inches to 10 feet:

As you can see in the HDTune image above, the performance of the wireless USB signal drops dramatically after we moved the notebook out to a distance of 10 feet. At 10 feet away the signal suffered a sudden drop almost low enough to disconnect the docking station, and then the signal leveled off and continued the data transfer.

This is why Toshiba recommends that users keep the wireless USB adapter at a distance of less than two feet away from the docking station's receiver if you plan to use the Dynadock Wireless U with an external display. The data transfer rate at longer distances is just too low to allow for trouble-free use of video.

In short, the HDTune results suggest that you'll have to sacrifice speed if you want to get rid of all those USB cords connected to your laptop.

Conclusion
Toshiba's original Dynadock U is a fantastic universal docking station, but is the Dynadock Wireless U a worthy successor? The answer is ... yes and no. The Dynadock Wireless U offers the same easy setup and simplistic docking station design that made the original Dynadock U so popular. Unfortunately, the limited transfer speed and range of wireless USB significantly limits the practical use of this docking station.

The Toshiba Dynadock Wireless U keeps your desk clean with fewer wires but you'll notice slower performance compared to a wired docking station. Likewise, although it's convenient to connect wirelessly to a docking station, you shouldn't expect to walk around your office building and stay connected to the dock.

Bottom line, the Toshiba Dynadock Wireless U is a good product for people who hate USB cables but you'll get much better performance with a traditional wired docking station.

Pros:

• Clean, wireless docking solution
• Easy to setup
• Includes wireless USB adapter

Cons:

• Slower as distance increases
• Pricey compared to wired docks
• Limited range of wireless video

Dell Inspiron 14z (Cherry Red) Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo CULV SU7300 (1.3GHz, 800MHz, 3MB)
• OS: Windows 7 Premium (64-bit)
• Memory: 3GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 at 1066MHz
• Storage: 250GB 5400rpm HDD
• Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500HD
• Display: 14.0” HD (1366x768) WLED Display and webcam
• Optical Drive: 8x CD/DVD burner (DVD/-RW/R) with Dual-Layer
• Wireless: Intel Wireless 5100n
• Battery: 6-cell Lithium Ion battery (48.8 WHr)
• Dimensions: 1.0"-1.5" x 13.3" x 9.4" (H x W x D)
• Weight: 4 lbs, 9.9 oz
• Retail Price as configured: $839

Build and Design
The design of the Inspiron 14z looks virtually identical to the Inspiron 14. The chief differences here are that the Inspiron 14z uses an Intel CULV processor, 6-cell battery and WLED display ... all of which are intended to extend battery life. At first glance, the Inspiron 14z looks like an average budget notebook with a 14-inch display. The plastic construction, average screen resolution, and lack of a backlit keyboard certainly don't give this laptop the same premium look and feel as the Dell Studio 14z.

The Inspiron 14z feels pretty durable despite the fact that the notebook chassis is constructed from relatively thin plastics. The only areas that suffered from flex were just above the keyboard next to the battery and the back of the display lid. If you press on the lid with your fingers you will create screen distortions, and you'll hear some minor plastic creaking if you press down next to the battery. There is some minimal flex on the top of the right palmrest next to the optical drive, but you have to press pretty hard to make that happen.

When closed the Inspiron 14z looks thin compared to budget laptops from several years ago, but the weight of the 6-cell battery makes this system a bit too heavy to quality for the "thin and light" category today. The "Cherry Red" screen lid gives the Inspiron a nice candy-covered look, but Dell charges a $40 premium for the privilege of selecting red instead of black. Usually I don't complain about that type of surcharge from the Dell Design Studio which offers your choice of more than 100 different designs by various artisits, but charging $40 to stick a chuck of red plastic on a notebook is a little excessive.

The bottom of the notebook features the battery and access plates for the hard drive and RAM. There isn't much to talk about here other than to briefly mention the location of the two speakers on the bottom of the front edge (more on that later).

Screen and Speakers
The 14-inch high-definition (1366 x 768) panel on the Dell Inspiron 14z isn't quite as nice as the vibrant 1600 x 900 screen used on our review unit of the Studio 14z. The colors on this screen are generally good but contrast wasn't as impressive. The WLED backlighting in our review unit is pretty even and offers a range of brightness settings. Yes, it is a 16:9 screen ratio, but that's the new standard ... we all have to live with it. Horizontal viewing angles are extremely good, so you won't have any trouble sharing a movie with the person sitting next to you on a plane. Vertical viewing angles are average or below average with colors quickly washing out when viewed from above and colors begining to distort and invert as you move the screen back.

I was pretty impressed with the stereo speakers on the Dell Studio 14z, but I can't say much in favor of the speakers on the Inspiron 14z. The stereo speakers produce average sound quality and are located beneath the front edge of the notebook palmrests firing downward at your lap. I usually call this type of audio "crotch speakers" because the speakers aren't pointed up toward the user. If you're using the Inspiron 14z on a desk then the audio from the speakers "bounces" off the hard desk surface and it sounds okay, but if you're using this PC as a "laptop" then the sound is going to be muffled.

Bottom line, the speakers aren't horrible ... but the location isn't helping matters. You'll probably want to use a good set of headphones with this notebook, and the headphone jack produces clear, distortion-free sound.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard on our review unit has full-sized keys with acceptable key spacing and an excellent depth to the key throw. Each key has a textured black finish and a relatively flat surface. The keyboard is extremely firm so you won't have to worry about keyboard flex while typing. There is a hint of flex in the keys on the right side of the keyboard directly above the optical drive, but you have to press down very hard to create flex in this area. My only minor aggravation is that the keyboard isn't available with optional backlighting ... making it harder to type in a dark classroom or dorm room.

The multi-touch, gesture-based touchpad is pretty average for a 14-inch notebook and the dual touchpad buttons have deep feedback with quiet clicks. The touchpad itself is an Synaptics model that uses Dell proprietary touchpad drivers, though I found the standard Synaptics drivers work as well. The touchpad was reasonably responsive with good sensitivity and very little lag. Touchpad accuracy was a bit off at times, but that may be correctable by tweaking the drivers.

With the release of a new operating system, one of the first questions that pops into your head--besides how much it is going to cost you--is if it will increase the performance of your machine. Newer operating systems are usually more optimized, designed to start quicker, load programs faster, and increase performance with better drivers. With that question in mind, we took two identical Lenovo ThinkPad T400s loaded with Windows Vista or Windows 7 and compared every facet relating to performance.

To make this article relevant to consumers, we picked two identical systems with factory images (operating system installatons). One included the latest configuration of Windows Vista Business and the other Windows 7 Professional. They were both manufactured on 9/10/09 and are only four serial numbers apart. These systems match even down to the most basic internal hardware. To compare the system performance of both machines, we created a level playing field by removing the same bloatware from each machine including AV software and gave each laptop the same custom power profile in the Lenovo power manager.

The Lenovo ThinkPad T400s configurations included the following hardware:

• Windows Vista Business SP2 32-bit or Windows 7 Professional 32-bit
• Graphics: Intel X4500M Integrated
• Screen: 1440 x 900 WXGA+ LED Backlit (Matte finish)
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo SP9600 (2.53GHz, 1066MHz FSB, 6MB Cache)
• Memory: 4GB DDR3 RAM (2GB x 2)
• 128GB Toshiba SSD
• Optical Drive: DVD+/-RW
• Wireless: 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.0
• Battery: 6-cell 11.1 44Wh

General Performance
In the first section of the performance review, we compare daily activities of each system. This includes tasks such as boot times, shutdown time, sleep time, and wake from sleep time. These are activities the user has to sit through multiple times a day, meaning that a few seconds here or there really adds up over time. Both systems were set to automatically log in, without a password prompt to delay the process. The timer was started either when the power button was pressed, or the appropriate button inside the operating system was clicked. For the power-on sequence the timer was stopped when the system was at the desktop, idle and waiting.

Measuring the boot times side by side was pretty interesting, since our Windows 7 system turned on almost 30% faster than the Vista machine. We expected both machines were going to be quick with their relatively clean installs and SSDs, but coming in under 30 seconds was impressive for the Windows 7 system.

Startup Time

Shutdown time was equally impressive, with the Windows 7 configuration completely powered down in half the time over Vista. Timers in this case were stopped when the activity LEDs were off.

Shutdown Time

Sleep and wake times are important for users who want to quickly power down their machine--say at the end of a class or meeting--but might not want to lose what they were working on. In this test as well, the Windows 7 system had another clear advantage over the Vista configuration.

Sleep

Wake

For standard system activities, Windows 7 easily takes the lead. Clocking in with consistently faster times over and over again, there is no question in our minds that at least some areas have been optimized compared to Vista.

Battery Life
Our next test is battery life, which plays a major role in day-to-day use and also gives us an indication of how stressful background activities are on a notebook. In this test we installed FireFox on both systems with the ReloadEvery plug-in set to refresh the same webpage on each system every minute. This was to duplicate slow but steady usage which might be duplicated inside a classroom or reducing the boredom in a lengthy meeting. For this test both systems were configured with the same power profile inside the Lenovo Power Manager. The primary settings included the processor set to adaptive mode, screen brightness to 10/15, and all idle timers disabled. Inside BatteryMon, both systems reported a battery capacity within .6kWh of each other.

Out of all the tests we ran, I think this was the most interesting. I say that because of the sheer fact each system shutdown after 5 hours and 56 minutes, within 15 seconds of each other. Technically one system shut down with 5:56 on the counter while one showed 5:57, but for us it was close enough to be called equal. Both systems stayed at about 6.5 watts of power consumption during the test, without many background tasks coming up to stress the notebooks.

Software Performance
Application performance was a toss up with some software taking longer to load in the Vista environment and another taking longer inside Windows 7. We used AppTimer to measure the length of times GIMP and iTunes took to start up on each computer. After running the test multiple times on each system to find the average, we found that iTunes takes a bit less time to load in Vista and GIMP takes less time in Windows 7.

iTunes load time

GIMP load time

Video Playback Performance
Video playback and its stress to the processor was another area we checked, and in this scenario we used the latest CCCP codec pack with Media Player Classic HomeCinema, with Divx 7 installed x264 decoding. The test file was the 1080P trailer for the movie Up!. CPU utilization seemed to be better in Windows 7 (if only slightly), as shown by a more stable readout in the Task Manager. In Windows 7 if you go with Windows Media Player 11, which supports hardware decoding with the Intel X4500 chipset, the performance difference is huge. Instead of 15-25% CPU utilization, it is between 0-4% on average.

Vista

Windows 7

Windows 7 using WMP11

Synthetic Benchmark Performance
The last half of our performance comparison guide covers synthetic benchmarks, including wPrime, PCMark05, PCMark Vantage, and 3DMark06. Both systems had all available Windows Updates installed and we used a non-Aero basic theme during each test. The results we found were very surprising. After the pretty significant advantages Windows 7 showed in day-to-day performance in prior tests. The only area where Windows 7 performed equal to or better than Vista was in 3D performance ... which had marginal gains at best.

PCMark05 measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance):

PCMArk Vantage also measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance):

3DMark06 measures overall graphics performance for gaming (higher scores mean better performance):

Wprime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance):

HDTune Windows Vista:

HDTune Windows 7:

While most of the synthetic benchmarks might have the disadvantage of not being optimized or designed to run inside Windows 7, wPrime shouldn't have those problems. Even it ran slower inside Windows 7. To simulate gaming performance on each system, we used Real-time HDR IBL (rthdribl) in its default startup mode running at 640x480 on the desktop, with FRAPS recording the average framerate. In this test Windows 7 showed a small lead in framerate over Vista. The increase would probably be more significant with a better graphics card.

rthdribl FPS (higher scores mean better performance):

Conclusion
After testing all aspects relating to performance between two identical system equipped with Windows Vista and Windows 7, we found each version of Windows performed differently under certain circumstances. In day-to-day operation Windows 7 easily beats Vista with a quicker boot times, shutdown times, sleep times, and wake times. In some of those tests it was almost 50% faster, a huge lead when you consider how many of those cycles the computer will go through in its lifetime. Video performance is improved in Windows 7 if the user switches to Windows Media Player, where it now natively supports hardware-decoding with the Intel X4500 chipset. Battery life was unchanged with each system getting nearly the exact result in our side-by-side test.

The main area that seems to suggest a disadvantage for Windows 7 is overall system performance when tested with synthetic benchmarks. It is too early to tell if this is non-optimized benchmark software or driver related hiccups inside Windows 7. What we do know so far is 3D performance seems to be improved by a small margin; a plus for gamers. As more and more Windows 7 systems come in for review we will see a better picture of how it performs in our tests, but we can easily say for the average user, Windows 7 will feel much faster in day-to-day activities.

ASUS' K-series notebooks promise a blend of value and performance. The K40IN is a 14-inch notebook with Nvidia graphics and an $800 price tag. How did it hold up in our testing?

Our ASUS K40IN-B1 review unit has the following specifications:

• 14-inch 720p (1366x768) display with LED backlighting
• Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit
• Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 (2.1GHz/2MB L2/800MHz FSB)
• Nvidia GeForce G102M integrated graphics card w/ 512MB DDR2 memory
• 4GB DDR2-667 RAM
• 320GB 5400RPM hard drive (Seagate Momentus 5400.6/ST9320325AS)
• 802.11n wireless (Atheros AR9285)
• DVD Super Multi drive
• Two-year warranty w/ one year accidental coverage
• 6-cell Li-ion battery (11.1v, 4400mAh, 46Wh)
• Weight: 5.3 lbs
• Dimensions: 13.4” x 9.5” x 1.4-1.5”
• MSRP: $799.99

Build and Design
The K40IN has a traditional notebook design and shape; it looks like an ordinary notebook and is visually uninspiring. Corners are rounded off to give the notebook a soft look. Nearly all surfaces of the K40IN save for the keyboard are glossy plastic, which is a dual-edged blade. On one hand the glossiness makes the notebook look more attractive, but on the other hand it reduces durability and makes it a real chore to keep clean.

The physical build quality of the K40IN is satisfactory. The quality is consistent; no particular area seems to be stronger or weaker than another. The base of the notebook resists twisting well and the palm rests barely flex under pressure. This lid is one of the better-reinforced lids I have seen on a value-oriented notebook; it is resistant to flexing and pushing in on the back of the lid does not yield any ripples on the screen. The hinges anchoring it to the base of the notebook are strong and display wobble is minimal.

Overall the build quality meets expectations; it is not outstanding and matches up to the competition at the very least. The design is rather plain though not unattractive. However, the glossy plastic will be a turn-off for some.

Screen and Speakers
The K40IN has a 14-inch diagonal display with LED backlighting and a 16:9 aspect ratio. The overall quality of the display is 'very good'. Brightness is excellent and contrast is reasonable. Pictures and movies are a pleasure to view on this display. The viewing angles are above average; side-to-side are nearly flawless, and while the colors wash out and darken from above and below respectively, the picture is fine for about thirty degrees vertically off center. The backlighting is not even with a significant amount of bleed at the bottom; fortunately it is not noticeable during normal use.

The display's 1366x768 resolution is a standard resolution for mainstream notebooks. The horizontal resolution is adequate, however only 768 pixels of vertical space means a good deal of scrolling while surfing the Internet and only enough space to view about one-half of a page in a Microsoft Word.

The K40IN has Altec Lansing speakers located underneath the palm rest. Simply put, the K40IN has two of the worst speakers I have heard on a notebook; my ears cringe every time a sound gets played. The speakers are muddy, tinny, and too quiet. Using the included SRS WOW software enhancer distorts the sound and put this odd pressure on my eardrums that I cannot stand. The headphone jack is fortunately static-free and the best way to get audio signals out of the notebook.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The K40IN's full-size keyboard is responsive and pleasing to use. The keys are large and flat and have a matte texture, which may wear over time. There is no noticeable flex unless a lot of pressure is used. A nice aspect of this keyboard is its quietness; it does not click or clack. It is also good to see the keyboard has a standard layout; all keys are more or less in their expected places.

The touchpad is a mixed bag. The glossy surface can be difficult to track on with moist fingers and the touchpad buttons are loud. Another complaint is the lack of a dedicated scroll zone.

The status lights on the K40 consist of three tiny circles below the touchpad buttons. From a functionality standpoint, they should be larger and brighter for better visibility.

The G51J is the latest 15-inch gaming notebook from ASUS, sporting the new Intel Core i7 mobile processor and Windows 7 operating system. This notebook shares a lot of features with the previous G51VX, with only a hardware refresh to support the Core i7 processor. With a starting price of $1,499, it is priced $200 below the previous version ... which is a huge plus for buyers on a budget. Check out our full review to see how this Core i7 update performs.

ASUS G51J Specifications:

• Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
• Intel Core i7-720QM (1.6GHzGHz, 1333MHz FSB, 6MB Cache)
• 15.6" WUXGA FHD LCD display at 1920x1080
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M 1GB GDDR3 memory
• Intel 1000AGN Wireless, Bluetooth
• 4GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM (2GB x 2)
• Two 320GB Seagate 7200RPM Hard Drives
• DVD SuperMulti
• Webcam, Altec Lansing speakers, Backpack, Razer Copperhead USB mouse
• 120W (19V x 6.32A) 100-240V AC Adapter
• 6-cell 53Wh 11.1v 4800mAh Lithium Ion battery
• Dimensions (WxDxH): 14.6" x 10.3" x 1.3-1.6"
• Weight: 7lbs 8.2oz
• 2-Year Global Warranty/1-Year Accidental damage
• Price as configured: $1,499

Build and Design
The design of the G51 is very gamer-inspired. The outside graphics are futuristic and cool, without being too over-dramatic for the casual gamer. At first glance the new design almost looks like the edges are scratched into the glossy surface, but upon closer inspection that is just the design of the artwork as it branches out to the top and bottom. The inside of the G51 has a more back-to-basics look with a rubberized black palmrest, black backlit keyboard, and glossy black trim around the display. I personally think the design could have been helped by using more rubberized paint other surfaces around the notebook, since it had an excellent soft texture.

Build quality is above average, with sturdy plastic used throughout the notebook, but there are some areas that could see some improvement. The screen cover feels very durable, and protects the screen against any distortion from impacts to the back cover or flexing the screen side to side. The palmrest and keyboard have absolutely no flex at all, which is something you need if you are going to be playing high-stress games and occasionally taking out some of your anger on your computer. The newer design of the G51J compared to the G51VX doesn't have the same paint overspray issue, since the side colors are solid for each piece of plastic.

Users looking to upgrade components inside the notebook will find it very easy, thanks to a single panel giving you access to all user-replaceable components. The only "warranty void if removed" sticker is covering one of the screws used to tension the processor heatsink, meaning that if you want to change out the processor or graphics card you will be forfeiting your 2-year warranty. Considering this notebook offers one of the faster notebook processors right now, the need to tinker with the processor should be minimal.

Screen and Speakers
Considering that this notebook will be used for gaming, an excellent screen is a must. The display on the G51 looks above average with good color saturation and better than average viewing angles. The glossy surface helps make the already good looking colors "pop" out at you more than they would on a matte display, as well as improving the looks of dark colors. ASUS provides a quick and easy way to switch color profiles with the screen, and each one is significantly better than the unaltered one. They really help tone down the harsh blues while bumping the other colors slightly. While gaming I didn't notice any lag or abnormal backlight bleed in dark scenes. Vertical viewing angles were very good, offering a broad sweet spot before colors started to invert if you tilted the screen forward or back. Horizontal viewing angles were excellent, keeping colors accurate, albeit slightly washed out, at very steep angles. Backlight brightness was more than adequate to be viewable in a bright room, but unless you stick to a shaded area underneath a tree, it won't be viewable outdoors.

The Altec Lansing speakers sounded nice, but given the overall size of this notebook we had hoped for a subwoofer as well. Audio from the speakers consisted mostly of higher frequencies, with some midrange coming through. Bass was lacking, but without a subwoofer that is normal for most notebooks. As a gaming notebook I think headphones should be required, especially surround sound-enabled headphones so you can hear your surroundings and react accordingly.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard was comfortable to use, and really helped solidify the overall look of the notebook. The keys and inner trim were all matching black, with white lettering that lights up when the backlight is enabled. The individual keys were easy to press, and felt very solid with very little wiggle if you moved your hand around the keyboard. Support was very good, with no flex noticed in the primary typing region. Compared to the previous ASUS G51 notebook in for review, the tray has been improved, with it no longer having play inside the bezel. It can no longer be pushed to the bottom and popped out using only your fingers.

The G51 includes a large Synaptics touchpad with a very smooth barely- textured surface. The speed of the touchpad is excellent, with it able to smoothly pickup slow and steady movement, or quick targeting movement. No lag was noticed what-so-ever. X and Y-axis speeds were matched, allowing you to draw near perfect circles with your fingertip, instead of ovals. The touchpad buttons were easy to trigger, but didn't give as much feedback as longer throw buttons.