Top 10 reviews of 2011: IBM 5150, iPhone 4S, and Dell and Lenovo laptops

The consumerisation of IT has been a hot topic for businesses throughout 2011, as IT departments come under growing pressure to support new and untested devices.

Our most-read reviews of the year highlight this trend, with products like the iPhone, Android devices and e-readers all making the list, along with tried and tested laptops.

But top of the pile was something a little more old-fashioned: our review of the first ever personal computer. The IBM 5150 was launched 30 years ago, and we managed to dig up our original review to see how it was received back in August 1981, and also how it compares to today's high-powered machines. A fascinating read for any tech fan.

Readers were also intrigued to see how certain products fared against each other, as we pitted the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 against their predecessors, the Kindle against the Sony Reader, and even considered whether the iPad was worth ditching in place of a MacBook Air.

Android was represented by the Samsung Galaxy and HTC Desire ranges, while Dell and Lenovo proved there's still life in the laptop market with new Latitude and ThinkPad models rounding out the list.

IBM PC @ 30: Original review of the Personal Computer Model 5150
Read this exclusive review from 1981 to see how the first ever personal computer compares with today's machines

 

 

 

Apple iPhone 4S vs iPhone 4 head-to-head
Has Apple done enough to tempt users into an upgrade from the iPhone 4?

 

 

 

Amazon Kindle Wi-Fi vs Sony Reader Wi-Fi (PRS-T1) e-reader head-to-head review
Sony revamps its reader to take on the Kindle

 

 

 

Apple MacBook Air 11in vs iPad 2 head-to-head review
V3 looks at whether the ultra portable laptop renders the popular tablet obsolete

 

 

 

Samsung Galaxy S II review
The new Galaxy S II looks ready to take over as the leader of the Android army

 

 

 

Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs Apple iPhone 4S head-to-head review
Does the Ice Cream taste better than the Apple?

 

 

 

Dell Latitude E6520 review
A superbly built but weighty laptop for the corporate market

 

 

 

 

Lenovo ThinkPad X220i review
This 12.5in ultraportable boasts good battery life for mobile professionals

 

 

 

HTC Desire S review
Android 2.3 device is a solid upgrade, but a tad pricey

 

 

 

 

Apple iPad 2 versus iPad - head to head review
Key upgrades make this the best tablet on the market, but original iPad owners shouldn't be in a rush to trade up

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