How to Buy a Laptop That’s Perfect for You

Computer Shopper, January 12th, 2007

The laptop is the most personal of personal computers. You not only have to select a design that complements your computing style, but you also have to configure it with components that match your computing needs. That may sound easy, but the options for laptop shoppers have exploded in recent years. You have to choose among under-3-pound featherweights, capable (and affordable) everyday models, and totally tricked-out gaming rigs. And for each of these laptop types, you're faced with an abundance of choices about the components that power them.

All these decisions can be confusing, and determining exactly what you need both outside and inside the case is no small feat. We can help. In this guide we break down the choices for high-flying corporate types, average home PC users, TV/PC trailblazers, and hard-core gamers. Besides telling you what you need to know before you buy, we also suggest our top choice for each category, as well as an affordable alternative.


BUSINESS: CAPABLE AND LIGHTWEIGHT FOR TRAVEL

Notebooks are a godsend for mobile workers and frequent fliers. If the check-in agents at the airport know you by name, you'll want one of the thinnest, lightest models available—an ultraportable. That means compact size and light weight will appear near the top of your must-have list. (If you only travel with your laptop a few times a year, skip ahead to our section on mainstream notebooks.)

At less than 4 pounds and generally no more than an inch thick, these petite portables are easy on your back and shoulders. Screen sizes typically range from 10.4 to 12.1 inches; some are wide-format LCDs, which provide a more generous workspace and enable slightly smaller chassis. Many models feature carbon-fiber or magnesium-alloy casing, making them sturdy without adding heft.

The best ultraportables use low- or ultralow-voltage processors that both offer solid performance and enable long battery life. (We're also starting to see ultraportables fitted with Intel's new Core Solo and Core Duo processors.) Another important core spec is RAM. Look for at least 1GB of system memory for optimal performance.

You'll also want to be as connected as possible. Built-in 802.11a/b/g wireless networking is a given, but you should also look out for integrated Bluetooth connectivity, as well as a wireless wide-area-network (WWAN) radio for Internet access via high-speed cellular data services such as Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) or Evolution Data Optimized (EV-DO).

One drawback to these featherweights is that smaller sizes typically limit the feature set. Computer makers simply can't shoehorn in every desirable component, and the optical drive is usually the first to go. Some models do include internal drives, however, and a few give you the flexibility of swapping the optical drive for an extra battery. Also, pay close attention to the size and quality of the keyboard, which is typically smaller than the average laptop's.

OUR PICK: THE ULTRA ULTRAPORTABLE
Though it's not cheap (prices start at $2,299), the Sony VAIO TXN Series is pretty much everything an ultraportable business notebook should be. It measures a trim 1.2x10.7x7.7 inches, yet Sony manages to include a relatively spacious keyboard and an 11.1-inch wide-screen display. With its standard battery installed, the TXN weighs a totable 2.8 pounds, thanks in part to a carbon-fiber body that makes it not only lightweight, but also stronger than a notebook encased in magnesium alloy.

Built around the 1.2GHz Core Solo U1400 processor, the TXN has an estimated battery life of up to 11 hours, though normal use will probably net you closer to five hours of work time. The U1400 CPU is a good performer, and it gets some backup oomph from 1GB of DDR2 memory. The specs are rounded out by an 80GB hard drive, integrated Intel graphics, and a built-in double-layer DVD±RW drive.

A biometric fingerprint sensor adds security, and if you want wireless options, Sony offers 802.11b/g, Bluetooth, and WWAN connectivity (the last for access to Sprint Mobile Broadband's high-speed EV-DO service).

MAINSTREAM: ALL YOU NEED FOR DAILY TASKS

With the infusion of new processor technologies, lower costs on LCD panels, and smaller, less-expensive components such as optical and hard drives, the line separating budget notebooks from their more expensive thin-and-light brethren is blurring—so much so, in fact, that we simply consider both types mainstream models.

What specs make a good mainstream notebook? For starters, it should weigh between 4 and 7 pounds. Other key features to look for: a screen size of 14 or 15 inches, a full-size keyboard and touch pad, a DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive or DVD burner, 512MB or 1GB of memory, and at least a 60GB hard drive (80GB or more if it will be your primary PC).

As for your CPU and graphics processor, that's a little trickier. You'll find a broad range of processors in models with the aforementioned features. From Intel it may be a Celeron M, Pentium M, Core Solo, Core Duo, or Core 2 Duo, from least to most expensive. AMD offers Sempron Mobile, Athlon 64 Mobile, Turion 64, and Turion 64 X2, again from cheapest to priciest. Without delving into too many details, generally the less you spend, the slower the performance you'll get. If you only plan to send e-mail and browse the Web, you'll be fine with a low-end CPU—just don't skimp on RAM. The same goes for graphics. Most systems employ integrated graphics—fine for basic tasks. Anything more than that, however, and you'll want discrete graphics from ATI or nVidia.

OUR PICK FOR... EVERYDAY PERFECTION
A near-perfect blend of performance, price, and design, the latest Apple MacBooks meet the needs of most mainstream users. The entry price of $1,099 includes some solid specs: a 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 512MB of memory, a 60GB hard drive, a slot-loading DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive, built-in Bluetooth and 802.11b/g wireless, and an integrated Webcam and microphone. All this comes wrapped in a handsome package weighing 5.2 pounds and measuring 1.1x12.8x8.9 inches.

Those specs alone are pretty sweet, but Apple goes further by including iLife '06—its outstanding package of media-centric software for editing, managing, and enjoying digital music, video, and photos. Apple also bundles a mini remote control that, when used in combination with its Front Row app, enables you to access digital content from across the room. The MacBook's screen measures only 13.3 inches, however, so you'll need to connect the laptop to a television or larger monitor to get a good view.

While the MacBook doesn't offer as many ports as some notebooks do, it certainly has enough for the average user. Analog and digital audio ins and outs, a FireWire port, two USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and a mini-DVI port are all clustered along one side, adding to the notebook's elegant design.

MULTIMEDIA: READY FOR MUSIC, PHOTOS, AND VIDEO

Access to music, photos, and video on our desktop PCs is something we've come to expect, but getting that same convenience in a notebook requires configuring one for that purpose. With screen sizes of 15, 17, or even 20 inches, and travel weights as heavy as 15 pounds, however, these desktop replacements aren't designed for travel. Nor are they cheap: Multimedia notebooks with moderate specs typically cost at least $1,200. They are, however, loaded with key components ideal for digital entertainment.

For example, a choice Windows XP Media Center Edition notebook will have a full selection of hardware control buttons for everything from fast-forwarding through a DVD to adjusting screen brightness. Plus, many models allow you to play your music or video without booting into Windows, which saves time and conserves battery life. Also, look for models with built-in flash-card readers for quick transfers of digital photos.

Notebook speakers are notoriously tinny and underpowered, however. Some manufacturers, such as Toshiba, are starting to punch up the sound on their mobile PCs. Look for laptops touting audio quality, and, if possible, head to a local tech retailer to listen for yourself. Screen quality is important too, with higher-end models capable of supporting high-definition video content. And if you plan to watch and record TV programs, make sure your laptop includes a TV tuner.

Other components you'll want to pay attention to are the graphics card, hard drive, and optical drive. For graphics, steer clear of "integrated." While you don't need a lot of power, you'll want a dedicated graphics solution with at least 128MB of its own video memory. And, of course, digital-media files (especially video) take up lots of space, so you'll want the largest hard drive possible. Look for at least 100GB of storage. As for an optical drive, you'll need a DVD burner to write videos to DVD. (They're now mostly standard in this notebook class.) You might also want the ability to play back new-generation HD DVD or Blu-ray discs. Though these high-resolution DVD drives are available on only a few models at present, expect them to be readily available in laptops in 2007.

OUR PICK: AN EXCELLENT ENTERTAINER
At $3,499, the Toshiba Qosmio G35-AV660 is expensive, but if you're looking for the finest mobile entertainment center available, this is it. The 17-inch, 1,920x1,200-resolution wide-screen LCD is one of the best around, displaying crisp, bright images in high definition up to 1080p. Above the full-size keyboard—and sitting between the Harman Kardon stereo speakers—is the most complete set of system and A/V controls available on a notebook. The laptop's touch pad also has several configurable touch-sensitive quick-launch buttons, as well as a volume control.

Around the sides you'll find an abundance of connectivity features: a multiformat flash-memory-card reader; an ExpressCard slot; RGB, S-Video, and High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) video outputs; composite and S-Video inputs; analog and digital audio outputs; a FireWire connector; and four USB 2.0 ports. Toshiba opted to go all-out on the optical drive, too, using a drive that plays and burns CDs and DVDs, as well as plays HD DVDs.

Inside are some of the latest components available, such as Intel's 2GHz Core 2 Duo CPU, 2GB of DDR2 memory, two 120GB hard drives, and built-in Bluetooth and 802.11a/b/g wireless networking.

PERFORMANCE: REVVED UP FOR MAXIMUM SPEED

Just about everything you can get in a desktop tower is also available these days in a notebook. While the most-powerful parts continue to be the domain of desktops, dragging a full-size PC with an LCD, input devices, and speakers to a LAN party is, well, a drag. A performance notebook is an excellent alternative.

These notebooks generally provide an extensive assortment of inputs, outputs, and ports for attaching peripherals, along with big, high-resolution displays and quality speaker systems (sometimes including a built-in subwoofer). Also expect features similar to those in multimedia notebooks, such as integrated TV tuners and media-control buttons.

Depending on the make and model, you can get the fastest single- or dual-core mobile processors available from AMD and Intel, more than 300GB of hard drive space, two optical drives, and up to 4GB of DDR2 memory. For graphics power, these notebooks use dedicated mobile graphics processors with their own supplies of memory. Some systems are even available with nVidia's Scalable Link Interface (SLI) technology with dual 512MB GeForce Go 7900 GS cards.

Of course, squeezing all these high-end components into a laptop makes the machine heavier—and hotter. The extra heat that these parts emit makes it less likely that you'll be able to use the unit on your lap comfortably. Battery life, too, will be curtailed by the demands of these parts, so don't expect to stray from an outlet for very long.

Performance, as always, comes at a cost. Prices start around $1,700 and can soar above $4,000 with upgrades.

OUR PICK: A GAMING POWERHOUSE
Dell's XPS M1710 gaming notebook packs an outstanding feature set. You get a good assortment of connections (including six USB 2.0 ports), a multiformat flash-card reader, programmable case lighting, and instant-on entertainment control buttons. The gorgeous 17-inch wide-aspect display features 1,920x1,200 resolution and is great for work or play. Audio is pumped through vibrant stereo speakers backed by a subwoofer.

The M1710 doesn't offer a lot of component options, but those available are all first-class. Intel's Core 2 Duo mobile CPUs are at the heart of this speed demon, with the top-of-the-line 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo T7600 as one of the choices. You'll be tough to beat if you match the processor with up to 4GB of dual-channel 667MHz DDR2 memory, a 7,200rpm 100GB hard drive, and a 512MB nVidia GeForce Go 7900 GTX graphics card for churning out superb frame rates.

Pricing starts at $2,299 for a well-configured system and includes a year of Dell's XPS-only exclusive tech support, coupled with a one-year warranty with mail-in service.