Laptops, Netbooks, Notebooks, NetTops, Eee PC, SmartTops, Mobile PC, Tablet PC

The pencil-thin bezel around the 14-inch widescreen helps make the Gateway ID47H07u one of the most portable mainstream laptops around; it weighs only 4.4 pounds. It’s also well-equipped with everything from a USB 3.0 port to Intel Wireless Display (WiDi) technology for cloning the PC’s screen on an HDTV.

The ID47H07u flaunts a handsome aluminum alloy lid and keyboard deck, the latter setting off the metallic chiclet-style keys. You won’t find the backlit keyboard seen on our Editors’ Choice Dell Inspiron 14z (Core i5), but you’ll appreciate the smooth, precise typing feel. A plus-size touchpad has integrated—rather than dedicated—mouse buttons. They work well enough, but the pad’s plastic surface puts up a little more friction or resistance than I’m used to. Read the rest of this entry »

These days, when people think laptops and notebooks, they want something they can literally put on their laps without causing any actual stress on their thigh bones. But of course there also exist users who are much more particular about the performance of their machine. When we talk about performance however, it usually isn’t about having multiple spreadsheets open at the same time, but rather, the ability of that machine to play games. Traveling gamer, introducing your new best friend, the 17.3-inch Toshiba Qosmio X770. Read the rest of this entry »

This 13in screen Vaio Is very much the money-no-object suggestion in our round up of portables to which you might consider treating yourself this Yule, Far from a run-of-the-mill model, the Z is thinner and tighter than a MacBook Air. It’s also the first laptop to have its own dedicated multimedia dock that contains a dedicated graphics card. DVD drive and LightPeak optical connector. The Sony’s carbon-fiber frame is both incredibly strong and very light – a fact helped by the inclusion of a 256GB solid-state disk (SSD) rather than a plain old hard disk.

The laptop is powered by a Core i7 processor, paired with 4GB of RAM, Ergonomics and typing comfort are marginally compromised, but the Vaio bristles with ports and connectors. It also has a webcam and Skype support, plus a fingerprint reader to control access.

If you’re after an inexpensive laptop and are more interested in performance than a fancy name, the Packard Bell EasyNote TS1IHR039 is well worth a look. It ran away with the crown in our most recent group test of budget laptops, outshining every other contender in terms of speed. It achieves this by packing in an Intel Core i5 processor; although this is twinned with a modest 3GB of RAM, music and video plays well, although gaming isn’t great. Connections include 802.l1b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI and a trio of USB 2.0 ports. There’s a dual-layer DVD-R/RW drive and a media-card slot that takes Memory Stick and xD-Picture Cards as well as the more common SO Card format. Slight compromises in the form of integrated Intel graphics and a 500GB hard drive are our sole criticisms of this excellent and very well-priced I5.6in-screen laptop.

Toshiba’s Satellite L755D is the only laptop here powered by one of AMD’s Llano processors. In some respects, the Toshiba lags behind the Intel-powered opposition. A result of 0.45 in our Real World Benchmarks is a little off the pace, and battery life leaves the Toshiba bringing up the rear.

When it comes to gaming, however, AMD’s Llano takes on models with dedicated graphics. It wasn’t until we pushed up our Crysis test to Medium detail that the Toshiba slowed to an average of 25fps. It’s mightily impressive.

Elsewhere, the Toshiba puts in a solid effort. The keyboard and touchpad throw up no nasty surprises, and the display delivers lively colour reproduction. Connectivity is good, too, although USB 3 is entirely absent.

It isn’t perfect, but those looking for good gaming ability on the cheap won’t be disappointed.

The Toshiba Portege Z835-P330 is the newest member of the Portege line, and it’s Toshiba’s first ultrabook. Available exclusively through Best Buy, the Portege Z835-P330 is currently the cheapest of the new slim-laptop category of ultrabooks, selling for just under $800. It also has a featherweight chassis, an unusually full feature set, and a long-lasting battery that will take you through an entire workday. Whether or not those highlights are enough to make you overlook its middling performance and mediocre graphics capability is up to you. Read the rest of this entry »

Lenovo’s staggeringly powerful and well-equipped B570 easily asserts itself as one of the best laptops in this group test.

The plain black chassis design puts function firmly before form. The tough, ridged plastics easily withstand scuffs and scratches and the firm lid capably protects the screen from damage.

Although this is not the heaviest laptop we’ve seen, at 2.4kg it’s also not ideal for regularly working on the move. The 157-minute battery life is average and can keep you working on short journeys, but falls far short of the four-hour mobility of the compact Alienware in this group test. Read the rest of this entry »

Toshiba’s Satellite Pro range is designed for business use, but solid build quality, strong usability and decent specifications make the C660-1UX suitable for home use. Its sturdy plastic chassis has all the resilience you’d expect from a business machine. The textured, matt finish feels great and protects well against scuffs and scratches. Build quality is impressive throughout, with no flex in evidence on any of the panels. Even the thick screen is well put together and sure to withstand frequent family use. Read the rest of this entry »

The X53E is a seriously smart laptop. Brushed metal surrounds the keyboard with a striking red finish, and even the red lid looks the part. The Core i3 CPU is sufficient, and the 640GB hard disk provides ample storage.

It gets off to a great start: build quality is good and sturdy, and the display delivers ample brightness. This, however, is tempered by ergonomic issues. A slight bounce in the keyboard’s base and an irritating half-length Shift key drag it down, and the Altec Lansing speakers ate among the worst on test. Good looks simply aren’t enough to mask these flaws.

You wouldn’t know to look at it, bill Dell’s diminutive Latitude E6220 is this month’s second-priciest machine. It will set you back £1,751, only £50 less than Sony’s VAIO Z.

It lacks the looks and lightness of the Sony, but the Dell gets straight down to business. The build quality is superb, with no give at all in the base or lid and the no-nonsense keyboard eschews Scrabble riles for solid keys that are comfortable to type on.

The Dell has integrated 3G and dual-band 802.1 In Wi-Fi; there’s a fingerprint reader alongside the two responsive track pad buttons; and you get a generous three-year, next-business-day warranty. The only compromises arc the lack of an optical drive and USB 3 ports. Read the rest of this entry »

Dell’s XPS logo has adorned sonic fine laptops over the years, and its XPS 15 is no exception. Visually, it isn’t the most stunning addition to the range. A sea of silver and grey stretches around its portly, thick-set curves, and a huge nine-cell hatter; juts out of the underside, propping up the laptop’s rear.

Instead, the XPS 15 has it where it counts. The hacklit keyboard feels great to type on and the wide-gamut display pampers your eyes with a Full HD resolution and eye-popping visuals. If anything, it’s too vibrant; the wide gamut panel regularly veers into oversaw ration.

Pop a Blu-ray movie into the XPS I5՝s drive and any qualms about its colour reproduction rapidly evaporate. The sheer detail and depth of the images on offer are something to behold, and the JBL-branded speakers make their mark. Using Waves’ Man Audio technology – a cut-down version of the Waves sound-enhancing tools more often found in music studios – music and movies sound lull and clear, leaching startling: volumes for mere laptop speakers.

Acer describes its Aspire Ethos range as designed for “discriminating” users – and with a quad-tore Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM and a Blu-ray drive as standard

Part of the Acer’s considerable weight is due to the battery. It’s a sealed unit that Acer claims will manage three times as many recharge cycles as a conventional battery. It lasts a fair while in day-to-day use, too: in our light-use test, it powered the Acer to a table-topping 7hrs 46mins, Thai stamina is matched by performance. A benchmark score of 0.83 puts the Acer at the front of the pack, and the GeForce GT SSSM graphics chip earns it third place – 44fps. But the Acer’s real party trick is its removable touchpad. A latch along the front edge releases it. Read the rest of this entry »

Easily the most gorgeous machine on test, with a curved chassis that weighs in at just 1.3kg and measures just 19mm at its thickest. The Series 9 is made of the same material – duralumin – used in tighter jets, but while the frame is impressively strong, the lid bends far too easily for our liking. However, despite frantic twisting, the 13.3-inch screen remained stoically in one piece and delivered bright. 1366×768 HD playback. Read the rest of this entry »

The Asus U36J is built for travel slender and light enough to slip into your carry-on, but tough enough to survive a battering from airport baggage handlers and regular forays on to public transport.

The bright and vibrant 13.3-inch display is easy to view from most angles, meaning more than one person can watch movies on the 1366×768 pixel WXGA screen, should you choose to allow them. There’s no built-in DVD drive, so you’ll have to load up the 500GB hard drive with flicks before you set off. The basic integrated graphics struggle with HD video, so you’re stuck with standard-def movies. Read the rest of this entry »

The Lenovo G770 packs fantastic power and good graphical performance into a solid big-screen laptop which is great for the home. We’d recommend it to anyone looking for a desktop replacement, but movie buffs will be disappointed about the lack of a 1080p screen.

The first think that strikes yon when opening the G770 is the fantastic build quality. There’s an expanse of brushed metal, in which sits a generous isolation-style keyboard with well-cushioned keys. It took us a while to get used to the travel between the keys, but it was comfortable to use for long periods. Read the rest of this entry »

If you crave a MacBook Air for the design, but don’t want to stop using Windows and your favorite programs, then the Samsung 900X3A (£1100 inc. VAT) is the best alternative you can find. The 9 Series is only 12mm thick at its widest point and the brushed-metal exterior gives the build quality a premium look.

The quality extends to the specifications with a Sand} bridge processor capable of handling demands as well as its Apple rival. In short, if you need a stylish ultra-thin Windows machine for travelling, this is as good as they come. Read the rest of this entry »

Toshiba has a good record when it comes to laptops you can peak into a hag and take away with yon. The high-end Portege range has been finding favor with business users for a while now. But Toshiba is offering a more affordable alternative with the 13.3-inch Satellite LV30-10V (£479 inc. VAT). Although the Satellite would serve as a good travelling companion, there are some underlying issues which prevent it being a great laptop. Read the rest of this entry »

The latest release from Dell-owned Alienware, the M18X (£1699 inc. VAT), is a behemoth with enough power to run any game under the sun without as much as a flicker. But you’ll have to have deep pockets to get your hands on one.

Even getting the M18X out of the box is a challenge, thanks to its 438 x 311 x 52mm dimensions and a backbreaking weight of 5.7kg. This machine was designed to dominate your desk. As expected, it sticks to the Alienware design, which we love, but probably won’t be to everyone’s taste. The entire machine is a slab of moulded rubber and brushed metal, and that ever-present Tron-style neon backlight. Read the rest of this entry »

This mainstream laptop has a boatload of features, sports a thin, attractive chassis, and breezes through any task. The eight hours of battery life only add to the allure. Aside from some minor annoyances—the stiff-clicking mouse and irksome port covers—it should be at the top of your list of laptops to consider and is our new Editors’ Choice for mainstream laptops.

Like other 14-inch laptops, the 14z (Core i5) integrates a DVD burner, yet kept its dimensions as svelte as those of the Asus U46E-BAL5 and Gateway ID47H02U. It’s the only one that omitted a VGA port—a forward-thinking move—and instead opted to have both HDMI and mini-DisplayPort technologies. Both connectors can transmit digital audio and video to an external display. Read the rest of this entry »

TOSHIBA docs a wide range of Satellite laptops from no-frills budget models to high-powered multimedia machines. The Satellite C670D-108 (£349 inc. VAT) is one of its entry-level models, a machine that provides basic home entertainment.

Featuring a large 17.3֊inch display this is the biggest laptop in the group test. That extra bulk means it’s heavier and more cumbersome to carry around, but the C670D wasn’t designed to be lugged about every day. This is a desktop replacement machine, which is best led at home and carried between rooms if needed. Despite this, the battery survived for almost two and a half hours when watching movies. Read the rest of this entry »