|
A desktop computer
typically costs less for equivalent performance and is easier to
upgrade, expand, and repair. It usually offers better ergonomics,
such as a more comfortable keyboard, bigger eye-level display, and
enhanced audio. But as costs plummet, a laptop computer is your best
choice if portability and compactness are priorities.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
Acer, Dell, Gateway
(recently purchased by Acer), HP (which also makes Compaq), Lenovo
(formerly branded as IBM), Sony, and Toshiba are the leading Windows
laptop brands. Apple makes Mac OS MacBook and MacBook Pro models.
Laptops can be grouped into several basic configurations:
Budget models. These have
slower processors and fewer features than others but are suitable for
routine office work and home software. Price: $800 or less.
Workhorse models. These
have faster processors and more built-in devices, so there's less
need for external attachments. They also have larger screens and
enhanced sound and video components for home-entertainment uses.
They're not lightweight or battery-efficient enough for frequent
travelers. Price: $800 and up.
Slim-and-light models.
These are for travelers. They are about an inch thick and weigh about
3 to 4 pounds. Some require an external drive to read DVDs or burn
CDs. Price: $1,000 and up.
Tablet-style. These sit in
your hand like a clipboard and have handwriting-recognition software.
Some convert to a 'Äúnormal'Äù laptop with a keyboard. Price: $1,000
and up.
FEATURES THAT COUNT
Laptops generally come
with a single- or dual-core processor.
Cheaper ones come with a single-core processor such as the Intel
Celeron or AMD Sempron, which are fine for basic Web browsing and
e-mail. For computer users with greater needs, dual-core processors
such as the Intel Core 2 Duo and AMD Turion 64 X2 are recommended.
Laptops come with a 60- to
250-gigabyte hard drive and
512 megabytes or more of random-access memory
(RAM). We recommend at least 1GB. Models that
come standard with 2GB of RAM have become common, a healthy trend for
those using Windows Vista, which should have at least 1GB but runs
even better with double that amount.
Laptops use a rechargeable
lithium-ion battery. In CONSUMER REPORTS
tests, a normal battery provided two to nearly five hours of
continuous use when running office applications. (Laptops go into
sleep mode when used intermittently, extending the time between
charges.) You can lengthen battery life if you dim the display, turn
off wireless devices when not needed, and use only basic
applications. Playing a DVD movie uses more battery power than other
functions, but most laptops should be able to play one through to the
end. Many laptops can accept an “extended” battery, adding size
and weight but giving as much as twice the battery life.
A laptop's keyboard
can be quite different from that of a desktop
computer. The keys themselves might be full-sized (generally only
lightweight models pare them down), but they might not feel as solid.
Some laptops have extra buttons to expedite your access to e-mail or
a Web browser, or to control DVD playback. You can attach a USB
keyboard, which you might find easier to use.
A 14- to 15-inch display,
measured diagonally, should suit most people. Displays that are 17
inches are becoming more common. A resolution of 1,440x900 (WXGA+)
pixels (picture elements) or more is better than 1,280x800 (WXGA) for
viewing the fine detail in photographs or video, but it might shrink
objects on the screen. You can use settings in Windows to make them
larger. Most models are offered with a display that has a glossy
surface instead of a matte one. Those look better in bright ambient
light as long as you avoid direct reflections. Try to view the screen
in bright light before buying. A “wide aspect” display (WXGA or
WSXGA) fits wide-screen DVD movies better.
A new display technology
called LED-backlit LCD
is making its way into laptops. An advantage of the technology is its
more efficient use of power and, as a result, longer battery life.
Color on LED-backlit screens is sometimes better, sometimes worse
than displays using older technologies.
Most laptops use a small
touchpad in place of a
mouse; you slide your finger across it to move the cursor. You can
also program the pad to respond to a “tap” as a “click,” or
scroll as you sweep your index finger along the pad's right edge.
An alternative system uses a pointing stick the size of a pencil
eraser in the middle of the keyboard. You can attach a USB or
wireless mouse or trackball if you prefer.
Laptops usually include at
least one PC-card or Expresscard slot for
expansion. You might add a wireless-network card or a cellular modem
if those are not built in.
Some laptops offer a
connection for a docking station,
a $100 to $200 base that makes it easy to connect an external
monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, network, and power in one step.
Most laptops let you
attach those devices without the docking station. At least two USB
ports for easy hookup of, say, a printer,
digital camera, or scanner are standard. A wired
network (Ethernet) port is also standard. A
FireWire port for
digital-video transfer is common. An internal
wireless-network (Wi-Fi) adapter is standard.
Another option is an internal Bluetooth
wireless adapter to link to a
Bluetooth-capable cell phone, camera, or another laptop.
A growing number of
laptops include fingerprint scanners for
security and as a convenient alternative to typing a password when
logging in.
For backing up files or
transferring them to other computers, you can use a USB
memory drive (about $20 and up), which fits
on a keychain and holds as much data as a CD-R, or save files on a
writeable CD or camera-memory card. The small speakers
built into laptops often sound tinny. Headphones or external speakers
deliver much better sound.
HOW TO CHOOSE
Consider the following:
Windows vs. Macintosh.
Many people choose laptops using the Windows operating system because
it's what they've always used, but Apple's Mac OS is a fine
alternative. In recent subscriber surveys, Consumer
Reports found Apple's technical support to
be top-notch. According to another survey, we also found that Apple
computers were less susceptible to most viruses and spyware than
Windows-based computers. Among Windows laptops, Lenovo's tech
support is above average. Dell's problem-solving skills are above
average.
Buy ‡ la carte.
Dell and Gateway pioneered the notion that every computer could be
tailored to an individual's needs. Configure-to-order is now common
practice for laptops as well as desktops.
Menus show you all the
options and let you see how a change affects the overall price. You
might decide on a less-expensive processor, for example, but spend
more for wireless capability or better graphics. Configure-to-order
will often give you choices you won't get if you buy an
off-the-shelf model. And it means less chance of overlooking
important details. But be sure to double-check your choices before
ordering, and look for unwanted items that some manufacturers include
by default.
You can also purchase a
computer off the shelf. (You can do the same online if you opt for
the default choices of equipment the manufacturer offers.) Most
retail configurations are quite robust.
Downplay the processor
speed. Current dual-core processors deliver
all the speed most people need. Spend your money on more memory.
Ergonomics can make or
break a laptop. Look for a keyboard with keys
that don't feel mushy. Touchpads should be large enough so your
finger can cover the span of the screen without repeatedly lifting
it, and touchpad buttons should be easy to find and press. The
touchpad should also have a dedicated scroll area.
The laptop shouldn't get
hot during use (89 to 100 degrees is a good range), and it should run
quietly. Ideally, devices such as optical drives should be in front
for easy access. Glossy screens are now standard on most laptops.
Several have added antireflective coatings, with mixed results.
Decide on a screen
size. If you're planning to carry the
laptop around with you frequently, a 13-inch model is probably the
right choice. In our tests of 13-inch systems, we found that you
might have to sacrifice some speed, and you'll spend a few hundred
dollars more than you would for a larger laptop. But you'll also
lighten your load by at least a couple of pounds, and you'll find
many of the same features on slim-and-lights that are available on
larger laptops, including webcams, memory-card readers, and
fingerprint scanners.
If you don't mind
trading an inch of screen space for a half-pound to a pound or so of
weight, laptops with 14-inch displays are a good, welterweight
alternative for travelers on a budget.
Laptops with a 15-inch
screen generally offer the ideal balance of performance, portability,
and price. They weigh about 6 pounds, although you can find some
lighter ones. They're a good choice for those who need to take a
laptop along less frequently, and a system in the 15-inch size range
can easily be configured to serve as a desktop replacement.
For a full-blown,
entertainment-oriented desktop replacement, consider a 17-inch model.
You'll get a good-sized screen, better speakers, and more options
for multimedia features. It will cost more than a comparable desktop,
but it's handy if you have space constraints or if you're
planning to use it in areas of your house other than the home office.
Think green.
A new, voluntary Energy Star standard went into effect last summer
for laptop and desktop computers that should result in more efficient
power use. Energy-use guidelines now cover three operating
modes—standby, sleep, and running—with systems entering sleep
mode within 30 minutes of inactivity. Power supplies will also need
to operate more efficiently.
You probably won't
notice much difference in the operation of your computer, but your
electric bill might go down a bit. Look for the Energy Star label on
qualified laptops. The price of laptops won't increase because of
the new standard, according to a spokesperson for the Environmental
Protection Agency's Energy Star program.
Most laptop manufacturers
also have recycling programs that help you dispose of your old
laptop, but the programs vary considerably from one company to
another.
Apple's and Dell's
recycling options are the best among the brands we rated for this
article. They provide free recycling of your old system when you buy
a new Apple or Dell product, no matter what brand you are replacing.
Acer's program exists only in a few states.
Copyright © 2003-2008
Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
For the latest information on this and many other products and services, visit www.ConsumerReports.org.
|
