Best Laptop

Finding the Best Laptop: Buyer's Guide

Unless you know specifically what you're going for, you're likely to be confused by the vast array of choices in the laptop market. A quick glance will make it seem as though price has little bearing on size, performance, and features. That being said, there are distinct niches and structures in this market that each cater to a specific group of users. You'll find that once you decide what you need your laptop for, sorting through all of the different models and options becomes more of a preference thing above all else. Here's what you should be looking for when looking to buy a laptop.

Category
The first thing to decide is which category of laptop you need. There are five relevant 'standard' categories, each with its own advantages and drawbacks. Depending on your preferences and requirements, you can narrow down which category you'll be shopping in.

Netbooks
The smallest laptops sold today fall under the 'netbook' category. This includes models like the Asus EeePc and the Acer Aspire One. Netbooks are miniscule laptops with shrunken keyboards and pointing devices, and are entirely different from the other categories of laptops when it comes to design and components. Both the small size and low cost of a typical netbook requires the omission of items such as optical drives and legacy device support, leaving a very basic set of USB, 3.5mm audio jacks, and ethernet ports. The low-voltage processors that are commonly found in netbooks emphasize efficiency for long battery life (over 10 hours in most cases), and thus make do with lower performance that may not be up to everyone's standards. On the other hand, netbooks combine their tiny size and light weight with full internet connectivity via built-in Wi-Fi. This makes it easier to bring the netbook with you wherever you go and remain connected to the internet for basic tasks such as email and web surfing. A more recent trend involves mobile broadband-equipped netbooks paired with service plans sold by wireless companies, so internet access can be anywhere. Netbooks have screen sizes ranging from 7 to 12 inches, and are definitely not suitable for all-day work thanks to the cramped ergonomics and eye strain inducing postcard-sized screens. Other features include the widespread use of solid-state drives, due to their energy efficiency and lack of moving parts to be damaged. Choose a netbook if you need a highly portable computer with you at all times and don't have performance requirements beyond checking email, web surfing, and occasional note taking/word processing. Check out the best netbooks to see our recommendations in this category.

Ultraportable
The next category encompasses small laptops that are extremely light and easy to carry around, yet offer decent performance. These computers are appropriately named 'ultraportable', though the term 'ultrathin' is beginning to see increased usage. While ultraportables may be confused with netbooks at first glance, laptops in this category are usually much more expensive and feature higher performance. This includes models like the MacBook Air and the ThinkPad X-Series, both of which include regular processors and weigh in at under 3 pounds. Ultraportables do not come equipped with optical drives, as doing so would take up space and increase weight. Screen size ranges from 9 to 13 inches, and several models in this category include a full-size keyboard for better ergonomics. Some may argue that ultraportables are simply hopped-up netbooks while others prefer to see them as scaled-down 'normal' computers. Whichever viewpoint you choose, there's no questioning the fact that an ultraportable is much better suited for all-day work. However, some may be turned off by the high price. We've selected the best ultraportable laptops, so go ahead and see our recommendations if you're shopping for a computer in this category.

Thin and Light
'Thin and Light' laptops tend to be one of the more popular category choices in today's market, with models like the Apple MacBook and 13-inch MacBook Pro defining this category perfectly. The laptops in this category generally have 13-inch screens, and are good for everyday tasks including web surfing, email, and even some gaming. Optical drives usually come standard in this category, as well as a larger number of ports than ultraportables and netbooks. While the performance won't necessarily blow your socks off, these computers utilize dual-core processors and 2-4GB of RAM for competent performance. You'll also find roomy hard drives ranging from 160 to 500 gigabytes. Still, 'thin and light' laptops have drawbacks just like everything else. The 'light' portion of the name is often debatable, with the white plastic MacBook weighing in at a touch under 5 pounds. This may not sound like much on its own, but the weight will quickly get tiring if you need to lug your computer around constantly. The 13-inch screen size is either an ideal compromise between size efficiency and usable space, or an annoying size that accomplishes neither. Thin and light laptops often forgo dedicated GPUs, instead drawing from the on-board memory. These computers are best suited for those who work on their computer often, but need something small enough to not be a chore to tote. If this sounds like you, see our recommendations for the best thin & light laptops.

Mainstream/Midrange
'Mainstream' laptops are considerably larger than models from the previous three categories, but that's about the only feature that laptops in this category share with each other. These laptops come equipped with screens ranging in size from 14 inches to 16 inches, though a 15-inch widescreen is the most commonly found option these days. The larger size allows the inclusion of optical drives and discrete graphics cards, though not all models feature the latter. Laptops in this category can be relatively inexpensive, but the price can just as easily head in the opposite direction depending on the performance and features. Budget-friendly options are equipped with dual-core processors running at (comparatively) lower clock speeds, while pricier models can be found with quad-core processors and high-end mobile GPUs. Battery life is not a strong point with mainstream laptops, as the higher power requirements are not conducive to energy savings. When considering a mainstream laptop, be sure to do your homework and make certain that the model that you're going to spend money on has exactly the features you want. For our recommendations, see our list of the best midrange laptops.

Desktop Replacement
The largest laptops are 'desktop replacements'. These machines are definitely too heavy to be accurately referred to as 'laptops', and should be seen as compact all-in-one desktop computers that can be moved around more easily than traditional towers. Desktop replacements carry a screen size of larger than 17 inches, and come equipped with high-end processors and powerful GPUs. These computers stretch the meaning of 'portable', as some models can approach 10 pounds and will not fit in standard laptop bags. You'll find that desktop replacement computers generate massive amounts of heat and deplete batteries unbelieveably quickly, making them suitable for use only when placed on a desk and plugged in to a power source. On the other hand, desktop replacements can rival desktop computers in terms of raw speed and processing power, and many video and graphics professionals have adopted these models due to their increased portability. Desktop replacement laptops are also a favorite amongst PC gamers for the same reasons. Computers in this category place extra emphasis on outright performance. Expect to pay a premium for a high-spec desktop replacement. Check out the best high performance laptops for our recommendations.

Features
Not every laptop will come equipped with the features you need or want. For example, manufacturers generally omit extra features on lower-priced models to keep prices down and to entice shoppers to spend more money on a higher-spec option. Here are a few of the features that you should look for when buying a laptop.

- Integrated 802.11g/n Wi-Fi: In the age of instant information, most laptops come from the factory with an integrated Wi-Fi adapter. However, there are still some bargain basement low-end models that do not include this feature standard. Be sure to check carefully before committing to a purchase, as retrofitting a Wi-Fi card to your laptop is not the easiest task in the world. The latest standard is 802.11n, also known as 'Wireless-N'. You'll need access to the corresponding Wi-Fi network for best performance, even though 'N' adapters are backwards-compatible with older standards. If you don't already have a wireless-n router, have a look at our best wireless n routers.

- Bluetooth: Bluetooth capability is a nice feature to have, especially if you want to use a Bluetooth wireless mouse without tying up a USB port for the dongle. Most cell phones can also be paired to a laptop for various purposes via Bluetooth. Keep in mind that some manufacturers offer either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, but not both at the same time. If that's the case, prioritize the latter unless you have another solution already lined up.

- Hard Drive: Most laptops these days come with at least 120GB of hard drive space, with extra-cost options to increase the capacity. There's no point in skimping on hard drive space, so do yourself a favor and get the biggest hard drive you can. This has several benefits, not the least among which is having a larger hard drive that you can store more files on. Larger capacity hard drives are more future-proof, as they tend to eliminate the need to upgrade your laptop. Something else to consider is the hard drive speed. 5400 RPM is the most commonly found speed with laptop hard drives, with 7200 RPM drives being optional. While 5400 RPM hard drives are fine for most purposes, a 7200 RPM hard drive will offer faster access speeds and improved performance that professionals and gamers will appreciate. On the other hand, 7200 RPM hard drives tend to deplete batteries more quickly than 5400 RPM drives.

- Solid State Drives: While this is not a strictly necessary feature, there are some manufacturers that offer a solid state drive (SSD) as an option to replace the traditional hard disk drive (HDD). These drives function identically to USB flash drives and have zero moving parts, making them extremely sturdy and resistant to data loss due to damage. SSDs are also more energy-efficient than standard HDDs, thereby increasing battery life. Given that, SSDs are still much more expensive than a comparatively-sized HDD, and have limited storage capacity.

- Blu-ray: Now that Blu-ray has emerged as the winner of the high definition format war, manufacturers are increasingly equipping their offerings with optional Blu-ray drives. If you option your laptop out with a high-definition optical drive, make sure that it's equipped with an HDMI output so you can playback movies on your HDTV. You should also ensure you can take advantage of the increased resolution if you watch the movie on your laptop, so be sure the laptop screen natively supports 1080p.

Performance
Nobody wants a slow computer, especially if a large monetary investment is required. Netbooks aside, you want to look for powerful dual-core or quad-core processors. Clock speed is no longer the definitive measure of performance, though comparing clock speeds of similar processors (Intel Core i7 with Intel Core i7, Intel Core 2 Duo with Intel Core 2 Duo) should give you a rough idea of performance within the same processor family. Quad-core processors will handily outperform dual-core processors even with lower clock speeds. Only the more expensive, higher-end laptops will come equipped with quad-core processors. Unless you're planning to do intensive video editing, graphics work, or gaming, a quad-core processor is largely unnecessary for most tasks.

Netbooks deserve a section of their own due to the unique specifications. While the dual- and quad-core Intel i3, i5, and i7 processors are dominant in the larger laptops, netbooks have unique processor requirements that focus on low power consumption and high energy efficiency. These computers generally come with Intel Atom processors (or the alternative equivalent) - these are low-voltage processors with rather underwhelming performance specifications compared to 'regular' laptops. These processors are fine for light web browsing and word processing, though don't expect to be able to play games or watch HD movies on a netbook.

The amount of RAM directly impacts the performance of your computer. The majority of today's laptops come with at least 2GB of RAM, which is adequate for most everyday tasks. You may want at least 4GB of RAM if your laptop use consists of data-intensive applications. Video and graphics professionals (and gamers) should consider going for the highest amount of RAM offered by the manufacturer - usually 8GB. RAM sticks are usually user-replaceable with the exception of some netbooks and models like the Apple MacBook Air, where the RAM is soldered directly to the motherboard.

Laptops with larger screens usually offer discrete graphics cards as opposed to 'integrated graphics' which draw memory from the on-board RAM. Although light users aren't likely to notice the difference (with the exception of shorter battery life), those who require graphics processing capabilities will want to go for the best available. 1GB of graphics memory is common these days, with some GPUs offering 1.5GB or more. Keep in mind that powerful GPUs will consume massive amounts of power, restricting their use to desktop replacements that will rarely see unplugged use.

Price & Value
The price of laptops can vary greatly from under $300 for a basic netbook to over $5000 for a fully-equipped desktop replacement. Although many manufacturers advertise attractive 'starting at' prices, this is before any additional options are included. Here's an example: let's say a 15-inch laptop is advertised by the manufacturer as 'Starting at $499'. You'll see how quickly price can bloat once you add on the more powerful Intel Core i7 processor ($300), 4GB of RAM ($200), 500GB 7200RPM hard drive ($150), 1GB graphics card ($200), and productivity software ($300). Before you know it, you're looking at a total of $1649 before taxes for a laptop that was an enticing deal at merely $499.

Consider what the laptop will be used for. If your only usage consists of using your laptop for class and doing school work, spending $2500 for a high-powered graphics-capable model is excessive. You'd be better off looking for a 'thin and light' model costing around $1000-$1400 depending on how many extras you want to add on. Likewise, if you need a computer for professional work, that same 'thin and light' laptop simply will not suffice at any price. Consider ponying up the extra coin for the fastest, most powerful desktop replacement you can afford, and be sure to load it up with the most RAM and the best graphics card offered. When shopping for a laptop, match up your intended usage with the appropriate model and get the best option available to you.