Cheap Laptops: Reviews

Blessed with a solid lineup of basic components and a few extras that some more expensive laptops leave out, experts say the Acer Aspire 5738PG is a terrific choice for laptop buyers on a budget -- and even for those who… are not. The Acer Aspire 5738PG includes an ATI Radeon Mobility graphics card, a rarity among cheap laptops, for better graphics performance. While hardcore gamers still won't be impressed, 3-D game play should be enjoyable for everyone else. Another major feature is a touch-sensitive display that gives users fingertip control over files and software, though some complain about rough edges in Acer's interface. The Acer Aspire 5738DG (*Est. $780) is identical, but replaces the touch screen with a 3-D-capable display and stereoscopic glasses. The base Acer Aspire 5738 (*Est. $600) has neither of those high-end features and removes the ATI card, but still provides solid everyday computing at an attractive price.

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Reviewers are absolutely floored by the performance, svelte form factor, and incredible battery life of the 13.3-inch Asus UL30A. At just 1 inch thick and under 4 pounds, the UL30A holds its own against snazzy… ultraportable laptops that cost much more. Performance is good, especially if you opt for a version with a dual-core processor as most experts recommend. Graphics are the biggest shortfall. It is fine for most everyday tasks and light-duty multimedia, but gaming won't be terrific. The keyboard is consistently praised for its ease of use. Build quality is solid, and it's backed by a two-year warranty (versions with shorter warranties are also available) plus an additional one-year warranty that covers accidental damage. Battery life is nearly unbelievable -- lasting as much as 10 hours in some tests -- more than just about any other consumer laptop at any price.

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The 11.6-inch Acer Aspire 1810T might look like a netbook, but under its unassuming exterior beats the heart of a full-fledged laptop. Thanks to the use of an ultra-low-voltage Intel Core 2 Duo processor, performance is… terrific -- well beyond what any netbook (or many other very cheap laptops) can deliver. Like most of the latest CULV-powered laptops, graphics are the biggest weakness, but no other laptop at its price will do better. Those interested in light-duty gaming or multimedia should be more than satisfied. In addition, the 1810T flies through most everyday tasks. Battery life is terrific at just under nine hours in tests. The keyboard is smaller than standard, but reviews indicate that most find it easy to use.

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