Best Budget Laptops

Top choices among sub-$800 notebooks

If you don't need the lightest laptop and you don't do much graphics-intensive work or gaming, you can get a perfectly good notebook computer for less than $800. Among budget laptops, the Asus UL30A (*Est. $775) (starting at *Est. $700) earns the lions' share of kudos. We've seen reviews of the UL30A running both Vista and Windows 7, and most say that regardless of the operating system, performance is excellent -- and that's especially true when you consider this laptop's other pluses.

The Asus UL30A is part of the latest generation of consumer ultra-low voltage (CULV) laptops that use processors that run cooler and consume less power than most previous CPUs. The result is a very long run time between charges -- as much as 10 hours in some tests -- and a thin and lightweight form -- just 12.9 inches by 9.3 inches by 1 inch, and under 4 pounds. Styling might not match some of the sexiest ultraportables out there, but everyone says the aluminum case (available in black or silver) looks terrific. Most add that the build quality is excellent.

There are tradeoffs to be sure, and those who need heavy horsepower for crunching numbers or playing games will want to run, not walk away. Not everyone is a fan of the glossy screen treatment, and some complain of the display's limited viewing angle. Still, for most users there's more than enough performance and perks to satisfy.

Asus offers the UL30A in a few different configurations, but most reviewers test it with a 1.3 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor; a 500 GB, 5,400 rpm hard drive, 4 GB of memory and an eight-cell battery. A similar configuration, with Windows 7 Home Premium and one year international and accidental damage warranties is currently being offered as the Asus UL30A-X5 (*Est. $700), or with a two-year international warranty as the UL30A-A2 (*Est. $775). All versions of the UL30A also feature a 13.3-inch screen with an LED backlight, a built in 0.3 megapixel webcam, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Altec Lansing speakers, a multi-touch touchpad, HDMI output and a multi-format memory card reader. The UL30A uses a full-sized chiclet keyboard that most say is a joy to use, though the touchpad draws more mixed reactions. One thing that's missing is any type of optical drive; however, that's not an unusual omission for a thin and light laptop.

Reviewer reaction is almost universally positive. Versions of the UL30A garner Editors' Choice selections from Laptop Magazine, HotHardware.com, PCMag.com and ComputerShopper.com. Gizmodo.com compares it to similar CULV laptops -- all running Windows 7 -- and calls it the best choice for its all-around blend of performance, battery life and ergonomics.

We also saw a few nice comments about some other budget CULV notebooks, such as the 13.3-inch Toshiba Satellite T135 (*Est. $700) (starting at *Est. $600). It is available with both single-core and dual-core CULV Intel processors, but most recommend the dual-core Intel SU4100 and for the best computing experience. So equipped, the Toshiba T135 costs about the same as the UL30A above (starting at *Est. $700), but has a smaller hard drive and battery. Performance is good, but just a step behind the UL30A in benchmark testing at NotebookReview.com. Although the six-cell battery life is still long, it's not surprising that the eight-cell UL30A scores slightly higher in battery tests. Features are otherwise similar.

The Acer Aspire 4810 Timeline is also available with single-core and dual-core CULV processors, and, again, experts say that unless you are really strapped for cash, spend the little extra to get the better performance available from the dual-core Intel SU4100 processor (starting at *Est. $650). PCMag.com tests an Acer 4810 that way and running Windows 7. Eric Grevstad is impressed enough to award it four out of five stars. Mark Kyrnin at About.com also includes the laptop in his list of best budget choices, though he comments on a less expensive configuration using a single-core processor.

Though the Acer 4810 Timeline uses a slightly bigger screen (14 inches vs. 13.3 inches) and it is a few ounces heavier, it's still plenty portable. One advantage it has over the laptops above is the inclusion of a multi-format DVD burner. The 320 GB hard drive isn't quite as big as the 500 GB in some versions of the UL30A, but it should be big enough for most users.

As is typical for CULV laptops, benchmarks show enough power for most everyday computing tasks, though it's not a great choice for intensive multimedia or gaming. Battery life is impressive, but the six-cell battery falls just a little bit short of the Asus UL30A in PCMag.com's battery benchmark tests.

The laptops mentioned so far all are pretty paltry performers when it comes to graphics. For those who want to experience heavy-duty multimedia and some basic gaming, the Acer Aspire 5738 offers an intriguing alternative. Rather than relying on an integrated graphics solution, some versions of the 5738 include an ATI Radeon Mobility graphics card. Hard-core gamers will be anything but impressed, but then hard-core gamers shouldn't expect screaming performance in a sub-$800 laptop. For everyone else, gaming performance should be satisfactory as long as expectations are kept in check.

The Acer Aspire 5738 comes in several different models. The base Acer Aspire 5738 (starting at *Est. $600) includes an Intel T6600 Core 2 Duo processor, 4 GB of memory, a 320 GB or 500 GB hard drive, a 5-in-1 memory card reader, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, a multi-format DVD burner and a 15.6-inch display; however, it omits the graphics card and instead uses the more common Intel integrated graphics. However, things get much more interesting with two step-up models. The Acer Aspire 5738PG (*Est. $800) includes the ATI graphics card as well as a touch-sensitive screen that gives users fingertip control of multimedia and other files, features and functions. The Acer Aspire 5738DG (*Est. $780) also offers ATI graphics, but substitutes a 3-D-capable display and stereoscopic glasses for the touch screen.

No one has reviewed the base Acer 5738, but the touch screen and 3-D versions have received a bit of feedback. ComputerShopper.com names the Acer Aspire 5738PG an Editors' Choice, and it's the first sub-$800 Windows laptop so honored by the site. The touch-screen interface is liked well enough, but it's the 5738PG's overall performance that impresses reviewer Catharine Smith. In benchmark testing, the cheap laptop held its own against desktop-replacement laptops, most of which cost considerably more. Graphics performances still can't keep up with the pricier gaming-oriented competition, but even 3-D gaming is still better than average when compared to mainstream laptops. While "light" 3-D gaming is possible, Smith writes, "you should expect to play at lower resolutions and with some eye candy turned off." Battery life that's a little on the low side is a significant negative.

Laptop Magazine also likes the Acer 5738PG, just not as much. Jeffery L. Wilson agrees that it is a good all-around performer. However, while the touch screen itself works well, Acer's interface is criticized for not being very polished. Though Wilson suggest some more and less expensive alternatives, he also says that the "Acer Aspire 5738PG is a well-rounded notebook that provides plenty of style and power, as well as touch capabilities at a wallet-friendly price."

A few reviewers have also looked at the 3-D capable Acer Aspire 5738DG. Cisco Cheng says that it's "a very good budget desktop replacement to begin with; the fact that it offers 3-D rendering is just icing on the cake." However, while the icing is tasty, it's still rough around the edges. Included software and hardware transform standard 2-D graphics to 3-D quickly and easily, but not always perfectly. Results, Cheng reports, are far better with games and photos than with any video format tested. Even putting 3-D aside, Cheng says that the Acer Aspire 5738DG is a very good budget desktop replacement. "It's priced very competitively, performed well, and comes with a decent graphics card when others in its class don't," says Cheng. Though it scores four out of five stars, so-so battery life keeps the Acer Aspire 5738DG from beating out the Dell 1555 (Studio 15) for Editors' Choice honors at PCMag.com. However when configured similarly, the Dell also costs more (*Est. $900), putting it out of the budget class.

We've also seen some recommendations for Toshiba Satellite A505 (*Est. $630). You can custom configure the A505 at Toshiba's website, or purchase several pre-configured versions at retailers or direct from the company. Most critics test the A505 with an Intel T6500 or lesser processor and Windows Vista, but the laptop now ships with a more powerful T6600 Core 2 Duo processer and Windows 7, so performance should be even stronger.

CNET rates the Toshiba A505 a solid 3.5 stars out of five and says that performance long battery life make it a better choice than other laptops that can be bought at retail. Mark Kyrnin at About.com looks at an even less well-equipped version and names it as the best value among budget laptop. Negatives are few, but a glossy case that easily shows off fingerprints is one.

Users post a lot of helpful feedback at BestBuy.com. The system offered there includes an Intel T6600 Core 2 Duo processor, Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit), 4 GB of memory, a 16-inch display, a 500 GB hard drive, a multiformat DVD burner, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, a webcam and microphone, an HDMI output, Harman Kardon speakers, memory card reader, PC Express slot, 12-cell battery and more. The overwhelming majority of owners say that they would recommend their Toshiba Satellite A505 to a friend.