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Cheap Laptops: Ratings of Sources
Total of 17 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. Laptop Magazine
As of Nov. 2009
10 Recommended Budget Laptops
by Editors of Laptop Magazine
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Laptop Magazine reviews a number of cheap notebook computers and lists its top choices. Most are tested with Vista, but a few reviews of Windows 7 laptops are beginning to appear. Reports are detailed and… include the results of testing. The 11-inch Acer Aspire 1810T Timeline offers plenty of computing power and an ultraportable design at a hard-to-beat price, earning an Editors' Choice award. The Asus UL30A, another Editors' Choice winner, has "enough muscle for work and play."

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2. Notebook Review.com
As of Nov. 2009
Laptop Reviews
by Editors of NotebookReview.com
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

NotebookReview.com reviews laptops and netbooks on a regular basis. Reports are detailed and straightforward. Opinions are rendered and comparisons are made, but laptops are not rated and explicit… recommendations are not often provided. Editor's Choice awards are made on occasion, but no current budget laptop makes the grade. Among recently reviewed budget laptops, the 13-inch Toshiba Satellite T135 and 13-inch Asus UL30A earn some nice comments for delivering good performance at an attractive price.

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3. Computer Shopper
Undated
Reviewed: Six Windows 7 Laptops
by Sarah E. Anderson
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment ComputerShopper.com, another prolific reviewer of laptops, weighs in with reports on the first six Windows 7 laptops it has tested, including three that fall into the budget category. One, the Acer Aspire 5738, rates as Editor's Choice selection. That laptop is blessed with terrific performance, a touch-sensitive screen, and a "rock-bottom" price, reviewer Sarah Anderson says.
4. PCMag.com
As of Nov. 2009
Cheap Laptops
by Editors of PCMag.com
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Although many of the computers on this list are too expensive to be considered truly inexpensive, and others are more properly classified as minimally capable netbooks, there are enough fully capable budget… choices covered for PCMag.com to be a worthwhile destination for reviews. Write-ups are not overly long but are sufficiently detailed; the results of tests are posted. Each laptop gets a rating that can be compared to others in the category. The Asus UL30A combines terrific styling, good performance and incredible battery life to earn an Editors' Choice award. A trio of Acer Aspire laptops, including the Acer Aspire 4810 Timeline, Acer Aspire 5534 and Acer Aspire 5738, are impressive enough to earn four out of five star ratings.

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5. CNET
As of Nov. 2009
Laptops
by
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

CNET reports on laptops in reviews that are balanced, reasonably detailed and backed by testing. Only a few Windows 7 laptops have been tested as of our last look, but two budget-priced notebooks rate… fairly well. The Toshiba T135 gets dinged for weak speakers and some design shortfalls, but the dual-core version outperforms most of its thin and light competitors. The Lenovo ThinkPad SL510 blandly styled but a solid performer. However, CNET's evaluation is based on a configuration that's priced well beyond the budget range.

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6. Gizmodo
Oct. 23, 2009
Win 7 Laptop Battlemodo: Thin and Lights For Under $800
by Joanna Stern
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Gizmodo.com pits four lightweight but full-powered cheap laptops against each other to see which is best. Extensive testing is done, and results are reported, but not as well explained as we normally like… to see. The Asus UL30A is declared the top choice for the best all-around performance, endurance and ergonomics. The Acer Aspire Timeline 3810T is called a close second, and worth considering if "you can score a great deal."

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7. ConsumerReports.org
As of Nov 2009
Laptop Computers
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

ConsumerReports.org offers test results for lots of mostly preconfigured laptops, but the site has not yet fully caught up to the changeover from Vista to Windows 7. That said, some information is provided… regarding Windows 7-equipped replacements for the tested laptops, and some recommended laptops are available largely unchanged save for the new operating system. All prices are represented, but many budget systems are included. Testing is unbiased but not detailed, and discussion is too brief to provide much useful insight. The report also includes information on brand reliability.

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8. Notebook Check.net
As of Nov. 2009
Laptop Reviews
by Editors of NotebookCheck.net
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This website offers comprehensive laptop comparisons, but some of the reviewed notebook computers aren't available in the U.S. Each model is rated in a dozen subcategories, including workmanship, keyboard,… mouse, connectivity, weight, battery, display and more, and then it's assigned a weighted average rating. However, there's no easy way to compare laptops without reading through each review. Additionally, the site can be challenging to use because it is translated from the reviewers' native German. Though many of the reviewed laptops fall outside the cheap range, we found a few low-priced laptops.

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9. About.com
Oct. 17, 2009
Best Budget Laptop PCs
by Mark Kyrnin
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Mark Kyrnin, About.com's PC hardware guide, names his favorite budget laptops under $750. Reviews cover important points, but testing is not explained or documented in any way. Additionally, some of the… selections are now discontinued. Among the current laptops named, the Acer Aspire 4810 Timeline is great for those who seek a portable yet powerful system, while the Dell Inspiron 15 has a terrific display. The Lenovo IdeaPad Y550 gets the nod as best overall, based on its rich lineup of features. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

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10. HotHardware.com
Sept. 18, 2009
Asus 13.3" UL30A CULV Notebook Review
by Shawn Oliver
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

HotHardware.com only reviews laptops on occasion and rarely looks at budget laptops at all, but the site is recognized for both its expertise and exhaustive reviews. Testing is extensive and well… documented, with attention paid to both performance and user experience. The system is evaluated with Vista, but Shawn Oliver expresses concerns on how the laptop will run under Windows 7. The UL30A earns an Editors' Choice award.

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11. BestBuy.com
As of Nov. 2009
Laptops
by Contributors to BestBuy.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

BestBuy.com sells a vast selection of preconfigured cheap laptops. Customers post reviews of laptops that they own. In addition to an overall rating, each laptop receives subratings for factors like value… and performance, as well as a bottom-line comment on whether the reviewer would recommend that laptop to a friend. Among laptops with a high level of satisfaction and a reasonable amount of feedback, the HP dv6-1352dx, Gateway NV7802U and Toshiba A505-S6980 seem to be standouts. Though it is notably less powerful and less expensive, the Acer Aspire 5532 also scores highly.

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12. NewEgg.com
As of Nov. 2009
Laptops/Notebooks
by Contributors to Newegg.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Newegg.com sells a vast selection of laptops -- including cheap laptops -- from many manufacturers. The company's typical customers are sophisticated and opinionated computer users, which often makes Newegg.com a good site for consumer reviews. However, few budget laptops with Windows 7 have received more than a handful of user reviews.
13. PCMag.com
Sept. 16, 2009
Laptop & Notebook Service & Reliability Survey 2009
by Editors of PCMag.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Thousands of readers respond to PCMag.com's annual service and reliability survey. In the 2009 survey, Asus earns the best ratings among owners of Windows-based laptops. Last year's winner, Lenovo, slides to only rank as average among vendors. HP slides as well, all the way down to the level of Gateway and Acer as computer vendors that fare much worse than average.
14. PC World
As of July 2009
Laptops
by Editors of PC World
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Compared to many other reviewers, PC World covers fewer budget-priced laptops. That's too bad; although the reviews themselves aren't the meatiest around, conclusions are backed by solid testing. The magazine has yet to catch up with the latest Windows 7 laptops, but some of the Vista-powered machines reviewed are still available, and some ship with, or can be upgraded to, Windows 7.
15. Notebook Forums.com
As of Nov. 2009
Notebook Reviews
by Contributors to NotebookForums.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This forum has fewer and considerably less detailed reviews than NotebookReview.com, but some are good. Many of the members are college students. The quality of the reviews is variable, but NotebookForums.com is useful as a backup source once you've already narrowed your options. Searching the website is a challenge otherwise.
16. Amazon.com
As of Nov 2009
Notebooks
by Contributors to Amazon.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Amazon.com gives owners the opportunity to rate and comment on their cheap laptops. The site includes lots of budget laptops and is easy to use. However, no budget laptop to date has accumulated more than a few reports, meaning you'll need to take the ratings here with a grain of salt.
17. Walmart.com
As of Nov. 2009
Laptop Computers
by Contributors to Walmart.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Walmart.com offers an impressive selection of budget-priced laptops, but few Windows 7 machines attract more than a handful of comments. Additionally, the site itself is a little difficult to use because you can't see the number of reviews a rating is based on until you navigate to the product page itself.

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