Laptops: Reviews

Updated October 2008

May 14th:
HP Recalls Notebook Batteries
From: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

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Best general-use and gaming laptop.

*Est. $2,000 and up Compare Prices

Reviews say the Dell XPS M1730 is a fantastic laptop for 3D gaming. It includes an Nvidia video card in its base configuration, and can be customized to use up to two cards. All configuration options include 2.4 to 2.8… GHz Penryn processors, which Dell advertises can be overclocked. Reviewers praise the glossy 1920 x 1200-pixel 17-inch widescreen display. That can be a disadvantage for office work (where some people prefer a non-widescreen display that isn't as glossy), but otherwise this laptop can handle any task. The M1730 laptop is not very portable, since it weighs 11 pounds. It comes in red or blue.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Notebook Review.com: NotebookReview.com's reviews are among the best on the Internet. Discussion is well detailed and testing is comparative. The only ...

Notebook Check.net: Because it is translated from the author's native German, this report on the Dell XPS M17230 is a tough read, but it's worth ...

PCMag.com: PC Magazine's reporting isn't as detailed as those above, but covers important considerations and includes the results of ...

CNet.com: Though CNet says some laptops with similar configurations are faster in some tests, the Dell XPS M1730 is called one of the best ...

Laptop Magazine: Laptop magazine also names the Dell XPS M1730 an Editors' Choice winner, but its review falls short of the others listed above. ...

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Best home-theater laptop.

Acer Aspire 8920G

*Est. $2,500 Compare Prices

The Acer Aspire 8920G is widely praised as a multimedia powerhouse. Its huge 18.4-inch widescreen display has a 16:9 aspect ratio (like a movie screen) and 1080p high-definition resolution. The innovative six-speaker… system ranks among the best for laptops. While it's ideal for movies, and includes an HDMI port and a Blu-ray drive, reviewers are puzzled by the omission of a TV tuner. Gaming performance is just ordinary, but the Acer laptop performs very well in all other tasks. At nine pounds, it isn't easy to lug around, but reviewers note that it's lighter than many 17-inch laptops, such as the Dell XPS M1730.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Notebook Check.net: NotebookCheck.net's reviews are translated from German and can be a challenge to read. The effort is worthwhile, however, as no ...

Laptop Magazine: This review of the Acer Aspire 8920G is one of Laptop magazine's better efforts. It goes into great detail and includes ...

PCMag.com: PC Magazine's review of the Acer Aspire 8920G isn't as detailed as those above, but manages to cover most important ...

Computer Shopper: Computer Shopper's review is competent, but falls behind those listed above. Discussion is on the short side, and while ...

TrustedReviews.com: Britain's TrustedReviews finds enough niggles to withhold giving the Acer Aspire 8920G an unqualified recommendation. But the ...

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Best business laptop

Lenovo ThinkPad T61

*Est. $900 and up Compare Prices

Multiple reviewers select the solid Lenovo ThinkPad T61 as the best laptop for business users. Performance is superb in tests, and the laptop runs cool. Rugged construction adds a little to the cost, but ensures that the… T61 can stand up to the rigors of the road. Lenovo has the highest reliability and customer support ratings in all large surveys of laptop owners. Unfortunately, the company has cut the ThinkPad T61's warranty from three years to one.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Notebook Review.com: NotebookReview.com is the only reviewer to weigh in on the Lenovo ThinkPad T61 in its current 15.4-inch screen size. Kevin ...

Notebook Check.net: NotebookCheck.net reviews the Lenovo ThinkPad T61 laptop with a 14.1-inch display. Applications performance is very good and ...

Laptop Magazine: Laptop magazine's report on the Lenovo ThinkPad T61 is comprehensive and complete, but covers the 14.1-inch version (now ...

PCMag.com: PC Magazine's review is competent, but shorter than some we rate higher. Results of benchmark testing are included. The review ...

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Alienware Area-51 m15x *Est. $1,500 and up

4 picks by top review sites.

Lenovo ThinkPad T400 *Est. $870 and up

2 picks by top review sites.

HP Pavilion dv7t *Est. $900 and up

2 picks by top review sites.


	Lenovo 7417-TPU ThinkPad T400 14.1" Notebook from Amazon.com New: $849.99 In Stock. Average Customer Review:

Laptops: Reviews

Best general-use and gaming laptop.

Best home-theater laptop.

Best business laptop

Laptops by Price Range