Laptops: What To Look For

About laptop processors

In the past, laptop manufacturers introduced new models whenever new operating systems or major hardware technologies were introduced. Now, a model number simply refers to a physical design. Models are regularly updated to include the latest technological advances. Intel is rapidly introducing chip, chipset and wireless enhancements. As these become available, manufacturers upgrade the options for their top laptops. Thus, older reviews of a particular laptop can have minimal relevance to the laptop you could buy today. For that reason, we focus this report as much as possible on computers that were reviewed in the past six months.

To buy a new laptop, you don't need to learn much about Intel's enhancements. Each new product line brings more speed, greater efficiency, improved video performance for integrated video, more wireless capabilities and longer battery life. The latest set of Intel standards is called Centrino 2. The processors with Centrino 2 are code-named Penryn, but you won't see that term used much in advertising. Look for the Centrino 2 logo, because Penryn processors share the same official name as older processors: Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Extreme (quad-core processors).

Penryn processors are a third smaller than older processors. That means that they generate less heat and take less power to run. They improve the reliability of the entire computer system. The Centrino 2 standards enable associated capabilities that laptop manufacturers may or may not implement. Wi-Fi and WiMax wireless Internet technologies are supported.

Whether you are buying a gaming, multimedia, business or multipurpose laptop, you will benefit from Centrino 2 technology. As is always the case with new Intel CPUs, they cost the same as the previous generation did, and the older chips drop in price.

Laptops using AMD processors are also available. They are typically less expensive than laptops with Intel chips, and also best suited to budget purchases. AMD lags behind Intel in the enhancements described above.

Despite the large number of laptop brands, most are actually made by Taiwanese companies such as Quanta, Inventec, Compal, Asustek (Asus) or Wistron. Better-known makers such as Dell, HP, Sony, Lenovo and others add their own components and configurations.

Important buying considerations

All laptops covered in this report are tested with Windows Vista, since most notebooks now come with a version of Vista, usually Home Premium or Business. Unless you buy a preconfigured laptop in a store, most manufacturers are offering a choice of various versions of Windows Vista with a new notebook computer. If you custom configure a laptop at a vendor's website, you can sometimes opt for a downgrade to the officially discontinued Windows XP, which according to many reviewers is less buggy for business users. The HP EliteBook 6930p is one laptop that still offers a downgrade to Windows XP.

Windows 7 is the next Windows operating system. If you buy a qualified Vista laptop today, you'll quality for a free upgrade to Windows 7 once it's officially released at the end of October 2009. Laptops shipping with Vista Home Premium, Business or Ultimate versions are eligible; instructions should be included with your computer, but you can also visit Microsoft's Windows 7 upgrade site.

Typically, experts recommend a dedicated video card for best video performance. A dedicated card adds memory and computational horsepower to a laptop. For systems without a dedicated video card, processing is handled by an on-board graphics chip and system memory, slowing performance. The laptops covered in this report have dedicated graphics cards.

One of the most important decisions you'll face when choosing a laptop is the size and type of screen. The issue quickly becomes confusing given the variety of display technologies available. Experts and laptop owners agree that larger screens of 15 and 17 inches are more efficient to use. In a home or office, you can connect a laptop to an external monitor.

Manufacturers offer several choices of displays for most of the models covered in this report. In most model lines, display sizes are fixed, but you can choose among several levels of quality and resolution. Sometimes you can choose between a coated screen (brighter and sharper) or an uncoated screen (which some people prefer for work applications because they are less susceptible to glare and reflections). Backlit LED displays are the newest improvement.

Experts say to look for the following in a notebook computer:

• Get the best processor you can afford. Most laptops use Intel's Core 2 Duo CPUs. The Centrino 2 (Penryn) processors have several advantages over Centrino (also called Santa Rosa) processors. Most laptops, including those mentioned in this report, use the new Intel Core 2 Duo processors. Many high-end laptops have starter prices that are artificially low because the base price includes an older CPU.

• Get at least 2 GB of RAM. High-end notebooks typically have 3 or 4 GB of RAM, which can help applications run more quickly and smoothly. It will also allow you to run more applications at once without system drag. Laptops rarely have internal expandability, so maximizing your RAM at the time of purchase is the best course. Unless the laptop has an open RAM slot, you will need to replace your existing RAM if you decide to upgrade in the future.

• Consider the display coating. Reflective screen coatings are popular, since they make graphics and movies look more saturated. However, these glossy displays can create glare, especially in an office environment. If you plan mainly on office work, consider a notebook without a glossy coating or pay more for a backlit LED display. Some laptops offer a choice of display coating.

• Laptops come with at least 160 GB hard drives. Photo, music and video files take up a lot of space. Adding a larger hard drive when you configure a system is a worthwhile upgrade if you collect media files. You cannot add an additional internal hard drive to most laptops, so allowing room for growth can be a good investment.

• Think about wireless connectivity. All laptops come with integrated Wi-Fi. Some also come with an antenna for the Verizon and Sprint EVDO or Cingular's EDGE Wide Area LAN (WAN), which lets you connect to the Internet anywhere in range of the provider's data network (mostly major cities). You can also add those options when you configure your laptop.

• Take note of service/support and warranty. Warranties range from one to three years. All manufacturers offer warranty upgrades, and prices can vary by model. Tech support is generally free during the warranty period, but not thereafter. Because all laptops are proprietary and have few user-replaceable parts, editors at ExtremeTech.com recommend, "Get the best warranty you can afford. Unlike desktop computers, laptop PCs' parts cannot be swapped out if something fails." Manufacturers such as Dell and HP are adding extras such as theft insurance to warranty upgrades to make them more attractive. Given the abuse that most laptops withstand, paying extra for a three-year extended warranty might be worth it.

• You'll need to add office software. Consumer laptops are bundled with software; unfortunately, it's often not the software you want or need. For example, you won't get Microsoft Office (including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint) without specifically paying extra for it. Instead, you get bloatware that consists of expiring trial versions of programs, crippled software (unless you pay to unlock full functionality) and adware. Usually you get a temporary version of an antivirus program.