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Laptops: Ratings of Sources
Total of 20 Sources

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

1. Laptop Magazine
As of Aug. 2009
Laptop Reviews
by Editors of Laptop magazine
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Laptop Magazine is the most prolific reviewer of notebooks. Reviews are often comparative, and all products receive a rating. Those laptops receiving the highest rating are selected as Editor's Choice… products. Testing is frequently debated and reported in the specs section. Among the highest-rated laptops are models from HP, including a pair of EliteBook laptops, along with a pair of Gateway notebooks, and machines from Toshiba, Dell, Lenovo and Asus.

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2. PCMag.com
As of Aug. 2009
Laptops and Notebooks
by Cisco Cheng
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

PCMag.com regularly reviews new laptops, and they are often compared to the competition. The magazine publishes benchmark test results that reveal how each computer performs in popular applications. The… best laptops in their category are identified as an Editors' Choice, and each laptop receives a rating. Ratings vary enough to see differences between laptops. Currently, the Alienware M17x, HP Pavilion dv6 and dv7t, along with the Dell Studio XPS 16 are among the highest rated.

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3. Notebook Review.com
As of Aug. 2009
Notebook Reviews
by Editors of NotebookReview.com
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

NotebookReview.com's reviews are comprehensive, well organized and detailed. Its testing is excellent, and benchmark scores provide helpful comparisons with other laptops. However, editors don't provide any… ratings for the laptops they test, so there is no way to tell which laptops receive the best reviews. However, NotebookReview.com makes a great cross reference for comparison with other laptop-review sources.

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4. Notebook Check.net
As of Aug. 2009
Laptop Reviews, News
by J. Simon Leitner and Ronald Tiefenthäler
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

NotebookCheck.net has some of the most thorough laptop tests we've seen, even if the English translation on this German-based website is awkward at times. Instead of star-based ratings, the editors at… NotebookCheck.net give percentage-based ratings. The website also provides top-10 lists for popular notebook categories, including multimedia or office notebooks. Three Dell laptop currently top the lists, along with an HP EliteBook laptop.

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5. CNET
July 30, 2009
Best 5 Laptops
by Dan Ackerman
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment The Alienware M17x gaming laptop scores a mention on Dan Ackerman's list of the best five laptops. The lengthy product review is balanced and based on personal testing. However, Ackerman doesn't compare the laptop to others in its category.
6. CNET
As of Aug. 2009
Laptops
by Editors of CNET
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Most of the recent CNET laptop reviews focus on netbooks or budget laptops, but editors do cover a few gaming and professional laptops. Only a few laptops in these categories get a four-star rating or higher, including the Gateway FX P-7805u and MSI GT725-212US. CNET's favorite laptops get an Editors' Choice designation.
7. PC World
As of Aug. 2009
Laptops
by Editors of PC World
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Only a few recently reviewed laptops in the gaming, multimedia or business categories receive a score of 80 or greater in PC World's tests. PC World has great commentary on the laptops it reviews, but its testing is less detailed than some of the other review sources we rate higher.
8. Computer Shopper
As of Aug. 2009
Laptops Reviews
by Editors of ComputerShopper.com
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

ComputerShopper.com reviews lots of laptops in balanced and testing-backed reports. Each laptop is rated, and while the ratings tend to be high, they vary enough so that users can see distinctions. Laptops… are divided into eight somewhat arbitrary categories, and the top models in each category are listed in charts that are updated regularly. Current top picks include the Alienware M17x, the Dell Studio XPS 16 and the Lenovo ThinkPad W700DS among others.

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9. TrustedReviews.com
As of Aug. 2009
Notebooks: Latest Reviews
by Editors of TrustedReviews.com
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Britain's TrustedReviews.com regularly reviews new laptops, though many models aren't available in the U.S. Reviews are well illustrated with photos, and benchmark results are published. Reviews are… balanced and comparative. All notebook computers have high ratings, but TrustedReviews is selective in awarding its Recommended tags. Several new laptops earn this label, including the Dell Studio XPS 16.

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10. ConsumerReports.org
April 2009
Laptop Ratings and Reliability
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

ConsumerReports.org tests a number of laptops, but most cost less than $800 and are discussed in our report on cheap laptops. Beyond a moderately detailed comparison chart, the magazine has little to say… about most individual models. Except for battery life, ConsumerReports.org doesn't reveal specific test results. Other reviewers offer far more insight and detail than this source when it comes to laptops.

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11. TechRadar.com
As of Aug. 2009
Laptops and Netbooks
by Editors of TechRadar.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This U.K. site reviews a number of laptops, but not all are available in the United States. TechRadar.com's reviews are less detailed and comprehensive than other review sites, but each laptop receives a rating out of five stars. The Dell XPS Studio 16, a favorite on other sites, is a top pick here as well.
12. HotHardware.com
As of Aug. 2009
Mobile
by Editors of HotHardware.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

HotHardware.com's reviews are outstanding. Real-world and lab testing covers nearly every pertinent aspect. Some products earn Editor's Choice awards or recommendations, but others are unrated. Comparisons… are mostly limited to benchmark test results. However, the site reviews fewer laptops than those sources we rate higher, so it's not as easy to get a sense of which laptops are current best picks.

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13. Wired.com
As of Aug. 2009
Notebooks and Accessories
by Editors of Wired
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Wired tests fewer laptops than other review sources, and it seems to focus mainly on budget laptops and netbooks. While their testing is not as detailed as on other websites, Wired's editors do score each laptop out of 10 and a few rare laptops score an Editors' Pick award. The Lenovo ThinkPad W700DS is a favorite here.
14. Anandtech.com
As of Aug. 2009
Mobile Section
by Jarred Walton
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment AnandTech.com reviews about one laptop a month, but reviewer Jarred Walton's testing process is incredibly extensive. The reviews are balanced, and all considerations are weighed. The shortcoming is the limited number of reviews and the lack of ratings. However, the site does include relatively recent roundups of gaming and mid-range laptops.
15. PCMag.com
Sept. 2008
Service and Reliability: Notebooks
by Editors of PCMag.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment PCMag.com has conducted an annual subscriber survey of tech support and reliability for the past 21 years. Thousands of readers respond, providing statistical validity, with patterns and trends emerging over years of surveys. Lenovo continues to earn the best ratings in every category, but its ratings are down a bit this year. PCMag.com has yet to release a new survey for 2009.
16. Time magazine
Not Dated
25 Gotta Have Travel Gadgets
by Josh Quittner
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Josh Quittner calls the HP EliteBook 6930p an "excellent choice" for business travelers and road warriors. The business laptop gets high marks in this single-product review for its rugged design. Overall,… Quittner says "this is a laptop that can go to hell and come back with nary a scratch." This certainly isn't a balanced review, but it's clear that Quittner has a positive impression of the EliteBook.

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17. NewEgg.com
As of Aug. 2009
Laptops
by Contributors to Newegg.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Newegg.com is a popular online technology retailer. The company's typical customers have more computer and technical knowledge than average, which makes Newegg.com a better-than-average destination for consumer reviews of technology products such as laptop computers. However, few laptops attract more than a handful of reviews.
18. BestBuy.com
As of Aug. 2009
Laptops
by Contributors to BestBuy.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment BestBuy.com hosts lots of user reviews of laptops. Navigation is easy, since the number of reviews is posted right on the main pages. In addition to a comment, sub-ratings for value, display quality, performance and convenience are provided, as are lists of pros and cons. Most useful is a bottom-line opinion of whether or not the reviewer would recommend the laptop to a friend.
19. XBitLabs.com
As of Aug. 2009
Mobile
by Alexander Britvin
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Enthusiast website XbitLabs.com has sporadically reviewed new laptops in recent months. The lengthy reviews cover all a reader would want to know -- except which product to buy. Without ratings or rankings, or enough reviews to compare conclusions, this site is only useful as secondary review site for exhaustive information about models you are already considering.
20. Amazon.com
As of Aug. 2009
Notebooks
by Contributors to Amazon.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Amazon.com is usually a good source for user reviews, but not laptops. At the time of our visit, Amazon's top-30 bestsellers all had similar average ratings so it's hard to compare notebooks. Still, this site is good to visit if you have a laptop in mind and want some user feedback.

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Read more about our Ratings Criteria by clicking the link at the top of the page.
 
 
 
  

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