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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 Nov. 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 Editors' Choice… products. Testing is frequently discussed and reported in the specs section. Among the highest-rated laptops are models from Alienware, including the M17x and M15x gaming laptops, along with machines from Toshiba, Dell and Acer.

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

PCMag.com regularly reviews new laptops, and its reviews are nicely comparative. The magazine publishes benchmark test results that reveal how each computer performs in popular applications. The best… laptops in their category earn an Editors' Choice designation, and each laptop receives a rating. Ratings vary enough to see differences between laptops. Currently, the Alienware M17x, Dell Studio XPS 16 and Acer Aspire 8940G receive high ratings.

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3. Notebook Review.com
As of Nov. 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 Nov. 2009
Laptop Reviews, News
by J. Simon Leitner and Ronald TiefenthŠler
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 and office notebooks. Several current Windows 7 laptops get high marks, including the Alienware M15x and HP Envy 15.

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5. CNET
As of Nov. 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 mainstream laptops. Only a few laptops in these categories get high ratings, including the Alienware M17x and Toshiba Qosmio X505. CNET's favorite laptops earn an Editors' Choice designation.
6. PC World
As of Nov. 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 good commentary on the laptops it reviews, but its testing is less detailed than some of the other review sources we rate higher.
7. Computer Shopper
As of Nov. 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 Acer Aspire 5738PG.

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8. TrustedReviews.com
As of Nov. 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 illustrated with photos, and benchmark results are published. Reviews are balanced and comparative. The very best laptops earn Recommended tags. Several new laptops earn this label, including the Dell Studio XPS 16.
9. 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. The site has been slow to update its listings with new Windows 7 models.

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10. TechRadar.com
As of Nov. 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.
11. HotHardware.com
As of Nov. 2009
Mobile
by Editors of HotHardware.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

HotHardware.com's reviews are outstanding. Real-world and lab testing cover nearly every pertinent aspect. The best products earn HotHardware.com Recommended or Approved labels, 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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12. Wired
As of Nov. 2009
Notebooks and Accessories
by Editors of Wired
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Wired tests fewer laptops than review sources we rate higher. The reports are relatively brief, and we'd like them better if testing was better explained, but they still manage to capture what makes a laptop a good or bad pick in the editors' eyes. Each laptop is scored on a 10-point scale. Editors' Pick awards are made, but it is rare for a laptop to secure one.
13. Anandtech.com
As of Nov. 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.
14. PCMag.com
Sept. 15, 2009
Laptop & Notebook Service & Reliability Survey 2009
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 frequently earns a high rating, but its ratings are lower this year. Apple continually wins the Readers' Choice award, but Asus also receives this award for 2009.
15. DriverHeaven.net
As of Nov. 2009
DriverHeaven's Reviews
by Stuart Davidson
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Britain's DriverHeaven.net only reviews gaming products, so just a few laptops are covered and some are not available in the United States. However, the reviews here are incredibly detailed, and Stuart Davidson has some of the best analysis of the Alienware M15x and M17x, both of which get very high scores.
16. PCMag.com
Oct. 27, 2009
The Beast Inside
by Editors of PCMag.com (Middle East)
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment The American edition of PCMag.com has yet to test the new Alienware M15x gaming laptop, but the site's Middle Eastern edition has a brief, test-based review. "It's one of the best 15-inch gaming machines we've tested," editors say. Overall, the Alienware M15x earns a score of 4.5 out of five. It's the only laptop tested so far on this new site.
17. NewEgg.com
As of Nov. 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 other sites, 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 Nov. 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 comments, 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. AskMen.com
As of Nov. 2009
Gadgets
by Adam Weinberg
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment AskMen.com has an interesting assortment of gadget reviews, but the site's editors don't test many laptops, and finding the reviews among the many different products listed can be a challenge. Those laptops that are tested are rated, but it's hard to determine what the scores actually mean. Among recently reviewed laptops, Adam Weinberg has a positive impression of the Alienware M15x.
20. Amazon.com
As of Nov. 2009
Laptops
by Contributors to Amazon.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Amazon.com is usually a good source for user reviews, but not laptops. Most notebooks get 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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