Laptops: Reviews

While the Asus U33Jc-A1 earns rave reviews for its unique bamboo-clad shell, experts say the 13.3-inch laptop packs plenty of performance beneath its stylish exterior. It includes the latest laptop technology, including… Nvidia Optimus, which automatically switches between discrete and integrated graphics to conserve battery life. The Asus U33Jc-A1 also has Intel's Wireless Display (WiDi) technology, so you can stream video content to a TV via an optional adapter. Performance is good across the board, and reviewers say the Asus laptop is a good fit for those who do a little of everything, including light gaming or watching movies. Battery life averages four to five hours, and the glossy display isn't as prone to glare as most laptops. The Asus U33Jc-A1 doesn't have an integrated optical drive, and one tester notes that the case can get quite hot during use. The laptop is outfitted with a 2.4 GHz Intel Core i3-370M processor, 500 GB hard drive, 4 GB of RAM and Nvidia GeForce 310M graphics.

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Reviewers say it's hard to beat the value of the Samsung Q430-11, a 14-inch laptop sold exclusively at Best Buy. Not only does this laptop include a powerful Intel Core i5 processor, but it also comes with discrete Nvidia… graphics -- all for less than $850. Reviewers say it doesn't look like a budget laptop, thanks to a subtle aluminum design and edge-to-edge glass display. The Samsung Q430-11 provides excellent video quality, and performance is very good for everyday computing tasks and light gaming. Serious gamers or video editors should look elsewhere, however. Drawbacks include a small touchpad and a three-hour battery life. The Samsung Q430-11 comes with an integrated optical drive, 4 GB of memory and a 500 GB hard drive. Other features include an HDMI output, three USB ports and a built-in webcam.

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Reviewers are blown away by the performance of the Lenovo IdeaPad Y460, calling it "amazing" and "dazzling." This 14-inch laptop, which is sold at Lenovo.com, has excellent multimedia performance, especially for watching… movies, editing video or playing 3D games. Although it's not marketed as a gaming laptop, reviewers achieve very good frame rates even with demanding titles like "Far Cry 2" (although at lower resolutions than dedicated gaming rigs). Loud JBL speakers and a high-quality webcam are additional benefits. Reviewers are mixed about the Lenovo's SlideNav, a strip of touch-sensitive lights above the keyboard that launch application shortcuts. Some think the buttons are gimmicky, but others find them very useful. The biggest downside, according to reviews, is the highly glossy display, which kicks back more glare and reflections than most laptops. The Lenovo IdeaPad Y460 comes with a 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5-520M processor, 4 GB of memory, a 500 GB hard drive and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 discrete graphics. A cheaper version with a Core i3 processor (*Est. $900 and up) is also available.

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For serious gamers, reviewers say the 17-inch Alienware M17x is the laptop to beat. This award-winning laptop combines the top gaming hardware with a flashy design to appeal to fans of 3-D gaming. The Alienware M17x… starts at $1,800, but reviewers say you'll need to shell out serious cash to take advantage of this machine's full potential. For 2010, the Alienware M17x has been updated, and the base model now comes with a 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5-520M processor. A faster Core i7 CPU (*Est. $150 and up) is available as an upgrade option. Experts also recommend upgrading to dual ATI Radeon graphics cards, more RAM and a Blu-ray drive, which raises the cost considerably. Most reviewers test the Alienware M17x before the processor switch, but one expert says the Core i7-equipped M17x performs even better than its predecessor. The two biggest drawbacks are price and weight. The Alienware M17x weighs more than 11 pounds, so you probably won't want to lug it around for long. It's also expensive, but reviewers say serious gamers will find it is worth every penny.

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While most gaming laptops weigh more than 10 pounds, experts say the 11.6-inch Alienware M11x is the first portable laptop that is a real option for serious gamers because it weighs less than 5 pounds. The Alienware M11x… has recently been refreshed and experts say it's better than ever. The new model (some reviewers call it the R2 or Revision 2 model to differentiate it from the original) starts with a 160 GB hard drive, 2 GB of RAM and an Intel Core i5-520UM processor. Like the Alienware M17x, the M11x can be upgraded with more RAM and an Intel Core i7 processor. The Nvidia GeForce GT 335M graphics come with Optimus technology. Reviewers note that the latest Alienware M11x can handle nearly every modern 3-D game, including "Shattered Horizon," an intensive first-person shooter that wasn't playable on the original M11x. The LCD display is very reflective, and the internal cooling fan can get very loud. There's also no integrated optical drive.

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If you need a laptop for work rather than play, experts say the no-nonsense HP EliteBook 8440p deserves a look. This durable 14-inch laptop sports a stylish platinum design and very good performance for business-focused… tasks. The spill-resistant keyboard provides an excellent typing experience, and a small overhead light is available for typing in low-light environments. The anti-glare display also gets high marks. Reviewers would like to see better battery life -- most testers get around four hours between charges, which is short for a business laptop. The integrated graphics are fine for business tasks, but they can't handle gaming. The HP EliteBook 8440p comes in a number of configurations, but most reviewers test a model with a 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5-520M processor, 2 GB of RAM and a 250 GB hard drive. An optical drive is standard, and the HP laptop comes with a host of ports, including ExpressCard, FireWire, USB/eSATA and a DisplayPort output.

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