Gift guide for laptops
Best budget laptops
Ÿ HP Pavilion dm1z: $430
Pros: Small and light. Beats Audio enhancements. Good performance and graphics muscle for its size. Long battery life.
Cons: Lots of preloaded software you might not want. Frustrating touchpad. Computer can get loud as it cools down.
Ideal for: E-mailing and browsing on the go.
The dm1z is the netbook improved. It offers a faster processor than the typical netbook, a larger 11.6-inch screen, more than five hours of battery life and Beats Audio for less than $450.
Ÿ HP Pavilion g4: $380
Pros: Inexpensive but powerful enough for basic tasks. Large 14-inch screen. Doesn’t look all that cheap.
Cons: Performance is a generation behind the times. Battery life isn’t great.
Ideal for: A home computer for e-mail, browsing and watching videos.
The g4 doesn’t have cutting-edge specs, but it’s powerful enough for basic users, and it comes in a rainbow of colors that’s bound to cover everyone on your list. For an under-$400 full-size laptop, it’s tough to beat.
Ÿ Dell Inspiron 14z: $600
Pros: Great-looking and light. Good battery life. Backlit-keyboard option.
Cons: Mediocre performance. Lots of annoying preloaded software.
Ideal for: Everyday computing tasks in a nice-looking package.
It’s almost hard to believe the 14z starts at $600 with its aluminum lid, attractive design and DVD drive. It doesn’t have the highest-end specs, but it’s good enough for basic work and play activities.
Best ultraportables
Ÿ Apple MacBook Air (13-inch): $1,299
Pros: Extremely small and light. Long battery life. Excellent performance. Touchpad and keyboard are superb.
Cons: Screen is glossy and reflective. No Ethernet port.
Ideal for: Anyone looking for a thin and light laptop with enough power for everyday tasks.
The MacBook Air comes at a price premium, but you get what you pay for. This machine is light and thin enough to go anywhere, lasts more than eight hours on a charge and is powerful enough to handle most people’s computing needs.
Ÿ Sony VAIO Z: $2,000-plus
Pros: Great-looking, light and long-lasting. Fast performance. Excellent display. Cool accessories such as the Power Media Dock external graphics card.
Cons: Incredibly expensive. Can get warm. Trackpad isn’t great.
Ideal for: Those wanting to have their cake and eat it, too.
Sony held nothing back in building the VAIO Z, and the result is a blazing-fast, light and good-looking computer. It’s got a gorgeous display, too, and will keep running for your whole cross-country flight. All this doesn’t come cheap, though.
Ÿ Lenovo IdeaPad U300s: $1,195
Pros: Fantastic design. Great keyboard. Good battery life.
Cons: Screen is low-resolution and doesn’t have great viewing angles. No SD card slot.
Ideal for: Working on the go and not getting confused with a MacBook Air.
Lenovo has always built good computers, and the U300 continues the trend with a beautiful (and unique) look, comfortable keyboard, fast boot times and a long-lasting battery.
Best mainstream laptops
Ÿ Samsung Series 7: $999
Pros: Top-notch performance and won’t be out-of-date anytime soon. Solid build.
Cons: A bit heavy.
Ideal for: Power-hungry users looking for a MacBook Pro alternative.
Samsung has mastered the art of breeding aesthetics and power with Series 7. The incredibly well-built aluminum laptop has an Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, AMD graphics and a USB 3.0 port.
Ÿ ASUS U36: $969
Pros: Great performance for a laptop. Solid battery life.
Cons: Gets a bit hot. Not the best trackpad.
Ideal for: Those looking for a mainstream system for more than just browsing and e-mail.
ASUS does the big things right with the U36, packing in some great processing and graphics power without sacrificing much in the way of portability or battery life. There’s not much you can’t do with the U36.
Ÿ Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch): $1,799
Pros: Extremely powerful, with long battery life. Super-fast Thunderbolt port.
Cons: Expensive. Can get very warm.
Ideal for: Users who prefer performance above all else.
Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Pro is as good a laptop as is out there for those looking for power and a sleek design. It has the highest-end specs, including an Intel Core i7 processor and AMD graphics. You’ll pay for the privilege to use it, though.