The Best Mainstream Laptops For Your Money

Updated on November 30th 2011.

The Apple Macbook Air. Photo by Travis Isaacs on Flickr: http://flic.kr/p/92PYvZ

The best laptops for your money?

By that, I mean the laptops that offer the best performance at a given price. Why would you want that, you ask?

Because you want the best bang for the buck, because you want the best possible laptop for your hard-earned money and because you want the best features possible!

If you have the time to do research… but who does in this crazy world?

If you have the time, reading detailed laptop reviews and specs are a lot of fun. However, most of us don’t have the time to do the research and just want the answers. In other words, what we want to know is what is the best laptop for our budget and requirements.

So if you don’t have the time to do the research, or just don’t care to do it, don’t worry. I’ll come to your help with this series on the best laptops for your money.

A few reminders:

I’ll use this opportunity to remind you that this article is only a guideline for the prices I’ve seen on November 22nd 2011. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you read this list:

1. This specific article on mainstream laptops have four price ceilings for the recommended laptops: $650, $800, $1000 and $1250. I may also suggest some alternatives to my main recommendations, for reasons that I’ll explain.
2. This list is based on the best U.S. prices from NewEgg and/or Amazon. Prices and availability change everyday. I can’t keep up with accurate pricing everyday, but I can suggest to you great laptops that you won’t regret buying at the price ranges that I list.
3. All prices are based on new laptops prices, no refurbished or open box laptops are listed; they might be a good deal, but they come with trade offs, such as missing accessories, higher failure rate, limited return policy, limited warranty, etc.
4. I recommend a few different types of laptops, such as General Computing, Gaming, Ultra-portable and Workstations. Each type has its pros and cons, so make sure to read the details to figure out which type suits you best.

Summary

Click on any of these links to jump to the section that interests you. Alternatively, scroll down to see them all, in this order.

General Computing:

1. $650
2. $800
3. $1000
4. $1250

Gaming:

1. $650
2. $800
3. $1000
4. $1250

Ultra Portables:

1. $650
2. $800
3. $1000
4. $1250

Workstations:

1. $650
2. $800
3. $1000
4. $1250

Upgrade the RAM and/or the hard drive:

1. Upgrade the RAM
2. Upgrade the hard drive to a larger/faster hard drive or to a SSD

General Computing:

About General Computing laptops:
General Computing laptops generally come equipped with the very common 15.6″ size screen and are equipped with a fairly powerful CPU and video card.

They are perfect are for people who want a balanced laptop that can handle a bit of everything.

On the downside, these laptops are slightly less portable than smaller 10.1, 12 or 13.3″ models, by being larger and heavier. Not a problem if you’re a student and are only moving from one room to another, but it can annoying if you’re carrying your laptop around all day long.

Best General computing laptop for $650

$650 – Acer AS5750-9851

About the Acer AS5750-9851:

Pros:

1. Powerful laptop with the quad-core Intel i7-2630QM processor, at a low cost.
2. Numpad: Very useful for spreadsheets.
3. 1280 x 1024 Webcam: Great for Skype and other IM programs, or simply for video recording.
4. One USB 3.0 port.
5. Fairly large hard drive capacity at 640GB.

Cons:

1. Somewhat limited video card (Intel HD 3000) performance. Fine for older games or some less demanding newer games with low-resolution/minimum details settings.
2. Average 1366 x 768 resolution.
3. Average battery life. Expect about 4 hours of web browsing.
4. Average build quality. While Acer laptops are much better than they used to be, their build quality remains average.
5. Glossy screen: Forget about using this laptop in direct sunlight.

Ideal for:

• Anyone who needs a powerful quad-core laptop at a low cost. Also great for anyone who needs a laptop with enough power to last a few years, without ruining him/her.

To avoid for:

• Someone who’s traveling a lot and who wants an highly-portable, lightweight laptop to carry around all day.
• Someone who wants to play a lot of video games.
• Someone who wants a very long battery life.

Compared to similar laptops:
No other budget laptop for $650 or less comes with a powerful Intel quad-core processor, making this laptop the most powerful $650 laptop available on the market today.
Click here to go back up to the summary
Specifications:

Components	Acer AS5750-9851
OS	Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
CPU	Intel Core i7-2630QM Quad-Core + Hyper-Threading 2GHz-2.9GHz Turbo
Screen Webcam Video Card	15.6″ 1366 x 768 LED backlight Yes: 720P (1280 x 720) Intel HD 3000
RAM Slots/Max RAM	4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1066MHz 2 Slot, maximum 8GB
Storage	640GB Hard Drive running at 5,400RPM
Optical Drive	DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL LightScribe
Audio	Dolby Advanced Audio v2 Integrated microphone Two stereo speakers
Networking	LAN: 10/100/1000Mbps 802.11b/g/n Wifi
Ports	5-in-1 Card Reader Headphone and Microphone 3.5mm jacks 1 x USB 3.0 2 x USB 2.0 LAN VGA Output HDMI Output
Dimensions Weight	15.00″ x 9.90″ x 0.99-1.30″” 5.74lbs
Battery Size Battery Life	6-cell (4400 mAh) Li-Ion 4-4.5 hours

Click here to go back up to the summary

Lower cost, higher resolution + Blu-Ray Alternative

Selling for $516, the Lenovo G770 10372MU - has a higher resolution screen (1600 x 900) and a Blu-Ray Combo drive, making it an ideal choice for a laptop that you can hook up to your HDTV to watch Blu-Ray movies. The only downside? Unlike the Acer laptop recommended above, this laptop doesn’t come with a quad-core Core i7 processor. Rest assured though, it still comes with a plenty powerful Core i3-2310M Dual-Core processor.
Click here to go back up to the summary

Best General computing laptop for $800

$791 – ASUS A53SV-EH71

About the ASUS A53SV-EH71:

Pros:

1. Nice, simple design, with aluminum, making it more solid than the average laptop.
2. Great chicklet keyboard, with oversized Enter key.
3. ASUS proven IceCool Technology keep palm rest cool, placing heat-producing components away from you.
4. Equipped with ASUS Power4Gear, select from an assortment of power profiles via the Power4Gear hotkey above the keyboard that optimizes the system for your task at hand—giving the most performance or maximizing battery life.
5. Numpad: Very useful for spreadsheets.
6. Even more powerful Intel quad-core (with Hyper-Threading) Core i7-2670QM processor.
7. Fairly high capacity 640GB hard drive.
8. Fairly powerful Geforce GT 540M 1GB allows you to play recent video games, with settings depending on the game.
9. Nvidia Optimus technology, that turns on the GT 540M for gaming and uses the Intel IGP when not gaming for longer battery life.
10. One USB 3.0 port.
11. ASUS 1 Year Accidental Damage Protection (ADP) that covers accidental drops, spills, power surges, and fire damage
12. Reliable: ASUS ranks amongst the top brands (often #1) when it comes to reliability.

Cons:

1. Average battery life. Expect about 4-5 hours of web browsing.
2. Average 1366 x 768 resolution.
3. Low-resolution 0.3MP 640 x 480 Webcam
4. Speakers aren’t that great. Then again, you can plug in headphones or speakers.
5. Glossy screen: Forget about using this laptop in direct sunlight.

Ideal for:

• Anyone who needs a laptop with enough power to last him/her through a few years and who doesn’t mind paying a bit more to get a fairly good quality laptop.

To avoid for:

• Someone who’s traveling a lot and who wants an highly-portable, lightweight laptop to carry around all day.

Compared to similar laptops:
The majority of general computing laptops in this price range don’t offer the powerful Core i7-2670QM and Geforce GT 540M combo and the few that do, don’t offer all the other pros that this ASUS laptop does offer, such as the accidental damage protection warranty, high reliability, Icecool and Power4Gear technologies, etc.
Click here to go back up to the summary
Specifications:

Components	ASUS A53SV-EH71
OS	Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
CPU	Intel Core i7-2670QM Quad-Core + Hyper-Threading 2.2-3.1 GHz Turbo
Screen Webcam Video Card	15.6″ 1366 x 768 LED backlight Yes: 0.3MP (640 x 480) Nvidia Geforce GT 540M with 1GB dedicated VRAM
RAM Slots/Max RAM	6GB (4+2GB) DDR3 1333MHz 2 Slot, maximum 8GB
Storage	640GB Hard Drive running at 5,400RPM
Optical Drive	DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL LightScribe
Audio	Altec Lansing Speakers Integrated microphone
Networking	LAN: 10/100/1000Mbps 802.11b/g/n Wifi
Ports	5-in-1 Card Reader Headphone and Microphone 3.5mm jacks 1 x USB 3.0 2 x USB 2.0 LAN VGA Output HDMI Output
Dimensions Weight	15.12″ x 10.12″ x 1.4″ 5.72lbs
Battery Size Battery Life	6-cell Li-Ion 4-5 hours

Click here to go back up to the summary

Alternative:

The $815 – HP ProBook 4530s LJ475UT is a good alternative to the ASUS A53SV-EH71. Here’s what it offers that the ASUS A53SV-EH71 doesn’t have:

1. It’s slightly lighter (5.2lbs, so 0.52lbs lighter) and slightly smaller
2. A faster 7,200 rpm hard drive
3. A spill-resistant keyboard
4. A higher resolution 720p webcam
5. A finger-print reader
6. A matte (non-glossy) screen
7. Bluetooth 3.0 + HS Combo support
8. An Expresscard/34 port
9. Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Edition

On the downside, the CPU is 200MHz slower, it has 4GB vs 6GB of RAM and a less powerful video card (Radeon HD 6490M vs Geforce GT 540M).

Overall, it’s a nice tradeoff if you want any of those features and it’s mostly likely a better choice if you intend to use your laptop for business.
Click here to go back up to the summary

Best General computing laptop for $1000

$950 – ASUS N53SV-EH72

About the ASUS N53SV-EH72:

Pros:

1. Nice, simple design, with aluminum, making it more solid than the average laptop.
2. ASUS proven IceCool Technology keep palm rest cool, placing heat-producing components away from you.
3. Equipped with ASUS Power4Gear, select from an assortment of power profiles via the Power4Gear hotkey above the keyboard that optimizes the system for your task at hand—giving the most performance or maximizing battery life.
4. Numpad: Very useful for spreadsheets.
5. Powerful Intel quad-core (with Hyper-Threading) Core i7-2670QM processor.
6. 1920 x 1080 (1080p) high resolution screen
7. A fast 7,200rpm hard drive
8. Bluetooth 3.0
9. A 2.0MP webcam
10. Great sounding Bang and Olufsen ICEpower speakers
11. Four memory slots, allowing you to upgrade RAM up to 16GB (4x4GB)
12. Fairly powerful Geforce GT 540M 1GB allows you to play recent video games, with settings depending on the game.
13. Nvidia Optimus technology, that turns on the GT 540M for gaming and uses the Intel IGP when not gaming for longer battery life.
14. One USB 3.0 port.
15. ASUS 1 Year Accidental Damage Protection (ADP) that covers accidental drops, spills, power surges, and fire damage
16. Reliable: ASUS ranks amongst the top brands (often #1) when it comes to reliability.

Cons:

1. Average battery life. Expect about 4-5 hours of web browsing.
2. Not exactly light at 6.4lbs.
3. Glossy screen: Forget about using this laptop in direct sunlight.

Ideal for:

• Anyone who wants a well rounded laptop with a powerful CPU, a good video card, a 1080p screen and great sound quality for a laptop

To avoid for:

• Someone who’s traveling a lot and who wants an highly-portable, lightweight laptop to carry around all day.

Compared to similar laptops:
The majority of general computing laptops in this price range may offer the powerful Core i7-2670QM and Geforce GT 540M combo but few, if any, will also offer the great sounding speakers, the high resolution screen and all the other peaks that this ASUS laptop does offer, such as the accidental damage protection warranty, high reliability, Icecool and Power4Gear technologies, etc.
Click here to go back up to the summary
Specifications:

Components	ASUS N53SV-EH72
OS	Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
CPU	Intel Core i7-2670QM Quad-Core + Hyper-Threading 2.2-3.1 GHz Turbo
Screen Webcam Video Card	15.6″ 1920 x 1080 LED backlight Yes: 2MP Nvidia Geforce GT 540M with 1GB dedicated VRAM
RAM Slots/Max RAM	6GB (4+2GB) DDR3 1333MHz 4 Slots, maximum 16GB
Storage	500GB Hard Drive running at 7,200RPM
Optical Drive	DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL LightScribe
Audio	Bang and Olufsen ICEpower speakers Integrated microphone
Networking	LAN: 10/100/1000Mbps 802.11b/g/n Wifi Bluetooth 3.0
Ports	5-in-1 Card Reader Headphone and Microphone 3.5mm jacks 1 x USB 3.0 2 x USB 2.0 LAN VGA Output HDMI Output
Dimensions Weight	15.6″ x 10.6″ x 1.2″ ~ 1.6″ 6.4lbs
Battery Size Battery Life	6-cell (47 WHr) Li-Ion 4-5 hour

Click here to go back up to the summary

Alternative: Same laptop with a Blu-Ray drive and a larger hard drive:

The $1020- ASUS N53SV-DH72 is very similar to my recommendation above.

The main difference being that it’s a tad more expensive, that it comes with a Blu-Ray drive and a larger 750GB hard drive.
Click here to go back up to the summary

Best General computing laptop for $1250

$1200 – ASUS N55SF-DH71

About the ASUS N55SF-DH71:

Pros:

1. Nice, simple design, with aluminum, making it more solid than the average laptop.
2. Equipped with ASUS Power4Gear, select from an assortment of power profiles via the Power4Gear hotkey above the keyboard that optimizes the system for your task at hand—giving the most performance or maximizing battery life.
3. Numpad: Very useful for spreadsheets.
4. Powerful Intel quad-core (with Hyper-Threading) Core i7-2670QM processor.
5. 1920 x 1080 (1080p) high resolution screen
6. Blu-Ray drive
7. A large and fast 750GB 7,200rpm hard drive
8. Bluetooth 3.0
9. A 2.0MP webcam
10. Great sounding Bang and Olufsen ICEpower speakers + bundled external subwoofer
11. Pretty powerful Geforce GT 555M 2GB allows you to play recent video games, with settings depending on the game.
12. Nvidia Optimus technology, that turns on the GT 540M for gaming and uses the Intel IGP when not gaming for longer battery life.
13. Two USB 3.0 port.
14. ASUS 1 Year Accidental Damage Protection (ADP) that covers accidental drops, spills, power surges, and fire damage
15. Reliable: ASUS ranks amongst the top brands (often #1) when it comes to reliability.

Cons:

1. Average battery life. Expect about 4-5 hours of web browsing.
2. Glossy screen: Forget about using this laptop in direct sunlight.

Ideal for:

• Anyone who wants a well rounded laptop with a powerful CPU, a great video card, a 1080p screen and awesome sound quality for a laptop.

To avoid for:

• Someone who’s traveling a lot and who wants an highly-portable, lightweight laptop to carry around all day.

Compared to similar laptops:
The majority of general computing laptops in this price range may offer the powerful Core i7-2670QM and possibly the Geforce GT 555M but few, if any, will also offer the great sounding speakers +subwoofer , the high resolution screen and all the other peaks that this ASUS laptop does offer, such as the accidental damage protection warranty, high reliability and Power4Gear technologies, etc.
Click here to go back up to the summary
Specifications:

Components	ASUS N55SF-DH71
OS	Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
CPU	Intel Core i7-2670QM Quad-Core + Hyper-Threading 2.2-3.1 GHz Turbo
Screen Webcam Video Card	15.6″ 1920 x 1080 LED backlight Yes: 2.0 MP Nvidia Geforce GT 555M with 2GB dedicated VRAM
RAM Slots/Max RAM	8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1333MHz 2 Slot, maximum 8GB
Storage	750GB Hard Drive running at 7,200RPM
Optical Drive	Blu-ray writer enabled DVD±RW/CD-RW
Audio	Bang and Olufsen ICEpower speakers + bundled external subwoofer Integrated microphone
Networking	LAN: 10/100/1000Mbps 802.11b/g/n Wifi Bluetooth 3.0
Ports	3-in-1 Card Reader Headphone and Microphone 3.5mm jacks 2 x USB 3.0 2 x USB 2.0 LAN HDMI Output
Dimensions Weight	14.9″ x 10.3 x 1.5″ 5.9lbs
Battery Size Battery Life	6-cell Li-Ion 4-5 hours

Click here to go back up to the summary

Macbook Pro Alternative:

Love them or hate them, Macbooks are popular laptops for various reasons, one of them being that they are quite unique.

Now, my goal here is not to start a Mac vs PC flame war. There is no perfect laptop and each one has its strengths and weaknesses. What you’ll see here is a fair comparison of facts, not ideologies.

The $1139 – Apple MacBook Pro 13.3″ is the entry-level Apple Macbook based on the late 2011 refresh.

Here’s what it offers compared to the ASUS laptop recommended above:
Pros:

1. A 16:10 ratio for the 1280 x 800 resolution screen, so it’s less wide but longer. Some may consider this a con, but I think that it’s a pro, since you don’t have to scroll as much when browsing the web, compared to 1366 x 768 (16:9 ratio)
2. Top notch display: Black levels, Contrast, Color Accuracy and Color Gamut % of the AdobeRGB 1998 are amongst the best compared to other laptops, according to AnandTech.
3. OS X Lion: A pro or a con depending on your opinion. If you never tried OS X, ask a friend with a Macbook or visit an Apple store to give it a shot to see if you like it. Of course, if you’re switching from Windows, there will be a period of adaptation. You can always run Windows 7 on it if you want to.
4. Thunderbolt port: Transfer rates twice as fast as USB 3.0, allows to plug in a monitor and daisy-chain various peripherals.
5. Top-notch large glass touchpad, with support for inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities
6. Unibody aluminum frame, making the Macbook one of the most solid laptops available.
7. Backlit keyboard
8. Up to 7 hours of battery life
9. MagSafe power adapter: In my opinion, the best power adapter out there. The power adapter is held in place magnetically, so if someone trips over it, the cord disconnects harmlessly while the MacBook Pro stays put on your desk. It also has flip out legs for winding the cord for storage.

Cons:
Simply put, hardware specifications wise, it lags behind similarly priced laptops, with an Intel Core i5 Dual-Core 2.4GHz, 4GB of RAM, Intel HD Graphics 3000, no USB 3.0. Even the $650 General Computing recommendation has a quad-core processor. Of course, there’s more than just processing power to a laptop and people don’t buy Macs because they offer the most processing power for the money, but for many other reasons.
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Gaming Laptops:

About Gaming laptops:
Gaming laptops are optimized to offer the best gaming experience possible and come with more powerful than average video cards. On the downside, those powerful video cards draw more power, so gaming laptops have lower battery life than the average laptop. They also tend to be heavier, due to the additional cooling required for the more powerful video card.

Best Gaming Laptop for $650

$580 – Acer Aspire AS5755G-6823

About the Acer Aspire AS5755G-6823:

Pros:

1. Fairly powerful Intel Core i5-2430M 2.4-3.0GHz Turbo Dual-Core + Hyper-Threading CPU
2. Fairly powerful Nvidia Geforce GT 540M with 1GB of dedicated VRAM
3. Numpad
4. One USB 3.0 port
5. Nvidia Optimus technology, that turns on the GT 540M for gaming and uses the Intel IGP when not gaming for longer battery life.

Cons:

1. 5,400rpm hard drive takes longer to boot and to launches programs than a faster 7,200rpm hard drive.
2. Limited battery life: Expect 3-4 hours of web browsing time.
3. Average budget laptop build quality: Plastic everywhere. While Acer laptops are much better than they used to be, their build quality remains average.
4. Glossy screen: Forget about using this laptop in direct sunlight.

Ideal for:

• Someone on a tight budget who wants to play video games and needs the portability of a laptop (Otherwise, a desktop Gaming PC offers a LOT more performance for the same price.)

To avoid for:

• Someone who’s traveling a lot and who wants an highly-portable, lightweight laptop to carry around all day.
• Someone who needs a laptop with a long battery life.

Compared to similar laptops:
The majority of budget laptops come with very low-end Intel or Nvidia integrated video cards that simply can’t match the much more powerful Nvidia Geforce GT 540M found in this laptop, which is why this laptop is the best choice for a Gaming laptop for $650 or less.
Click here to go back up to the summary
Specifications:

Components	Acer Aspire AS5755G-6823
OS	Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
CPU	Intel Core i5-2430M 2.4-3.0GHz Turbo Dual-Core + Hyper-Threading
Screen Webcam Video Card	15.6″ 1366 x 768 LED backlight, glossy Yes: 1.3MP (1280 x 1024) Nvidia Geforce GT 540M
RAM Slots/Max RAM	4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1066MHz 2 Slots, maximum 8GB
Storage	500GB Hard Drive running at 5,400RPM
Optical Drive	8x DVD+/-RW SuperMulti
Audio	Dolby Advanced Audio v2 Built-in microphone Two built-in stereo speakers
Networking	LAN: 10/100/1000Mbps 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN
Ports	5-in-1 Card reader Headphone and Microphone 3.5mm jacks 1 x USB 3.0 2 x USB 2.0 LAN VGA Output HDMI Output
Dimensions Weight	15″ x 9.9″ x 0.99″ – 1.3″ 5.74lbs
Battery Size Battery Life	6 cell/4400 mAh Li-ion ~3-4 hours

Click here to go back up to the summary

Better build quality, 6GB RAM/750GB Hard drive alternative:

The $650 – ASUS A53SV-XE2 is an interesting alternative.

Here what it features that the Acer laptop above doesn’t:

1. Higher quality build quality, with aluminum
2. 6GB of RAM instead of 4GB
3. 750GB hard drive instead of 500GB
4. ASUS proven IceCool Technology keep palm rest cool, placing heat-producing components away from you.
5. ASUS Power4Gear, which lets you select from an assortment of power profiles via the Power4Gear hotkey above the keyboard that optimizes the system for your task at hand—giving the most performance or maximizing battery life.
6. ASUS 1 Year Accidental Damage Protection (ADP) that covers accidental drops, spills, power surges, and fire damage
7. Reliable: ASUS ranks amongst the top brands (often #1) when it comes to reliability.

However, it comes with a few drawbacks compared to the Acer laptop above:

1. Slower Core i5-2410M CPU. Mind you, it’s only 100MHz slower at default and Turbo frequencies.
2. Low resolution webcam: Only 0.3MP (640 x 480)
3. No USB 3.0 ports; only three USB 2.0 ports

Click here to go back up to the summary

Best Gaming Laptop for $800

$750 – Acer Aspire AS5755G-9471

About the Acer Aspire AS5755G-9471:

Pros:

1. Powerful Intel quad-core (with Hyper-Threading) Core i7-2670QM processor.
2. Numpad: Very useful for spreadsheets.
3. Fairly powerful Geforce GT 540M 1GB allows you to play recent video games, with settings depending on the game.
4. Nvidia Optimus technology, that turns on the GT 540M for gaming and uses the Intel IGP when not gaming for longer battery life.
5. One USB 3.0 port.

Cons:

1. 5,400rpm hard drive takes longer to boot and to launches programs than a faster 7,200rpm hard drive.
2. Limited battery life: Expect 3-4 hours of web browsing time.
3. Average budget laptop build quality: Plastic everywhere.
4. Glossy screen: Forget about using this laptop in direct sunlight.

Ideal for:

• Someone on a budget who wants to play video games and needs the portability of a laptop (Otherwise, a desktop Gaming PC offers a LOT more performance for the same price.)

To avoid for:

• Someone who’s traveling a lot and who wants an highly-portable, lightweight laptop to carry around all day.
• Someone who needs a laptop with a long battery life.

Compared to similar laptops:
No laptops in this price range offers both the powerful quad-core Core i7-2670QM processor and the Geforce GT 540M video card.
Click here to go back up to the summary
Specifications:

Components	Acer Aspire AS5755G-9471
OS	Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
CPU	Intel Core i7-2670QM Quad-Core + Hyper-Threading 2.2-3.1 GHz Turbo
Screen Webcam Video Card	15.6″ 1366 x 768 LED backlight, glossy Yes: 1.3MP (1280 x 1024) Nvidia Geforce GT 540M
RAM Slots/Max RAM	4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1066MHz 2 Slots, maximum 8GB
Storage	640GB Hard Drive running at 5,400RPM
Optical Drive	8x DVD+/-RW SuperMulti
Audio	Dolby Advanced Audio v2 Built-in microphone Two built-in stereo speakers
Networking	LAN: 10/100/1000Mbps 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN
Ports	5-in-1 Card reader Headphone and Microphone 3.5mm jacks 1 x USB 3.0 2 x USB 2.0 LAN VGA Output HDMI Output
Dimensions Weight	15″ x 9.9″ x 0.99″ – 1.3″ 5.74lbs
Battery Size Battery Life	6-cell Li-ion Battery (4400 mAh) ~3-4 hours

Click here to go back up to the summary

$830 more powerful video card alternative

The $830 – Lenovo Y570 08622ZU is a great alternative if you don’t mind spending a bit more.

Here’s what it offers over the Acer laptop recommended above:

1. More powerful Geforce GT 555M video card
2. 6GB of RAM instead of 4GB
3. 750GB hard drive instead of 640GB
4. An E-SATA/USB combo port
5. A 2.0Mp webcam compared to 1.3MP

On the downsides:

1. It has a Core i5-2430 Dual-Core 2.4-3.0GHz. So you get a dual-core instead of a quad-core. Mind you, with the faster video card, you should still get better performance despite the less powerful CPU.
2. Its battery life is a tad shorter.

Click here to go back up to the summary

Best Gaming Laptop for $1000

$930 – HP Pavilion dv6-6180us

About the HP Pavilion dv6-6180us:

Pros:

1. Powerful Intel quad-core (with Hyper-Threading) Core i7-2670QM processor.
2. Numpad: Very useful for spreadsheets.
3. Pretty powerful Radeon HD 6770M video card (equivalent to GT 555M) allows you to play recent video games, with settings depending on the game.
4. AMD switchable graphic technology, that turns on the Radeon 6770M for gaming and uses the Intel IGP when not gaming for longer battery life.
5. Two USB 3.0 port.
6. Brushed aluminum construction: More solid than the average laptop
7. HP Coolsense Technology keep palm rest cool, placing heat-producing components away from you.
8. Bluetooth 3.0
9. Beats Audio
10. 6GB of RAM
11. Large capacity hard drive: 750GB
12. Intel Widi (Wireless Display) technology
13. Fingerprint reader

Cons:

1. 5,400rpm hard drive takes longer to boot and to launches programs than a faster 7,200rpm hard drive.
2. Decent battery life: Expect 4.5-5.5 hours of web browsing time.
3. Glossy screen: Forget about using this laptop in direct sunlight.

Ideal for:

• Someone on a decent budget who wants to play video games and needs the portability of a laptop (Otherwise, a desktop Gaming PC offers a LOT more performance for the same price.)

To avoid for:

• Someone who’s traveling a lot and who wants an highly-portable, lightweight laptop to carry around all day.
• Someone who needs a laptop with a long battery life.

Compared to similar laptops:
A lot of laptops in this price range will come with a quad-core processor and a decent video card, but none come with both a cpu and video card as powerful as the ones featured in this HP laptop, as well as two USB 3.0 ports, Bluetooth, higher quality sound (Beats Audio) and all the other perks that this laptop offers.
Click here to go back up to the summary
Specifications:

Components	HP Pavilion dv6-6180us
OS	Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
CPU	Intel Core i7-2670QM Quad-Core + Hyper-Threading 2.2-3.1 GHz Turbo
Screen Webcam Video Card	15.6″ 1366 x 768 LED backlight, glossy Yes: HD AMD Radeon HD 6770M 1GB GDDR5
RAM Slots/Max RAM	6GB (4+2GB) DDR3 2 Slots, maximum 16GB
Storage	750GB Hard Drive running at 5,400RPM
Optical Drive	8x DVD+/-RW SuperMulti
Audio	Beats Audio Built-in microphone
Networking	LAN: 10/100/1000Mbps 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Bluetooth 3.0 Intel WiDi
Ports	Card reader 2x Headphone and 1x Microphone 3.5mm jacks 2 x USB 3.0 2 x USB 2.0 LAN VGA Output HDMI Output
Dimensions Weight	14.96″ x 9.84″ x 1.48″ 5.45lbs
Battery Size Battery Life	6 cell/55Wh Lithium Ion ~4.5-5.5 hours

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Best Gaming Laptop for $1250

$1249 – ASUS G53SX-AH71

About the ASUS G53SX-AH71:

Pros:

1. A unique striking design that is also useful by channeling cold air through the front and exhausting by the back.
2. Numpad: Very useful for spreadsheets.
3. Rubberished keyboard at a 5 degree angle
4. Powerful Intel quad-core (with Hyper-Threading) Core i7-2670QM processor.
5. Powerful Nvidia Geforce GTX 560M with 2GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM.
6. 1920 x 1080 (1080p) high resolution screen
7. Two years warranty
8. Reliable: ASUS ranks amongst the top brands (often #1) when it comes to reliability.
9. 8GB RAM
10. Four RAM slots, allowing you to upgrade to 16GB of RAM
11. Large capacity 750GB
12. Two storage slots, allowing you to add a 2.5″ hard drive or SSD
13. Bluetooth 3.0
14. One USB 3.0 port

Cons:

1. Limited battery life: Expect 2-3 hours of web browsing time.
2. Glossy screen: Forget about using this laptop in direct sunlight.
3. Big and heavy: 2 inches thick, 8.7lbs

Ideal for:

• Someone who wants a capable gaming laptop to play video games and who needs the portability of a laptop (Otherwise, a desktop Gaming PC offers a LOT more performance for the same price.)

To avoid for:

• Someone who’s traveling a lot and who wants an highly-portable, lightweight laptop to carry around all day.
• Someone who needs a laptop with a long battery life.

Compared to similar laptops:
Simply put, at this price range, no other laptop offers the gaming performance of the ASUS G53SX-NH71, with its Intel quad-core CPU and the Geforce GTX 560M. Enough said.
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Specifications:

Components	ASUS G53SX-AH71
OS	Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
CPU	Intel Core i7-2670QM Quad-Core + Hyper-Threading 2.2-3.1 GHz Turbo
Screen Webcam Video Card	15.6″ 1920 x 1080 LED backlight, glossy Yes: 2.0MP Nvidia Geforce GTX 560M 2GB dedicated GDDR5 VRAM
RAM Slots/Max RAM	8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1333MHz 4 Slots, maximum 16GB
Storage	750GB Hard Drive running at 5,400RPM
Optical Drive	DVD+/-RW SuperMulti
Audio	EAX Advanced HD 5.0 – THX TruStudio Built-in microphone Built-in speakers
Networking	LAN: 10/100/1000Mbps 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Bluetooth 3.0
Ports	4-in-1 Card reader Headphone and Microphone 3.5mm jacks 1 x USB 3.0 3 x USB 2.0 LAN VGA Output HDMI Output
Dimensions Weight	15.6″ x 11.7″ x 2″ 8.7lbs
Battery Size Battery Life	8 cell 5200 mAh 74Wh Lithium Ion ~2-3 hours

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Alternative

For $70 less, you can get the $1180 – ASUS G53SX-XA1 which offers identical specifications, except for the CPU that’s a lower-end model with a 200MHz lower stock and Turbo frequency. Mind you, it’s still a fast Intel Core i7 Quad-Core CPU, so it’s not exactly slow either.

Ultra-portable:

About Ultra-portable laptops:
Ultra-portable laptops generally have a screen that’s 13.3″ or smaller, a relatively thin profile and a weight under 4lbs. They usually have a better than average battery life. These are ideal for road warriors and people who carry their laptop around all day long.

On the downside, these laptops are usually more limited when it comes to their CPU and video card performance and their small dimensions can also result in a cramped keyboard and a smaller than average trackpad. Of course, this varies from one model to another. For example, some ultra-portables have great keyboards (e.g. Lenovo Thinkpad X series) and some ultra-portables have relatively powerful CPUs and video cards.

Best Ultra-portable for $650

$650 – ASUS U31SD-AH31

About the ASUS U31SD-AH31:

Pros:

1. More compact (12.9″ x 9.2″ x 1″) and lighter (4lbs) than the average laptop.
2. Great battery life (Up to 8 hours) thanks to the 8-cell battery.
3. Very decent CPU for such a small laptop: Core i3-2330M 2.2Ghz Dual-Core + Hyper-Threading
4. Equipped with ASUS Power4Gear, select from an assortment of power profiles via the Power4Gear hotkey above the keyboard that optimizes the system for your task at hand—giving the most performance or maximizing battery life.
5. Nvidia Geforce GT 520M with 1GB dedicated VRAM video card: Not a powerhouse, but superior to the Intel HD 3000. Great for accelerating Photoshop too.
6. Nvidia Optimus technology, that turns on the GT 520M for gaming/demanding programs and otherwise uses the Intel IGP for longer battery life.
7. Great chicklet keyboard.
8. Bluetooth 3.0
9. ASUS 1 Year Accidental Damage Protection (ADP) that covers accidental drops, spills, power surges, and fire damage
10. Reliable: ASUS ranks amongst the top brands (often #1) when it comes to reliability.

Cons:

1. No USB 3.0 ports
2. Low resolution 0.3MP webcam.
3. Glossy screen: Forget about using this laptop in direct sunlight.

Ideal for:
People looking for an affordable, small and lightweight machine without sacrificing CPU or video card performance too much, with a long battery life.

Avoid it for:

• Heavy Audio/Photo/Video editing or heavy multitasking: The Intel Core-i3 2330M Dual-Core may hold you back due to its 2.2GHz frequency and lack of Turbo.
• High-resolution gaming: While gaming on the screen at 1366 x 768 will be fine for most games, don’t expect to play modern video games on a 1080p display or HDTV.

Compared to similar laptops:
Ultra-portables in this price range come with a less powerful AMD E-350 CPU or an Intel low-power CPU with much lower frequencies or are larger/heavier. This is also the only ultra-portable in this price range that includes a decent CPU and a dedicated video card.
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Specifications:

Components	ASUS U31SD-AH31
OS	Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit
CPU	Intel Core i3-2330M 2.2GHz Dual-Core + Hyper-Threading
Screen Webcam Video Card	13.3″ 1366 x 768 LED backlight, glossy Yes: 0.3MP Nvidia Geforce GT 520M 1GB dedicated VRAM
RAM Slots/Max RAM	4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 2 Slots, maximum 8GB
Storage	500GB Hard Drive running at 5,400RPM
Optical Drive	None
Audio	Altec Lansing HD Built-in microphone Built-in speakers
Networking	LAN: 10/100/1000Mbps 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Bluetooth 3.0
Ports	3-in-1 Card reader Headphone and Microphone 3.5mm jacks 3 x USB 2.0 LAN VGA Output HDMI Output
Dimensions Weight	12.9″ x 9.2″ x 1″ 4lbs
Battery Size Battery Life	8-cell lithium ion Up to 8 hours

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Less expensive alternative

The $550 – Acer Aspire TimelineX AS3830T-6870 is an excellent alternative if you want a less expensive ultra-portable.

Here’s what it offers compared to the ASUS laptop recommended above:

1. A slightly more powerful Intel Core i5-2430M 2.4-3.0GHz Turbo CPU (200MHz faster than the ASUS above)
2. Intel WiDi (Wireless Display) technology
3. One USB 3.0 port

Here are the drawbacks:

1. Lower quality: ASUS laptops are more reliable and built more solidly.
2. Less powerful video card: Intel HD 3000 vs Nvidia Geforce GT 520M

If you don’t mind those drawbacks, the $550 – Acer Aspire TimelineX AS3830T-6870 is a good alternative to save some money.

Smaller and lighter, but less powerful alternative:

The $625 – HP Pavilion DM1-4050US is a lighter and smaller alternative.

Here’s what it offers:
Pros:

1. More compact (11.49″ x 8.46″ x 0.83″ – 1.26″) and lighter (3.53lbs) than the average laptop.
2. Outstanding battery life (Up to 10 hours)
3. Comparable to “Ultrabooks” at a much better price ($625)
4. Beats Audio
5. Bundled External DVD Burner
6. Bluetooth

Cons:

1. Slower Core i3-2367M 1.4Ghz Dual-Core + Hyper-Threading CPU
2. No USB 3.0 ports
3. Somewhat limited video card (Intel HD 3000) performance. Fine for older games or some less demanding newer games with low-resolution/minimum details settings.

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Best Ultra-portable for $800

$760 – ASUS U31SD-AH51

About the ASUS U31SD-AH51:

Pros:

1. More compact (12.9″ x 9.2″ x 1″) and lighter (4lbs) than the average laptop.
2. Great battery life (Up to 8 hours) thanks to the 8-cell battery.
3. Great CPU for such a small laptop: Core i5-2430M 2.4-3.0 GHz Turbo Dual-Core + Hyper-Threading
4. Equipped with ASUS Power4Gear, select from an assortment of power profiles via the Power4Gear hotkey above the keyboard that optimizes the system for your task at hand—giving the most performance or maximizing battery life.
5. Nvidia Geforce GT 520M with 1GB dedicated VRAM video card: Not a powerhouse, but superior to the Intel HD 3000. Great for accelerating Photoshop too.
6. Nvidia Optimus technology, that turns on the GT 520M for gaming/demanding programs and otherwise uses the Intel IGP for longer battery life.
7. Great chicklet keyboard.
8. Bluetooth 3.0
9. Fairly large 640GB hard drive
10. ASUS 1 Year Accidental Damage Protection (ADP) that covers accidental drops, spills, power surges, and fire damage
11. Reliable: ASUS ranks amongst the top brands (often #1) when it comes to reliability.

Cons:

1. No USB 3.0 ports
2. Low resolution 0.3MP webcam.
3. Glossy screen: Forget about using this laptop in direct sunlight.

Ideal for:
People looking for an affordable, small and lightweight machine without sacrificing CPU or video card performance too much, with a long battery life.

Avoid it for:

• Very Heavy Audio/Photo/Video editing or very heavy multitasking: The Intel Core-i5 2430M 2.4-3.0GHz Turbo Dual-Core + Hyper-Threading packs a punch, but it’s still not comparable to the processing power of a quad-core processor.
• High-resolution gaming: While gaming on the screen at 1366 x 768 will be fine for most games, don’t expect to play modern video games on a 1080p display or HDTV.

Compared to similar laptops:
Ultra-portables in this price range may come with a comparable CPU, but few if any have a dedicated video card, a 8-cell battery and offers the build quality/reliability of this ASUS laptop.

A great example of a series of laptop to avoid is the Toshiba Protege R series. While it is thin and light, many users report that their screen developed cracks!
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Specifications:

Components	ASUS U31SD-AH51
OS	Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
CPU	Intel Core i5-2430M Dual-Core + Hyper-Threading 2.4-3.0GHz Turbo
Screen Webcam Video Card	13.3″ 1366 x 768 LED backlight, glossy Yes: 0.3MP (640 x 480) Nvidia Geforce GT 520M with 1GB dedicated VRAM
RAM Slots/Max RAM	4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 2 Slots, maximum 8GB
Storage	640GB Hard Drive running at 5,400RPM
Optical Drive	None
Audio	Altec Lansing HD Built-in microphone Built-in speakers
Networking	LAN: 10/100/1000Mbps 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Bluetooth 3.0
Ports	3-in-1 Card reader (MMC, SD (SDHC)) Headphone and Microphone 3.5mm jacks 3 x USB 2.0 LAN VGA Output
Dimensions Weight	12.9″ x 9.2″ x 1″ 4lbs
Battery Size Battery Life	8-cell lithium ion Up to 8 hours

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Best Ultra-portable for $1000

$900 – Thinkpad X220 Core i5 – TN Panel

About the Thinkpad X220:

Pros:

1. More compact (12″ x 8.13″ x 0.75″ – 1.36″) and lighter (3.31lbs) than the average laptop.
2. Excellent battery life of 8.5-9 hours, 17-18 hours with optional Thinkpad Battery Slice
3. Matte body = No finger prints or light reflections
4. Matte screen: Allows you to use your laptop even with direct sunlight.
5. Roll-cage and magnesium-alloy top and bottom covers
6. Lid with a rubberish coating
7. Sturdy metal hinges
8. One of the best keyboard available for a laptop
9. Trackpoint
10. Spill-resistant keyboard
11. Noise-cancelling microphones
12. 7,200rpm hard drive allows for faster booting and faster program launches than a slower 5,400rpm hard drive.
13. Great CPU for such a small laptop: Core i5-2410M 2.3-2.9 GHz Turbo Dual-Core + Hyper-Threading
14. Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

Cons:

1. Somewhat limited video card (Intel HD 3000) performance. Fine for older games or some less demanding newer games with low-resolution/minimum details settings.
2. No USB 3.0 ports.
3. No HDMI Output. However, you get a Displayport.
4. Storage options limited to 7mm drives. SSD wise, Intel SSDs, with model numbers ending with 1, are compatible. Some SSDs can be modded to fit too.
5. Superior X220 models are available. See my recommendation for the best Ultra-Portable for $1250 below.

Ideal for:
Road-warriors who want a reliable business ultra-portable laptop with a great battery life, that can be extended further more.

Avoid for:

• Very Heavy Audio/Photo/Video editing or very heavy multitasking: The Intel Core-i5 2410M 2.3-2.9GHz Turbo Dual-Core + Hyper-Threading packs a punch, but it’s still not comparable to the processing power of a quad-core processor.
• High-resolution gaming: While gaming on the screen at 1366 x 768 will be fine for most games, don’t expect to play modern video games on a 1080p display or HDTV.

Compared to similar laptops:
While you’ll find similar hardware in other ultra-portables, none of them will offer the well-known sturdiness and reliability of the Thinkpad series. Not to mention the outstanding spill-resistant keyboard, excellent battery life that can extended to an incredible 18 hours with the optional battery slice.
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Specifications:

Components	Thinkpad X220
OS	Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
CPU	Intel Core i5-2410M Dual-Core + Hyper-Threading 2.3-2.9GHz Turbo
Screen Webcam Video Card	12.5″ 1366 x 768 LED backlight matte, TN panel Yes: 1280 x 720 – 720P HD Intel HD 3000
RAM Slots/Max RAM	4GB (1x4GB) DDR3 1333MHz 2 Slots, maximum 8GB
Storage	320GB 7,200rpm Hard Drive Note: Hard Drive or SSD maximum height: 7mm
Optical Drive	None
Audio	High Definition (HD) Audio Built-in stereo microphones Built-in stereo speakers
Networking	LAN: 10/100/1000Mbps 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Bluetooth
Ports	4-in-1 Card reader Express Card Slot/54 or 34 Headphone and Microphone 3.5mm jacks 3 x USB 2.0 LAN VGA Output Displayport Output
Dimensions Weight	12″ x 8.13″ x 0.75″ – 1.36″ 3.31lbs
Battery Size Battery Life	6-cell lithium ion, Battery Slice available separately 8.5-9 hours with 6-cell, 17-18 hours with Battery Slice

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Alternatives:

1 –
One of the first official “Ultrabooks” available for sale, the $983 – ASUS Zenbook UX21E-DH52 has some pretty incredible size and weight figures.

Here’s what it offers that the Thinkpad X220 does not:

1. Incredibly thin and incredibly light, at 11.77 x 7.72 x 0.12 ~ 0.67 -inches (W x D x H) and 2.43lbs!
2. 128GB SSD that comes standard, resulting in 2-seconds resume time, faster OS boot time (less than 15 seconds)/program launch time as well as improved responsiveness.
3. Brushed aluminum chassis that looks great
4. SonicMaster audio technology that was co-developed with Bang & Olufsen ICEpower audio
5. One USB 3.0 ports
6. ASUS 1 Year Accidental Damage Protection (ADP) that covers accidental drops, spills, power surges, and fire damage
7. Reliable: ASUS ranks amongst the top brands (often #1) when it comes to reliability.

It also has a few downsides:

1. Limited CPU Power, with the Intel Core i5-2467M Dual-Core + Hyper-Threading at 1.6-2.3GHz Turbo. Its lower frequency limits its performance compared to standard laptops.
2. Somewhat limited video card (Intel HD 3000) performance. Fine for older games or some less demanding newer games with low-resolution/minimum details settings.
3. Average 4-5 hours battery life
4. Not upgrade-friendly, due to its unique thin design.
5. Mini-ports means that you have to use adapters

2-
Love them or hate them, Macbooks are popular laptops for various reasons, one of them being that they are quite unique.

Now, remember that my goal here is not to start a Mac vs PC flame war. There is no perfect laptop and each one has its strengths and weaknesses. What you’ll see here is a fair comparison of facts, not ideologies.

The $940 – Apple MacBook Air MC968LL/A 11.6-Inch Latest Version is the entry-version of the 11.6″ Macbook Air.

Here’s what it offers compared to the Thinkpad X220 recommended above:
Pros:

1. Incredibly thin and incredibly light, at 11.8 x 7.56 x 0.68 -inches (W x D x H) and 2.38lbs!
2. Top notch display: Black levels, Contrast, Color Accuracy and Color Gamut % of the AdobeRGB 1998 are amongst the best compared to other laptops.
3. OS X Lion: A pro or a con depending on your opinion. If you never tried OS X, ask a friend with a Macbook or visit an Apple store to give it a shot to see if you like it. Of course, if you’re switching from Windows, there will be a period of adaptation. You can always run Windows 7 on it if you want to.
4. Thunderbolt port: Transfer rates twice as fast as USB 3.0, allows to plug in a monitor and daisy-chain various peripherals.
5. Top-notch large glass touchpad, with support for inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities
6. Unibody aluminum frame, making the Macbook Air one of the most solid ultra portables available.
7. Backlit keyboard
8. Up to 7 hours of battery life
9. MagSafe power adapter: In my opinion, the best power adapter out there. The power adapter is held in place magnetically, so if someone trips over it, the cord disconnects harmlessly while the MacBook Air stays put on your desk. It also has flip out legs for winding the cord for storage.

Cons:
Simply put, hardware specifications wise, it lags behind the competition. The similarly priced ASUS Zenbook offers twice the RAM, twice the SSD capacity and an USB 3.0 port. Limited to a maximum of 4GB of RAM, cannot be upgraded to more.

3-
The $862 – ASUS U36SD-DH51 is another interesting alternative, offering a full-speed Core i5-2430M 2.4-3.0GHz Dual-Core + Hyper-Threading CPU, a dedicated Nvidia Geforce GT 520M video with Optimus technology, a large 8-cell battery for ~8 hours of battery life, a USB 3.0 port, a magnesium alloy top and bottom panels and much more, for only $862.
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Best Ultra-portable for $1250

$1098 – Thinkpad X220 Core i7, IPS Screen, 9-cell battery

About the Lenovo Thinkpad X220 i7, IPS Screen and 9-cell battery:

Pros:

1. More compact (12″ x 8.13″ x 0.75″ – 1.36″) and lighter (3.31lbs) than the average laptop.
2. The fastest CPU currently available for an ultra-portable in this price range: The Core i7-2620M: 2.7-3.4GHz Turbo Dual-Core + Hyper-Threading
3. Greater screen brightness, more contrast, great color accuracy, super horizontal and vertical viewing angles thanks to the IPS screen panel
4. Matte screen: Allows you to use your laptop even with direct sunlight.
5. Great battery life of 10-11+ hours (thanks to the larger 9-cell battery), 20+ hours with optional Thinkpad Battery Slice
6. Matte body = No finger prints or light reflections
7. Roll-cage and magnesium-alloy top and bottom covers
8. Lid with a rubberish coating
9. Sturdy metal hinges
10. One of the best keyboard available for a laptop
11. Trackpoint
12. Spill-resistant keyboard
13. Noise-cancelling microphones
14. USB 3.0 port
15. 7,200rpm hard drive allows for faster booting and faster program launches than a slower 5,400rpm hard drive.
16. Fingerprint reader
17. Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

Cons:

1. Somewhat limited video card (Intel HD 3000) performance. Fine for older games or some less demanding newer games with low-resolution/minimum details settings.
2. No HDMI Output. However, you get a Displayport.
3. Storage options limited to 7mm drives. SSD wise, Intel SSDs, with model numbers ending with 1, are compatible. Some SSDs can be modded to fit too.

Ideal for:
Road-warriors who want one of the, if not THE best all around ultra-portable laptop with an excellent battery life, outstanding screen, a powerful CPU and Thinkpad’s great keyboard/sturdiness.

Avoid for:

• Very Heavy Audio/Photo/Video editing or very heavy multitasking: The Intel Core-i7 2620M 2.7-3.4GHz Turbo Dual-Core + Hyper-Threading is by no means slow, but it’s still not comparable to the processing power of a quad-core processor.
• High-resolution gaming: While gaming on the screen at 1366 x 768 will be fine for most games, don’t expect to play modern video games on a 1080p display or HDTV.

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Specifications:

Components	Lenovo Thinkpad X220 i7, IPS screen, 9-cell battery
OS	Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
CPU	Core i7-2620M: 2.7-3.4GHz Turbo Dual-Core + Hyper-Threading
Screen Webcam Video Card	12.5″ 1366 x 768 LED backlight, matte, IPS Panel Yes: 1280 x 720 – 720P HD Intel HD 3000
RAM Slots/Max RAM	4GB (1x4GB) DDR3 1333MHz 2 Slots, maximum 4GB
Storage	320GB Hard Drive running at 7,200RPM
Optical Drive	None
Audio	High Definition (HD) Audio Built-in stereo microphones Built-in stereo speakers
Networking	LAN: 10/100/1000Mbps 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Bluetooth 3.0
Ports	4-in-1 Card reader Express Card Slot/54 or 34 Headphone and Microphone 3.5mm jacks 1 x USB 3.0 2 x USB 2.0 LAN VGA Output Displayport Output
Dimensions Weight	11.1″ x 8.3″ x 0.6″ – 1.2″ ~3.50lbs
Battery Size Battery Life	9-cell lithium ion, Battery Slice available separately 10-11+ hours with 9-cell, 20+ hours with Battery Slice

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Alternatives:

1-
You like the Thinkpad X220 but you would like it in a tablet PC version? No problem, go for the $1200 – Thinkpad X220 Tablet

2-

One of the first official “Ultrabooks” available for sale, the $1099 – ASUS Zenbook UX31E-DH52 has some pretty incredible size and weight figures.

Here’s what it offers that the Thinkpad X220 does not:

1. Incredibly thin and incredibly light, at 12.8 x 8.78 x 0.12 ~ 0.71 -inches (W x D x H) and 2.87lbs!
2. Fairly high resolution for a 13.3″ display: 1600 x 900
3. 128GB SSD that comes standard, resulting in 2-seconds resume time, faster OS boot time (less than 15 seconds)/program launch time as well as improved responsiveness.
4. Brushed aluminum chassis that looks great
5. SonicMaster audio technology that was co-developed with Bang & Olufsen ICEpower audio
6. One USB 3.0 ports
7. ASUS 1 Year Accidental Damage Protection (ADP) that covers accidental drops, spills, power surges, and fire damage
8. Reliable: ASUS ranks amongst the top brands (often #1) when it comes to reliability.

It also has a few downsides:

1. Limited CPU Power, with the Intel Core i5-2557M Dual-Core + Hyper-Threading at 1.7 – 2.7GHz Turbo. Its lower frequency limits its performance compared to standard laptops.
2. Somewhat limited video card (Intel HD 3000) performance. Fine for older games or some less demanding newer games with low-resolution/minimum details settings.
3. “Only” 6-7 hours battery life.
4. Not upgrade-friendly, due to its unique thin design.
5. Mini-ports means that you have to use adapters

3-
The $1184 – Apple MacBook Air MC969LL/A 11.6-Inch Latest Version is the higher-end Macbook Air 11.6″.

Here’s what it offers compared to the Thinkpad X220 recommended above:
Pros:

1. Incredibly thin and incredibly light, at 11.8 x 7.56 x 0.68 -inches (W x D x H) and 2.38lbs!
2. Top notch display: Black levels, Contrast, Color Accuracy and Color Gamut % of the AdobeRGB 1998 are amongst the best compared to other laptops.
3. OS X Lion: A pro or a con depending on your opinion. If you never tried OS X, ask a friend with a Macbook or visit an Apple store to give it a shot to see if you like it. Of course, if you’re switching from Windows, there will be a period of adaptation. You can always run Windows 7 on it if you want to.
4. Thunderbolt port: Transfer rates twice as fast as USB 3.0, allows to plug in a monitor and daisy-chain various peripherals.
5. Top-notch large glass touchpad, with support for inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities
6. Unibody aluminum frame, making the Macbook Air one of the most solid ultra portables available.
7. Backlit keyboard
8. Up to 7 hours of battery life
9. MagSafe power adapter: In my opinion, the best power adapter out there. The power adapter is held in place magnetically, so if someone trips over it, the cord disconnects harmlessly while the MacBook Air stays put on your desk. It also has flip out legs for winding the cord for storage.

Cons:
It has a lower resolution (1366 x 768) compared to the less expensive ASUS Zenbook above (1600 x 900) and it doesn’t have an USB 3.0 port. It’s CPU is just a tad slower than the ASUS Zenbook, but significantly slower than the standard voltage, full performance Core i7 featured in the Thinkpad X220 though. Then again, it’s smaller, thinner and lighter than both the X220 and the Zenbook. Limited to a maximum of 4GB of RAM, cannot be upgraded to more.

4- The $1235 – Apple MacBook Air MC965LL/A 13.3-Inch is the entry-level Macbook Air 13.3″.

Pros:

1. Incredibly thin and incredibly light, at 12.8 x 8.94 x 0.68 -inches (W x D x H) and 2.96lbs!
2. Top notch display: Black levels, Contrast, Color Accuracy and Color Gamut % of the AdobeRGB 1998 are amongst the best compared to other laptops.
3. OS X Lion: A pro or a con depending on your opinion. If you never tried OS X, ask a friend with a Macbook or visit an Apple store to give it a shot to see if you like it. Of course, if you’re switching from Windows, there will be a period of adaptation. You can always run Windows 7 on it if you want to.
4. Thunderbolt port: Transfer rates twice as fast as USB 3.0, allows to plug in a monitor and daisy-chain various peripherals.
5. Top-notch large glass touchpad, with support for inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities
6. Unibody aluminum frame, making the Macbook Air one of the most solid ultra portables available.
7. Backlit keyboard
8. Up to 7 hours of battery life
9. MagSafe power adapter: In my opinion, the best power adapter out there. The power adapter is held in place magnetically, so if someone trips over it, the cord disconnects harmlessly while the MacBook Air stays put on your desk. It also has flip out legs for winding the cord for storage.

Cons:
It has a lower resolution (1440 x 900) compared to the less expensive ASUS Zenbook above (1600 x 900) and it doesn’t have an USB 3.0 port. It’s CPU is the same that’s in the ASUS Zenbook, but it is significantly slower than the standard voltage, full performance Core i7 featured in the Thinkpad X220 though. Then again, it’s smaller, thinner and lighter than both the X220 and the Zenbook. Limited to a maximum of 4GB of RAM, cannot be upgraded to more.
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Workstation:

About Workstation laptops:
Workstation laptops are generally optimized for high-performance and durability. They usually have an average battery life, although there are some models with excellent battery life. These are ideal for professionals who make a living off their laptop and who need a “workhouse”: A powerful and reliable laptop that won’t let them down.

Best Workstation for $650

$665 – HP ProBook 4530s XU018UT

About the HP Probook 4530s XU018UT:

Pros:

1. Brushed aluminum finish: This laptop is more solid than the average laptop.
2. Spill-resistant keyboard, perfect for accidents during meetings or lunches
3. Numpad: Very useful for spreadsheets.
4. 720p Webcam: Great for Skype and other IM programs, or simply for video recording.
5. Relatively powerful dual-core (with Hyper-Threading) Intel CPU based on the SandyBridge architecture.
6. 7,200rpm hard drive allows for faster booting and faster program launches than a slower 5,400rpm hard drive.
7. Bluetooth 3.0
8. Express Card Slot/34
9. One USB 3.0 port
10. Finger-print reader: Additional layer of security.
11. Matte screen: Allows you to use your laptop even with direct sunlight.

Cons:

1. Somewhat limited video card (Intel HD 3000) performance. Fine for older games or some newer games with low-resolution/minimum details settings.
2. Limited 1366 x 768 resolution
3. Average battery life. Expect about 5 hours of web browsing.

Ideal for:

• Someone who needs a laptop that’s solid enough to last him/her a few years, without ruining him/her.
• Small businesses.

To avoid for:

• Someone who’s traveling a lot and who wants an highly-portable, lightweight laptop to carry around all day.
• Very Heavy Audio/Photo/Video editing or very heavy multitasking: The Intel Core-i5 2410M 2.3-2.9GHz Turbo Dual-Core + Hyper-Threading is by no means slow, but it’s still not comparable to the processing power of a quad-core processor.
• High-resolution gaming: While gaming on the screen at 1366 x 768 will be fine for most games, don’t expect to play modern video games on a 1080p display or HDTV.

Compared to similar laptops:
Most laptops at this price range are build out of plastic, will not feature a spill-resistant keyboard, nor a finger-print reader nor a matte screen nor Windows 7 Professional 64-bit, making this laptop the ideal Workstation laptop if your budget is around $650.
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Specifications:

Components	HP Probook 4530s XU018UT
OS	Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
CPU	Intel Core i5-2410M Dual-Core + Hyper-Threading 2.3-2.9GHz Turbo
Screen Webcam Video Card	15.6″ 1366 x 768 LED backlight, matte Yes: HD Intel HD 3000
RAM Slots/Max RAM	4GB (1x4GB) DDR3 1333MHz 2 Slots, maximum 8GB
Storage	500GB Hard Drive running at 7,200RPM
Optical Drive	8x DVD+/-RW SuperMulti
Audio	SRS Premium Sound Built-in microphone Built-in speakers
Networking	LAN: 10/100/1000Mbps 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Bluetooth 3.0
Ports	Express Card Slot/34 Multi-in-One Card Reader Finger-print reader Headphone and Microphone 3.5mm jacks 1 x USB 3.0 3x USB 2.0 LAN HDMI Output VGA Output
Dimensions Weight	14.76″ x 10.1″ x 1.13″ 5.22lbs
Battery Size Battery Life	6-cell lithium ion Up to 5 hours

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Best Workstation for $800

$780 – Lenovo Thinkpad T420

About the Lenovo Thinkpad T420:

Pros:

1. Black matte body = No finger prints or light reflections
2. Chassis is mostly made out of a magnesium alloy for added strength with minimal weight.
3. Roll cage: An internal carbon-fiber skeleton that protects the components within from flex.
4. Lid with a rubberish coating
5. 1600 x 900 screen resolution
6. Matte screen: Allows you to use your laptop even with direct sunlight.
7. Sturdy metal hinges
8. One of the best keyboard available for a laptop
9. Trackpoint
10. Spill-resistant keyboard
11. Noise-cancelling microphones
12. USB 2.0/eSATA combo port
13. 7,200rpm hard drive allows for faster booting and faster program launches than a slower 5,400rpm hard drive.
14. Up to 9 hours of battery life
15. Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
16. Not that big nor that heavy for a workstation, at 13.40″ x 9.05″ x 1.18″ – 1.20″ and 4.9lbs

Cons:

1. Somewhat limited video card (Intel HD 3000) performance. Fine for older games or some newer games with low-resolution/minimum details settings.

Ideal for:

• Someone who needs a laptop that’s solid enough to last him/her a few years, with an excellent battery life and that’s relatively portable.
• Businesses.

To avoid for:

• Very Heavy Audio/Photo/Video editing or very heavy multitasking: The Intel Core-i5 2410M 2.3-2.9GHz Turbo Dual-Core + Hyper-Threading is by no means slow, but it’s still not comparable to the processing power of a quad-core processor.
• High-resolution gaming: While gaming on the screen at 1366 x 768 will be fine for most games, don’t expect to play modern video games on a 1080p display or HDTV.

Compared to similar laptops:
Most laptops at this price range are build out of plastic, will not feature solid hinges, a roll-cage, a magnesium alloy chassis, a spill-resistant keyboard,  a matte screen, Windows 7 Professional 64-bit nor a up to 9 hours battery life, making this laptop the ideal Workstation laptop if your budget is around $800.
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Specifications:

Components	Lenovo Thinkpad T420
OS	Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
CPU	Intel Core i5-2410M Dual-Core + Hyper-Threading 2.3-2.9GHz Turbo
Screen Webcam Video Card	14″ 1600 x 900 LED backlight, matte Yes: HD Intel HD 3000
RAM Slots/Max RAM	4GB (1x4GB) DDR3 1333MHz 2 Slots, maximum 8GB
Storage	320GB Hard Drive running at 7,200RPM
Optical Drive	DVD Burner
Audio	HD Audio Built-in microphone Built-in speakers
Networking	LAN: 10/100/1000Mbps 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Bluetooth 3.0
Ports	4-in-1 Card reader Express Card Slot/34 Headphone and Microphone 3.5mm jacks 1 x USB 2.0/E-SATA combo 3 x USB 2.0 LAN Displayport Output VGA Output
Dimensions Weight	13.40″ x 9.05″ x 1.18″ – 1.20″ 4.9lbs
Battery Size Battery Life	6-cell lithium ion Up to 9 hours

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More powerful, but less solid alternative:

The $815 – HP ProBook 4530s LJ475UT cannot compare to the Thinkpad when it comes to durability, nor to its keyboard, but it offers a more powerful Intel Core i7 2630QM 2.0-2.9GHz Quad-Core + Hyper-Threading processor, as well as the dedicated AMD Radeon HD 6490M video card. Battery life takes a hit at “only” up to 6 hours. If you need a workstation laptop that won’t see that much moving and which doesn’t require more than up to 6 hours of battery life, but can certainly use a quad-core processor, for $815, this is the laptop to consider.
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Best Workstation for $1000

$949 – ASUS N53SV-EH72

About the ASUS N53SV-EH72:

Pros:

1. Nice, simple design, with aluminum, making it more solid than the average laptop.
2. ASUS proven IceCool Technology keep palm rest cool, placing heat-producing components away from you.
3. Equipped with ASUS Power4Gear, select from an assortment of power profiles via the Power4Gear hotkey above the keyboard that optimizes the system for your task at hand—giving the most performance or maximizing battery life.
4. Numpad: Very useful for spreadsheets.
5. Powerful Intel quad-core (with Hyper-Threading) Core i7-2670QM processor.
6. 1920 x 1080 (1080p) high resolution screen
7. A fast 7,200rpm hard drive
8. Bluetooth 3.0
9. A 2.0MP webcam
10. Great sounding Bang and Olufsen ICEpower speakers
11. Four memory slots, allowing you to upgrade RAM up to 16GB (4x4GB)
12. Fairly powerful Geforce GT 540M 1GB allows you to accelerate Photoshop and play video games
13. Nvidia Optimus technology, that turns on the GT 540M when required and uses the Intel IGP when not, for longer battery life.
14. One USB 3.0 port.
15. ASUS 1 Year Accidental Damage Protection (ADP) that covers accidental drops, spills, power surges, and fire damage
16. Reliable: ASUS ranks amongst the top brands (often #1) when it comes to reliability.

Cons:

1. Average battery life. Expect about 4-5 hours of web browsing.
2. Not exactly light at 6.4lbs.
3. Glossy screen: Forget about using this laptop in direct sunlight.

Ideal for:

• Anyone who wants a well rounded laptop with a powerful CPU, a good video card, a 1080p screen and great sound quality for a laptop

To avoid for:

• Someone who’s traveling a lot and who wants an highly-portable, lightweight laptop to carry around all day.

Compared to similar laptops:
The majority of general computing laptops in this price range may offer the powerful Core i7-2670QM and Geforce GT 540M combo but few, if any, will also offer the great sounding speakers, the high resolution screen and all the other peaks that this ASUS laptop does offer, such as the accidental damage protection warranty, high reliability, Icecool and Power4Gear technologies, etc.
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Specifications:

Components	ASUS N53SV-EH72
OS	Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
CPU	Intel Core i7-2670QM Quad-Core + Hyper-Threading 2.2-3.1 GHz Turbo
Screen Webcam Video Card	15.6″ 1920 x 1080 LED backlight Yes: 2MP Nvidia Geforce GT 540M with 1GB dedicated VRAM
RAM Slots/Max RAM	6GB (4+2GB) DDR3 1333MHz 4 Slots, maximum 16GB
Storage	500GB Hard Drive running at 7,200RPM
Optical Drive	DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL LightScribe
Audio	Bang and Olufsen ICEpower speakers Integrated microphone
Networking	LAN: 10/100/1000Mbps 802.11b/g/n Wifi Bluetooth 3.0
Ports	5-in-1 Card Reader Headphone and Microphone 3.5mm jacks 1 x USB 3.0 2 x USB 2.0 LAN VGA Output HDMI Output
Dimensions Weight	15.6″ x 10.6″ x 1.2″ ~ 1.6″ 6.4lbs
Battery Size Battery Life	6-cell (47 WHr) Li-Ion 4-5 hour

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Best Workstation for $1250

$1245 – Lenovo ThinkPad W520 427638U

About the Lenovo Thinkpad W520:

Pros:

1. Black matte body = No finger prints or light reflections
2. Chassis is mostly made out of a magnesium alloy for added strength with minimal weight.
3. Roll cage: An internal carbon-fiber skeleton that protects the components within from flex.
4. Lid with a rubberish coating
5. 1600 x 900 screen resolution
6. Powerful CPU: Intel Core i7-2720QM Quad-Core + Hyper-Threading 2.2-3.3GHz Turbo
7. Pro-level video card: NVIDIA Quadro 1000M with 2GB of dedicated VRAM
8. Nvidia Optimus technology, that turns on the Quadro 1000M when required and uses the Intel IGP when not, for longer battery life.
9. Matte screen: Allows you to use your laptop even with direct sunlight.
10. Sturdy metal hinges
11. One of the best keyboard available for a laptop
12. Trackpoint
13. Spill-resistant keyboard
14. Noise-cancelling microphones
15. Two USB 3.0 ports
16. FireWire 400 port
17. USB 2.0/eSATA combo port
18. All-in-One Card Reader
19. 7,200rpm hard drive allows for faster booting and faster program launches than a slower 5,400rpm hard drive.
20. Up to 10.8 hours of battery life
21. Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

Cons:

1. Are there any cons to it, really?

Ideal for:

• Someone who needs a laptop that had a pro video card, a powerful quad-core CPU, that’s solid enough to last him/her many years, with an excellent battery life and that’s relatively portable.
• Businesses.

To avoid for:

• Gaming: While you can play some older video cards, the video card is designed for precision and reliability, not performance.

Compared to similar laptops:
Most laptops at this price range are build out of plastic, will not feature solid hinges, a roll-cage, a magnesium alloy chassis, a spill-resistant keyboard, a pro-level video card, a matte screen, Windows 7 Professional 64-bit nor a up to 10.8 hours battery life, making this laptop the ideal Workstation laptop if your budget is around $1250.
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Specifications:

Components	Lenovo Thinkpad W520
OS	Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
CPU	Intel Core i7-2720QM Quad-Core + Hyper-Threading 2.2-3.3GHz Turbo
Screen Webcam Video Card	15.6″ 1600 x 900 LED backlight, matte Yes: HD NVIDIA Quadro 1000M 2GB + Intel HD Graphics 3000
RAM Slots/Max RAM	4GB (1x4GB) DDR3 1333MHz 4 Slots, maximum 16GB
Storage	500GB Hard Drive running at 7,200RPM
Optical Drive	DVD Burner
Audio	HD Audio Built-in microphones Built-in speakers
Networking	LAN: 10/100/1000Mbps 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Bluetooth 3.0
Ports	All-in-One Card reader Express Card Slot/34 Finger-print reader 1x Headphone/Microphone 3.5mm combo jack FireWire 400 2x USB 3.0 2x USB 2.0, one that’s a USB 2.0/E-SATA combo LAN Displayport Output VGA Output
Dimensions Weight	14.7″ x 9.7″ x 1.4″ 5.75lbs
Battery Size Battery Life	9-cell lithium ion Up to 10.8 hours

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Macbook Pro Alternative:

Love them or hate them, Macbooks are popular laptops for various reasons, one of them being that they are quite unique.

Now, my goal here is not to start a Mac vs PC flame war. There is no perfect laptop and each one has its strengths and weaknesses. What you’ll see here is a fair comparison of facts, not ideologies.

The $1139 – Apple MacBook Pro 13.3″ is the entry-level Apple Macbook based on the late 2011 refresh.

Here’s what it offers compared to the Thinkpad laptop recommended above:
Pros:

1. Top notch display: Black levels, Contrast, Color Accuracy and Color Gamut % of the AdobeRGB 1998 are amongst the best compared to other laptops, according to AnandTech.
2. OS X Lion: A pro or a con depending on your opinion. If you never tried OS X, ask a friend with a Macbook or visit an Apple store to give it a shot to see if you like it. Of course, if you’re switching from Windows, there will be a period of adaptation. You can always run Windows 7 on it if you want to.
   Mac-only software: Some pros prefer Mac do to some video/audio programs only available on a Mac.
3. Thunderbolt port: Transfer rates twice as fast as USB 3.0, allows to plug in a monitor and daisy-chain various peripherals.
4. Top-notch large glass touchpad, with support for inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities
5. Unibody aluminum frame, making the Macbook one of the most solid laptops available. As solid as the Thinkpad? That’s debatable, but I’d say no.
6. Backlit keyboard
7. MagSafe power adapter: In my opinion, the best power adapter out there. The power adapter is held in place magnetically, so if someone trips over it, the cord disconnects harmlessly while the MacBook Pro stays put on your desk. It also has flip out legs for winding the cord for storage.

Cons:
Simply put, hardware specifications wise, it lags behind similarly priced laptops, with an Intel Core i5 Dual-Core 2.4GHz, 4GB of RAM, Intel HD Graphics 3000, no USB 3.0. Even the $650 General Computing recommendation has a quad-core processor. The Thinkpad W520 crush it when it comes to specifications. Of course, there’s more than just processing power to a laptop and people don’t buy Macs because they offer the most processing power for the money, but for many other reasons.
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Upgrade your RAM or Hard Drive

Upgrade your RAM:

RAM can easily be upgraded on most laptops. Do note that some ultra-portables cannot be upgraded at all, due to their unique design.

Pick one of the following recommendations below, depending on if your laptop comes with a single stick of RAM or two, or if you can have up to 4 sticks.

My recommendations should be compatible with all the laptops recommended in this guide, except for the Macs in some cases, as they are particularly picky about RAM as far as I know.

I recommend the most reliable sticks that I can find.

Add a single 4GB stick:

Kingston 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SODIMM Notebook Memory

Replace the 2x2GB (4GB) kit by a 2x4GB (8GB) kit:

Kingston 8GB (2x4GB) 1333MHz DDR3 SODIMM Notebook Memory Kit

For laptops with four RAM slots: 16GB (4x4GB) memory kit:

Get two of these kits: Kingston 8GB (2x4GB) 1333MHz DDR3 SODIMM Notebook Memory Kit
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Upgrade your hard drive:

You can also upgrade your hard drive to a faster and/or a larger hard drive. Alternatively, you can also replace it with a tremendously faster SSD (Solid State Drive), which also consume a tad less power than laptop hard drive, so replacing a hard drive by a SSD will slightly boost your laptop’s battery life.

Do note that most laptops accept hard drives with a 9.5mm height. Some laptops, such as the Lenovo Thinkpad X220, can only accept drives with a 7mm height. SSD wise, Intel SSDs, with model numbers ending with 1, are compatible. Some SSDs can be modded to fit too. Do also note that some ultra-portables cannot be upgraded at all, due to their unique design.

Keep your old hard drive for external storage via an USB 3.0 enclosure:

(Note that USB 3.0 is backward compatible with USB 2.0, if your laptop does not have USB 3.0 ports)
When you replace the hard drive that your laptop came with, I recommend putting in this $26 – Kingwin 2.5-Inch USB 3.0 External Hard Drive Enclosure – Aluminum and using it for external storage, such as backups.

750GB, 7,200rpm hard drive:

As fast as it gets for a laptop hard drive:
Western Digital Scorpio Black 750 GB SATA 3 GB/s 7200 RPM 2.5-Inch Mobile Hard Drive

1TB, 5,400rpm hard drive:

As large as it gets for a laptop hard drive capacity. Not as fast as the 750GB hard drive above, due to its slower rotation speed (5,400rpm vs 7,200 rpm) and smaller cache.
Western Digital 1 TB Scorpio Blue SATA II 5400 RPM 2.5-Inch Notebook Hard Drive
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Upgrade to a SSD

If you want to upgrade your hard drive to a SSD, I recommend to you the Crucial M4 line-up of SSDs, which offers the best balance of reliability and performance, at a great price.

Furthermore, I recommend these particular Crucial M4 SSDs, for they include a CD with software and an USB adapter, to help you transfer the content of your current hard drive to the SSD, in order to minimize downtime and make your life easier.

• $125: Crucial M4 2.5″ 64GB SATA III SSD with Transfer Kit
• $215: Crucial M4 2.5″ 128GB SATA III SSD with Transfer Kit
• $385: Crucial M4 2.5″ 256GB SATA III SSD with Transfer Kit
• $780: Crucial M4 2.5″ 512GB SATA III SSD with Transfer Kit

Alternatively, I invite you to read The Best SSDs and HDDs For Your Money article, to decide yourself which SSD is right for you.
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Conclusion

I hope that you’ve enjoyed this latest edition of the Best Mainstream Laptops For Your Money.

Of course, with this being the first update in a long time and this being such a large article (over 10,000 words!) with many recommendations and alternatives, you may find some typos.

Alternatively, you may believe that there’s a better option than my recommendation.

If that happens, feel free to leave a comment below and remember, you can join us on our forums to discuss with everyone else the laptop that you’re planning to buy, ask your questions and join our helpful community!