New Technology Reviews!.: laptops

Review: Asus Zenbook UX31

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<h3 style="font-size: 1.17em;">
Overview</h3>
The Asus Zenbook UX31 is one of the first laptops to conform to Intel's Ultrabook specification. 
And, right away, we'll tell you - it stands toe-to-toe with Apple's MacBook Air in the fight for the title of best luxury ultraportable. 
More competition is to come, however, in the form of the Lenovo IdeaPad U300 S, Acer Aspire S3 and, potentially, others from the likes of HP and Dell. 
Back to the present though and Asus has done a terrific job with the Zenbook's design - even if you have to acknowledge that the designer took more than a sneaky glance at Apple's ultraportable first. 
The 13-inch Zenbook is fantastic to look at. When closed, the wedge-shaped laptop measures 17mm at its thickest point and a mere 3mm at its thinnest. 
<img alt="Asus zenbook ux31" data-mce-src="http://www.new-technology-news.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/e1bfaf186120-100.jpg.jpg" src="http://www.new-technology-news.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/e1bfaf186120-100.jpg.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" width="320" /> 
The aluminium silver lid boasts a distinctive concentric circle design that catches and reflects the surrounding light. Befitting the name, the Zenbook's simple, sleek finish gives it a premium look that keeps getting better as soon as you lift the lid. 
The design ethic is in evidence earlier than that, though - it's a lovely experience as you open the box while Asus has also included a mini Display Port to D-Sub adapter and a USB to Ethernet lead as well. Both are housed in their own little pouch. Better still, you even get a bespoke sleeve for your Zenbook in the box. 
The same thinking even stretches to the Intel Core and Windows 7 stickers. We wonder who it was that proposed they were silver and black - Intel? Asus? - but whoever did has made a difference. 
<h3 style="font-size: 1.17em;">
Specifications</h3>
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The outward elegance of the Zenbook UX31 has certainly been matched by power on the inside. There are currently two different versions available, our test model has the Core i7 2677M Processor while there's also a Core i5 2467M Processor variant. 
Our test version was running Windows 7 Home Premium, though the Asus spec sheet seems to suggest that Professional is also available should that be a requirement for you. 
For those looking for a smaller laptop, there's an 11.6-inch UX21 version that costs £849. We'll be reviewing that separately as soon as we can get our hands on one. 
You'll get 4GB or RAM with all 13-inch models, as well as a 128 or 256GB solid state drive (SSD). Our review model had a 128GB drive under the hood and, as we were using it a lot, we managed to fill most of that with apps and files in no time. This is a performance machine and you may find yourself wanting the larger capacity. 
The isolation-style keyboard is front and centre inside the Zenbook with no additional clutter from the likes of hotkeys, volume controls, numeric keypads or even separate mouse buttons. 
As the chassis is so thin, there's very little depth to each key. It must be said that, at first, this can be of-putting, especially if you're used to hammering out your emails – but before long typing on the Zenbook becomes second nature. 
We did find the directional arrows and the enter key to be a little on the small side, but not enough to interfere with extended typing sessions. 
There's also no backlight to the keyboard - as the MacBook Air and other competitors such as theSamsung 9 Series have this. A shame it's missing here. 
<img alt="Asus zenbook" data-mce-src="http://www.new-technology-news.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/a48e703e90420-90.jpg.jpg" src="http://www.new-technology-news.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/a48e703e90420-90.jpg.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" width="420" /> 
Alongside the keyboard, Asus has included a large, central touchpad. We had doubts about the inbuilt buttons and lack of a textured surface at first, but these were soon laid to rest. 
The response is swift and because of the larger size, it is possible to use your thumb on the touchpad without moving your hands from the typing position. Occasionally you might brush the touchpad when typing but this is a rare occurrence. 
However, we really don't like the mouse buttons. The touch isn't very definite, while it can be quite hard to do selections or multiple presses. Things could be a lot better here. 
Another noteworthy feature of the Zenbook is the external speaker running across the base of the 13.3-inch, 1,600 x 900 16:9 Super-TFT screen. Developed by Bang & Olufsen and called ICEpower, the speaker is monitored by in-built Asus techcalled SonicMaster to keepthe balance even. 
The Zenbook will hit a reassuringly loud volume without disintegrating into either a tinny treble or a fuzzy bass. It sounded impressive both in our expansive office and at home in a fully furnished room. 
For the record, there's also a 0.3 megapixel webcam for video conferencing or Skype. 
The Zenbook weighs in at 1.4kg, exactly the same as the 13.1-inch Macbook Air. It's hardly noticeable when carried around for the day and, because of the svelte design; it won't take up too much space in your bag. 
Thankfully Asus hasn't filled the Zenbook with too much add-on software, but there is an annoying Live Update engine that keeps on popping up messages from the taskbar, while there's also a battery life gadget (actually useful but it remains in your taskbar), as well as backup tools and a webcam app. 
We're sure there are some people that think it's nice to have this kind of stuff, but we're not among them. Moreover, much of the software is simply unnecessary. 
And then there's the graphics that appear when you turn the volume up, change the brightness or switch the power mode. To be honest, they're horribly ugly and we're simply not impressed. 
It's a shame the same attention that was paid to the external design wasn't paid to the add-ons within the OS. 
<h3 style="font-size: 1.17em;">
Performance</h3>
<h4 style="font-size: 1em;">
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<h4 style="font-size: 1em;">
TechRadar Labs</h4>
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Cinebench 10: 8726 3D Mark '06: 3623 Battery Eater '05: 253 mins 
Both processors in the 13-inch are from Intel's second-generation Sandy Bridge family and mean the Zenbook can easily handle multi-tasking, varioius demanding apps and multiple displays using the Sandy Bridge chips' in-built HD 3000 graphics capabilities. 
However. the lack of non-dedicated graphics from AMD or Nvidia does hit the Zenbook in the performance pocket - hence our relatively modest 3D Mark score. 
We felt the display wasn't the best - dark colours and especially blacks seem a little washed out - but definition is good. We also found the viewing angle wasn't great for watching video and working alongside others. 
Speed, clearly, is the focus of the ultrabook range and the Zenbook is no slouch. The instant-on feature means you can be up and running in just two seconds from sleep mode and standby time will hit two weeks on a single charge. 
The Core i7 unit featured here performs brilliantly and it was able to handle multiple browsers, Outlook and Word 2010, Spotify, FileZilla and image editing apps all concurrently. You really find you can do what you want, when you want. 
There were a couple of times when we found this wasn't the case - several times when switching power states suddenly (like unplugging the charger) meant that the whole system seemed to struggle to adapt - browsing became slow and we had to let the system calm completely down. Also we found that using more intensive apps could make things hang - handling a load of images inside Microsoft Publisher, for example. 
Even with heavy use during our testing, the Zenbook's battery lasted for an impressive 253 minutes. And when the battery does dip below 5 per cent, the Zenbook will automatically save any files in progress to avoid you losing all your work when the machine shuts down. 
The battery can seem like it's draining reasonably quickly when doing any tasks on high performance but on power saving mode this thing is positively frugal, going for around six hours if you're careful. Asus quotes seven, but you'll have to barely use it to get that. So we're not at the all-day battery life scenario yet, but we're getting closer. 
The slim design means physical connectivity isn't as abundant as regular laptops, but there's still enough here to satisfy most users. 
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Asus has included two USB ports, one of which is USB 3.0 as well as an SD card slot plus a mini HDMI and mini DislayPort for connecting the ultrabok to an external TV or monitor. The Zenbook also has 802.11n Wi-Fi and cutting edge Bluetooth 4.0 wireless connectivity. 
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<h4 style="font-size: 1em;">
Good value?</h4>
Although the 13.3-inch Zenbook will set you back from £999, that;s still £100 less than the cheapest 13.3-inch Macbook Air. 
Similarly, Asus has matched Apple with pricing for the 11.6-inch model which, like the smaller Macbook Air comes in at £849. Considering the technology and the form factor, a starting price point of under a thousand pounds is good value for money - especially when you consider other such ultraportables have cost as much as £1,500 in the past. 
<img alt="Asus zenbook ux31" data-mce-src="http://www.new-technology-news.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/482aefdb73420-90.jpg.jpg" src="http://www.new-technology-news.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/482aefdb73420-90.jpg.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" width="420" /> 
<h3 style="font-size: 1.17em;">
Verdict</h3>
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Overall we were very impressed with the Asus Zenbook. Neither power nor portability has been sacrificed in pursuit of the other and features that traditionally suffer, such as audio quality and battery life, have not been neglected. 
Battery life, especially, isn't the worry it usually is with the Zenbook, but you need to make sure it's in the right power state - running on high performance means that the system flies - but it comes at a cost. For most purposes, running in power saving mode is more than enough. 
<h4 style="font-size: 1em;">
We liked</h4>
There's so much to like about this laptop. It's a real PC ultraportable - the design is fantastic and it goes like stink. 
Beautiful design can only come into its own when there's performance to match.And it's all here in spades. 
The instant sleep and resume is exactly what you want in a laptop like this, and you'll find yourself quickly adapting to never shutting down. Unless, that is. Windows wants to install updates! 
<h4 style="font-size: 1em;">
We disliked</h4>
There's surprisingly little we disliked about the Zenbook, but it must be said that the trackpad buttons grate especially. They are truly awful and mean that a mouse is recommended for serious work. 
The keyboard takes a bit of getting used to and isn't as good as many - however, you quickly get to know it and it's not too much of an issue. The lack of a backlight is also a problem. 
Graphics performance could be better but we realise that's slightly unrealistic for a machine of this type - we also weren't huge fans of the display. 
Finally, you could say the design - though fantastic - is rather derivative. Still, unless you're a real design freak, you'll almost certainly find that you're not that fussed. 
<h4 style="font-size: 1em;">
Verdict</h4>
While price may preclude some from purchasing the Zenbook, we have no problem in recommending it as one of the best ultraportables we've seen. 
It's certainly a match for the impressive MacBook Air - and a real tonic to those who have wanted a performanceWindowsultraportable at a price point that doesn't require a remortgage. Yes, it's expensive. But it's so worth it. 
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Review: Asus Zenbook UX31

Overview The Asus Zenbook UX31 is one of the first laptops to conform to Intel's Ultrabook specification. And, right away, we'...

In Depth: How to choose the best Linux distro for laptops

<img src="http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/9397/pcp302feat1linuxlinuxla.jpg"> The smart mobile user shouldn't overlook Linux. The question is, which distro should you pick? You'll get a different answer depending who you ask. You'll probably be pointed in the direction of Arch for performance, Debian for stability and Ubuntu if you want easy access to the biggest collection of apps. If that's not enough choice to make your head spin, Slackware has its fans too – particularly among people who use older laptops. As you read on, we'll look at a range of different scenarios that should be familiar to mobile users, and explore Linux distros that will help you survive and flourish in these situations. To make everybody's life easier, we'll limit ourselves to pre-packaged live Linux distros. We'll also stick to live CDs as much as possible throughout this tour. This is important if you're working on a corporate laptop and can't install software. With our advice, you'll be able to work in Windows, and when you're done, transform the machine into a bespoke system, laser-targeted for your needs and wants. Linux for gaming Linux is a wonderful platform for gaming, whatever your preferred genre. There's plenty to choose from, including real-time and turn-based strategy titles, puzzle games and first-person shooters. To get started in the world of Linux gaming, we recommend a trip to <a href="http://live.linux-gamers.net/">http://live.linux-gamers.net</A>. Here you'll find a huge collection of games. The concept behind the distribution is boot and play – just pop a USB drive, CD or DVD into your laptop, the distro will boot and you can start gaming. This approach is particularly useful if your laptop has been configured by an overzealous system administrator – the sort who robs you of the right to even adjust the time on your work machine. Usefully, http://live.linux-gamers.net segregates by genre, and offers them as two releases: a 'lite' edition that fits on a CD, and a 'big' edition with tons of games that fits on a DVD. The distro also goes some way to curing a major Linux bugbear: graphics drivers. Games rely on getting the very best from your graphics card, so to help in this endeavour, the bootable live DVD contains your collection of games and also both the Nvidia and ATI proprietary drivers. Moving on, you should also check out <a href="http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/SIGs/Games/GamesLive">Fedora Games Spin</A>, which has over 100 games built-in. If you can't find what you're looking for there, you should also try the <a href="http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/11930">SuperGamer2 distro</A>, which only fits on a 7.8GB dual-layer DVD. Finally, there's the Ubuntu-based <a href="http://ultimateedition.info/ultimate-edition/ultimate-edition-gamers/">Ultimate Edition for Gamers</A>, which includes Wine and the PlayOnLinux app for playing Windows games on Linux. If Windows games are what you're after, you'll also need to download <a href="http://transgaming.com/">Cedega</A> and <a href="http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxgames">CrossOver Games</A>. These tools aren't included in any distribution, but for maximum compatibility it's best to download the latest releases from the developers' original websites anyway. Making movies When it comes to editing movies you've captured while on holiday, there's no time like the present. You'll find it easier to edit footage when things are fresh in your mind. To transform your hotel room into a movie-editing suite, you should grab a copy of <a href="http://ubuntustudio.org/">Ubuntu Studio</A> for audio, video and graphic enthusiasts. It's available as an installable DVD only, not as a live CD. It's also well worth checking out <a href="http://www.64studio.com/">64 Studio</A>. It's a cracking distro aimed squarely at anyone interested in creating multimedia content. Don't be put off by its name – it will work on 64- and 32-bit machines. If you're not keen on committing to a full install of Linux, you can explore moviemaking with live distros. Top of your list should be <a href="http://puredyne.org/">Puredyne</A>. It's got tools for streaming audio and video, along with information on its online wiki about how to use these tools. Alternatively, <a href="http://www.artistx.org/site2/">ArtistX</A> includes a huge range of video and audio editing tools. Office work Linux is ideal for working on the go, when you need a distro that's stable, secure and works well with the apps you need. With this in mind, there isn't much choice beyond Ubuntu, Fedora and OpenSUSE. Of these, the first two are fantastic desktop distros. OpenSUSE looks professional, and is well integrated with the OpenOffice.org suite and Evolution email client. It's available in two installable live CD flavours, depending on your choice of desktop environment, as well as a 4.7GB DVD image with lots of software. You also have access to a large collection of proprietary software on the mirrors or via the non-OSS add-on CD.

In Depth: How to choose the best Linux distro for laptops

The smart mobile user shouldn't overlook Linux. The question is, which distro should you pick? You'll get a different answer depend...

2011 to bring 200 PCs combining GeForce GPUs and Sandy Bridge, first laptops to be quad-core

<DIV class=separator style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tfvlp0EK8P5TninAvkGhG0ZOFnaANpBwMDwgKIR2LdOZ1EUmw1OTaYULxQmMGCDK1AK6R-jgT-u4npQElK5rdwb4iP5g6A_-JlJ0tK4oD0GBUOrCP_b7pHrt_yyyeomKJjqzJN0mwe0/s1600/10x1216b3hbdkj6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tfvlp0EK8P5TninAvkGhG0ZOFnaANpBwMDwgKIR2LdOZ1EUmw1OTaYULxQmMGCDK1AK6R-jgT-u4npQElK5rdwb4iP5g6A_-JlJ0tK4oD0GBUOrCP_b7pHrt_yyyeomKJjqzJN0mwe0/s1600/10x1216b3hbdkj6.jpg"></A></DIV>What's NVIDIA got up its sleeve for CES, you ask? A whole host of Sandy Bridge laptop and desktop machines, by the sound of its latest press release. The green giant of graphics has proudly announced a new record of 200 OEM design wins for Intel's incoming CPUs. The big draw of Sandy Bridge is that it's the first processor to include an integrated GPU embedded directly within its die, which is projected to improve power efficiency and overall performance -- though clearly it hasn't been impressive enough to get PC vendors to abandon discrete graphics chips. If anything, they seem to be going in the other direction and insisting on a discrete GPU as well. In other news, whether with or without NVIDIA's help, the first Sandy Bridge laptops will feature quad-core parts. Such is the word directly from Intel, with one insider adding that the dual-core debutants will get their chance a month after CES, around the middle of February. Skip past the break for NVIDIA's boastful PR or hit the source for more on Intel's plans.

2011 to bring 200 PCs combining GeForce GPUs and Sandy Bridge, first laptops to be quad-core

What's NVIDIA got up its sleeve for CES, you ask? A whole host of Sandy Bridge laptop and desktop machines, by the sound of its latest p...

Thin Client Technology, Laptops and Identity Theft

The Laptop Theft Epidemic Possibly one of the most terrifying thefts that can happen to you is the theft of your laptop. Whether it's your own personal computer, or a company computer you've taken along on a business trip, your laptop holds unaccountable information that probably you yourself don't even know is there. A lot of information is in the form of passwords and web url's that give a thief access to anything from your bank account numbers to your credit card statements, Federal and State tax forms, and that Holy Grail of all Holy Grails -- your Social Security Number. Data on your computer is, of course, fully accessible to the thief. According to Laptop Theft Resources, 20% of Data Breaches in 2008 were due to laptop theft. Beyond the personal nightmare But beyond the personal nightmare of having your own identity stolen comes information about your clients, either of your personal business or the company you may be working for. Recent horror stories include stolen laptops from insurance companies that keep the personal data of 10's of thousands of clients. These have been stolen from employees who took the computer out of the office to do some work at home. It's estimated that an ordinary notebook contains $972,000 dollars worth of sensitive information and some could store over eight million dollars. Theft of a laptop makes up over 54% of all Identity Theft incidents and since 2005, there have been more than 150 million data breaches resulting in Identity Theft (Absolute Software). Yet, there seems to be an unaccountable apathy toward laptop theft. Starbucks, for example, reported in 2008 a theft that involved 97000 unencrypted records, social security numbers, and passwords but according to Laptop Theft Resources, media response was minimal, and the public seemed uninterested. The Thin Client Solution to Identity Theft By placing the lion's share of information on a remote server and gaining access to it by strongly encrypted passwords, a thin client laptop effectively puts all the information processed by it out of the ID thief's reach. The theft of a laptop would then involve only the hardware involved, and since a thin client's value is only $500 - $600 (or less) this represents a much lower loss than a fully equipped laptop which can run well over $2000. And with modern theft recovery services such as LOJACK, the thin client can be easily recovered. So why isn't there a high demand for thin client laptops? Little Demand for Thin Client Laptops? So far, consideration of thin client technology has been pretty much limited to the Corporation. Consumers seem to have little demand for it. Several reasons might account for this: 1) Consumers want all of their software, data, and storage under their direct control. 2)The infrastructure is not yet fully developed. Google is working on the back end services necessary for thin client solutions. 3)The "airplane solution" has not yet been fully worked out. This solution would enable you to work on your data in places where access to the Internet is not available. 4) Wireless networks need to improve in band width and security. 5) Security of the remote servers and databases would have to be absolute and not hackable. Hacking into remote systems would be far more devastating than the theft of a single laptop. Instead of exposing 96000 people to Identity Theft, conceivably 100 million could be exposed once the system becomes universally accepted. Is There a Future for Thin Client Notebooks? Perhaps, though, the main hindrance to consumer acceptance of thin client laptops is apathy toward Identity Theft. In spite of the daily horror stories appearing in newspapers and on the Internet, we seem to cling to the attitude that "it happened to the other guy but it can't happen to me". Nothing could be farther from the truth, but until we as consumers really face the fact that any one of us can become victims at any time, we won't really be willing to overcome our aversion to complete control, and possession, of all of our data on our personal computers. Data can be made absolutely secure on a remote server; we have the technology for that. With that in mind, it becomes obvious that thin client laptops are the ultimate answer to laptop Identity Theft. But will we all someday be processing our data remotely, when a laptop theft involves the theft of hardware only? Will that day come? It depends... It depends on you and me, and whether we are willing to take the step to the new paradigm of having our data and processing power located on a remote computer, not in our direct possession. We need first to recognize that Identity Theft is a horror that can indeed happen to us, and make whatever changes are necessary to prevent it. Secondly, we need to realize that the data we think is under our control can easily fall into the hands of a thief and will NO LONGER be in our possession. Then we will be ready for "thin client" laptops.

Thin Client Technology, Laptops and Identity Theft

The Laptop Theft Epidemic Possibly one of the most terrifying thefts that can happen to you is the theft of your laptop. Whether it's yo...

Buying Guide: The best student laptops for Christmas

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com///Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20136/WLT136.rev1.Samsung01-200-200.jpg"> Buying the best student laptop can be a tricky purchase, because it's highly dependent on the needs of the individual. Some students will look for portability, so that they can take their laptop to the library or to lectures, and this means buying something lightweight. Anything less than 2.5kg should be fine to carry around all day, and this isn't a hugely difficult target. However, living the student life means that others will be looking for a big screen and decent performance for watching DVDs, instead of having a separate TV. This is great for the cramped conditions of student halls of residence, but portability and media performance are normally polar opposites. We've found the best student laptops to suit most needs, but before you buy, think about what it's going to be used for so you can make the right decision.?? 1. Acer Aspire 1410-742G25N – £299 <img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20135/WLT135.rev1.acer-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Performance isn't this laptop's strong point, but it isn't meant to be – instead it offers superb portability. At only 1.4kg, it's a pleasure to carry around and the small form factor makes it very easy to fit into almost any bag, which makes it great for lectures, although not so great for movies and entertainment. The 11.6-inch screen is bright, crisp and clear, and the screen is LED-backlit, which is resource-light on the battery. The Acer Aspire 1410-74G25n sets a very high bar, and the excellent battery life will be a clincher for many buyers.?? <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/acer-aspire-1410-74g25n-675385/review">Read our full Acer Aspire 1410-742G25N review??</A> 2. Acer Aspire 5551-P32G32Mn – £385 <img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20143/WLT143.rev1.Acer01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Another budget offering, the Aspire 5551-P32G32Mn is built around a 15.6-inch screen, and despite being large enough to watch movies comfortably, the 2.6kg chassis is nice and light for its size. While its 207-minute battery life is easily bettered, it provides adequate mobility for commuting or use in student digs.?? Offering impressive performance, great usability, a stunning screen and cutting-edge connectivity, the Aspire 5551-P32G32Mn is perfect for first-time buyers. Add its surprisingly generous software package and you've got a fantastic bargain on your hands.???? <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/acer-aspire-5551-p32g32mn-901549/review">Read our full Acer Aspire 5551-P32G32Mn review??</A> 3. Samsung R530 – £387 <img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20136/WLT136.rev1.Samsung01-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Not only is the Samsung R530 a nice looking laptop, it also boasts great usability, performance and portability – and all at a very competitive price. What's more, the line-up has been recently updated to include a Core i3 processor, which makes it an extremely attractive proposition.?? The more we used the Samsung R530, the more we liked it. Performance is above average and the design and usability of the machine really endeared it to us, making it a perfect study companion. <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/samsung-r530-680588/review">Read our full Samsung R530 review??</A> 4. Acer Aspire 5741-333G32Mn – £419 <img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20142/WLT142.rev1.Acer01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The Acer Aspire 5741-333G32Mn is a budget laptop that combines strong performance and mobility with a solid and highly usable chassis. At 2.5kg, the chassis is a little heavier than many in our round up, but it's still light enough to carry in your bag all day.? The Intel Core i3-330M chip offers more than enough power to comfortably multitask with fairly demanding office software, making this a successful budget entry in Acer's portfolio. Performance is assured by the Intel Core i3 processor and the strong build makes for a robust and highly usable laptop. <a href="about:%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/acer-aspire-5741-333g32mn-716125/review">Read our full Acer Aspire 5741-333G32Mn review</A> 5. HP G62-a45SA – £477 <img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20142/WLT142.rev1.hp01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> An Intel Core i3 processor provides ample performance for office tasks. The Core i3-350M chip includes integrated graphics, so while there's not enough power for running complex multimedia applications or playing the latest games, watching high-definition movies and basic photo and video editing is fine.?? Overall the G62-a45SA is a good machine that offers strong Intel Core i3 performance at a reasonable price and features such as LightScribe disc burning support and a fast hard drive are a welcome bonus.??? <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/hp-g62-a45sa-716193/review">Read our full HP G62-a45SA review??</A> 6. Packard Bell EasyNote NM86 – £499 <img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20142/WLT142.rev1.pb01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> With a weight of 2.3kg and thickness of 34mm, this is a compact and portable laptop. The 303-minute battery life is a great result and means you can leave the charger at home and work at university without too much worry. With excellent build quality and a sharp and vibrant screen, not to mention strong performance for the price, the EasyNote NM86-GN-010UK offers fantastic value for money. Granted, the limited storage is a let-down, but is forgivable considering the many strengths on offer.??? <a href="about:%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/packard-bell-easynote-nm86-716215/review">Read our full Packard Bell EasyNote NM86 review</A> 7. Samsung R730 – £515 <img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20143/WLT143.rev1.Samsung01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Over the past few years, Samsung has impressed us time and again by releasing a range of high-quality laptops at staggeringly low prices. The R730 is an entry-level, big-screen model and proves to be a fantastic home media centre for students who don't want a TV and DVD player.?? Offering bags of style, great usability and stunning big-screen entertainment, the R730 is a fantastic laptop for students looking for a work and entertainment tool for their bedroom. While it's not at the top of the range in terms of power and features of the Acer, this is still one of the best entry-level laptops you can buy at this price and comes highly recommended. <a href="about:%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/samsung-r730-901575/review">Read our full Samsung R730 review</A> 8. Asus K52F-SX065V – £579 <img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20139/WLT139.rev1.Asus01-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The Asus K52F-SX065V is a 15.6-inch laptop that packs a cutting-edge Intel Core i3-350M processor and manages to greatly impress with a long-lasting battery and high-quality build. The Core i3 processor is designed to provide impressive performance at a budget price and the results are stunning, no doubt helped by the 4GB of system memory. ?The Asus K52F-SX065V is a great performing laptop at a truly budget price – and it all comes at no cost to battery life. The solid build may be a little heavy for long days on campus, but it offers good protection and great usability.?? <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/asus-k52f-sx065v-697404/review">Read our full Asus K52F-SX065V review??</A> 9. Apple MacBook 13-inch – £849 <img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20223/MAC223.rev_mbpro17.mb_09macbook1-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The Macbook can easily be bettered by many PCs in terms of performance and value, but design students and those conscious of looking good on campus, will find the £849 price tag worth the premium. The mid-2010 refresh was useful update for the MacBook and the incremental processor boost and a significantly better graphics chipset makes it good value for money. The Nvidia GeForce 320M is a lot more energy efficient than its predecessor, giving the new MacBook a battery life of up to 10 hours on a single charge, which is enough for an entire day at uni, with plenty of juice yet for burning the midnight oil, or listening to tunes late at night.??? <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/apple-macbook-13-core-2-duo-2-4ghz--694693/review">Read our full MacBook 13-inch review??</A>

Buying Guide: The best student laptops for Christmas

Buying the best student laptop can be a tricky purchase, because it's highly dependent on the needs of the individual. Some students wil...

Buying Guide: Best gaming laptops: 8 to choose from

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com///Review%20images/TechRadar/Computing/Alienware%20M17x/Alienware_M17x_Front-200-200.jpg"> Buying the best gaming PC is an expensive pastime, but there are huge differences in the top end of the market. Many of the biggest gaming behemoths will set you back over £2,000, but it's not always necessary to spend that kind of money. Many of the best gaming laptops we've looked at here cost far less, and while they might struggle with the latest games on the highest settings, they're still formidable gaming machines. Of course, packing in the latest hardware not only costs money, but it adds weight. The Alienware M17X weighs in at over 5kg, so don't expect to be carrying it around with you. Weigh up the benefits, and you can walk away with the perfect machine for your gaming needs. 1. Alienware M11x – £599 <img alt="gaming laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20136/WLT136.solo.Alienware01-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Alienware was bought by Dell in 2006, and has since revamped its laptop range. The <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/alienware-m15x-core-i7--656324/review">M15x</A> and <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/alienware-m17x-623318/review">M17x</A> were the first of the new range to appear and they're now joined by the stunning 11.6-inch M11x – the world's smallest gaming laptop, which offers a unique blend of graphical power and portability. A dedicated Nvidia GeForce GT 335M graphics card has been used – featuring 1,024MB of video memory – and proved stunningly powerful in our benchmark tests.?? We were seriously impressed by the Alienware M11x. Not only is it the first of its type, but it succeeds in combining great 3D performance with everyday portability and usability at a competitive price. <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/alienware-m11x-680641/review">??Read our full Alienware M11x review</A> 2. MSI GX740 – £899 <img alt="gaming laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Gadgets/Laptops%20for%20Dan%201-7-10/MSI/Open%20left%20GX740-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> ??The MSI GX740 is one of the best-priced, best-looking gaming notebooks around. There's plenty of power under the hood for the avid gamer, while the Intel Core i5 processor provides plenty of performance for your average consumer. The real selling point of this machine is its price, and this much power for under £1,000 makes it a very affordable option, especially when the likes of an entry level <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/alienware-m17x-623318/review">Alienware M17x</A>, providing very similar performance, will cost you around £500 more.?? The GX740 does provide fantastic graphical punch, and the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 is exactly the same as you'll find in an entry level Alienware M17x just, as mentioned before, for £500 less. Similarly, there's also 1GB of dedicated memory, ensuring a smooth ride.?? <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/msi-gx740-700302/review">Read our full MSI GX740 review??</A> 3. Alienware M15X – £999 <img alt="gaming laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20132/WLT132.solo.alienware-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> This 15.6-inch gaming laptop features a 1,600 x 900-pixel resolution. It's very sharp and provides vivid colours, which makes games look crisp and bright, despite it not being the most vibrant panel we've ever seen.? This isn't a laptop you'll want to travel regularly with, however. It weighs a hefty 4.3kg and offers just 164 minutes of battery power with a nine-cell battery on board, so is much better suited for use as a desktop replacement system. ?The single Nvidia GPU used here is a high-end solution. It's not the most powerful available, but still allows for the latest games to be played without issue while allowing costs to be kept down.?? <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/alienware-m15x-core-i7--656324/review">Read our full Alienware M15X review??</A> 4. HP Pavilion dv8-1250ea – £1,092 <img alt="gaming laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20142/WLT142.rev3.hp01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The Pavilion dv8-1250ea is a stunning example of high-end mobile computing and capable of amazing performance, mostly thanks to the Nvidia GeForce GT 230M GPU. This is a great machine for gaming, with the latest titles running with suitable speed. Frequent video and photo editing – including high-definition (HD) video – is also possible, adding to the HP's usability. This laptop features a Blu-ray-compatible optical drive for watching the latest HD movies. The drive also functions as a standard DVD/CD rewriter, backing up the ample 640GB of storage provided by this machine's twin 320GB hard drives.??? <a href="about:%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/hp-pavilion-dv8-1250ea-716879/review">Read our full Pavillion dv8-1250ea review</A> 5. Sony VAIO VPC-F12M0E/B – £1,499 <img alt="gaming laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20140/WLT140.rev4.sony-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The VAIO VPCF12M0E/B is a stunning big screen Blu-ray media centre and provides staggering quad-core performance. Powered by a powerful Intel Core i7-740M processor, it was only after extensive supplementary testing that the full power of this CPU was revealed. Graphics power is exceptional, with the dedicated Nvidia GeForce GT 330M GPU working like a powerhouse under the hood. The latest games and high-definition (HD) video run smoothly and quickly, so whether you want to use your laptop for work or play, you'll be fully catered for with the VAIO.?? Combining stunning performance, great usability and HD features, the VAIO VPCF12M0E/B is a fantastic machine at this price. Costing £650 less than a MacBook Pro, it stands head and shoulders above all competition at this price.?? <a href="about:%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/sony-vaio-vpc-f12m0e-b-706039/review">Read our full Sony VAIO VPC-F12M0E/B review</A> 6. Asus G51Jx – £1,699 <img alt="gaming laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/G51_Front_Open135-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The G51Jx proves is more than a capable gaming rig, and offers enough power and performance not only to play the latest gaming titles at full settings, but also enable you to play in 3D as well. It packs in a quad-core Intel Core i7-720QM and, with 8912MB of DDR3 memory onboard, produces enough performance for you to multitask a variety of very resource-intensive applications with little problem.?? The G51Jx also features a Blu-ray optical drive, for watching HD movies on. Though it can both write and read DVDs, it can only read Blu-rays. It's also a shame that because of the low resolution of the screen, you won't get the Full HD effect on the laptop.?? The Asus G51Jx itself is a good machine, with just a couple of quirks that stop it from being a great one. Either way, the 3D element of the laptop works well, and we think you'll be pleased with the results.?? <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/asus-g51jx-718966/review">Read our full Asus G51Jx review??</A> 7. MSI GX660R – £1699 <img alt="gaming laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Computing/MSI%20GX660R/mstgx660r1-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Performance-wise, the GX660R is a monster. Everyday applications are blitzed by the quad-core Intel Core i7-720QM processor, while the AMD Mobility Radeon HD 5870 graphics card offers comprehensive performance for running the latest games at full whack. The GX660R features a 15.6-inch screen with a Full HD 1920 x 1080-pixel resolution. Detail is excellent, while colour vibrancy and brightness are also impressive, ensuring your games and multimedia look great. The GX660R succeeds as a very powerful and usable machine with an impressive specification (think Blu-ray drive and 1TB of storage on top of the processing chips) and, at £1,699, it's not a ridiculous price.?? <a href="about:%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/msi-gx660r-717284/review">Read our full GX660R review</A> 8. Alienware M17x – £2,000?? <img alt="gaming laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Computing/Alienware%20M17x/Alienware_M17x_Front-420-100.jpg" width="420"></IMG> While many gaming-rig manufacturers often employ a generic chassis in a bid to offset the cost of high-end components, it's great to see Dell take care to design a laptop that's as beautiful as it is powerful. Two ATI Radeon HD 4870 graphics cards sit in a CrossFire configuration – an ATI technology that enables the two cards to work together for a major power increase – and the result is phenomenal. The laptop destroyed all benchmarking tests we chucked its way, and thrashed all games we tried – even the infamous Crysis – with video settings up on full. The M17x combines awesome power with great design, has a host of great features that'll keep you entertained for hours and is a product that you'll enjoy owning for many years. <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/alienware-m17x-623318/review">???Read our full Alienware M17x review??</A>

Buying Guide: Best gaming laptops: 8 to choose from

Buying the best gaming PC is an expensive pastime, but there are huge differences in the top end of the market. Many of the biggest gaming b...

Buying Guide: The best student laptops for Christmas

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com///Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20136/WLT136.rev1.Samsung01-200-200.jpg" /> 
Buying the best student laptop can be a tricky purchase, because it's highly dependent on the needs of the individual. Some students will look for portability, so that they can take their laptop to the library or to lectures, and this means buying something lightweight. 
Anything less than 2.5kg should be fine to carry around all day, and this isn't a hugely difficult target. 
However, living the student life means that others will be looking for a big screen and decent performance for watching DVDs, instead of having a separate TV. This is great for the cramped conditions of student halls of residence, but portability and media performance are normally polar opposites. 
We've found the best student laptops to suit most needs, but before you buy, think about what it's going to be used for so you can make the right decision.?? 
1. Acer Aspire 1410-742G25N – £299 
<img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20135/WLT135.rev1.acer-420-100.jpg" width="420" /> 
Performance isn't this laptop's strong point, but it isn't meant to be – instead it offers superb portability. At only 1.4kg, it's a pleasure to carry around and the small form factor makes it very easy to fit into almost any bag, which makes it great for lectures, although not so great for movies and entertainment. 
The 11.6-inch screen is bright, crisp and clear, and the screen is LED-backlit, which is resource-light on the battery. The Acer Aspire 1410-74G25n sets a very high bar, and the excellent battery life will be a clincher for many buyers.?? 
<a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/acer-aspire-1410-74g25n-675385/review">Read our full Acer Aspire 1410-742G25N review??</a> 
2. Acer Aspire 5551-P32G32Mn – £385 
<img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20143/WLT143.rev1.Acer01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420" /> 
Another budget offering, the Aspire 5551-P32G32Mn is built around a 15.6-inch screen, and despite being large enough to watch movies comfortably, the 2.6kg chassis is nice and light for its size. 
While its 207-minute battery life is easily bettered, it provides adequate mobility for commuting or use in student digs.?? Offering impressive performance, great usability, a stunning screen and cutting-edge connectivity, the Aspire 5551-P32G32Mn is perfect for first-time buyers. Add its surprisingly generous software package and you've got a fantastic bargain on your hands.???? 
<a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/acer-aspire-5551-p32g32mn-901549/review">Read our full Acer Aspire 5551-P32G32Mn review??</a> 
3. Samsung R530 – £387 
<img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20136/WLT136.rev1.Samsung01-420-100.jpg" width="420" /> 
Not only is the Samsung R530 a nice looking laptop, it also boasts great usability, performance and portability – and all at a very competitive price. What's more, the line-up has been recently updated to include a Core i3 processor, which makes it an extremely attractive proposition.?? 
The more we used the Samsung R530, the more we liked it. Performance is above average and the design and usability of the machine really endeared it to us, making it a perfect study companion. 
<a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/samsung-r530-680588/review">Read our full Samsung R530 review??</a> 
4. Acer Aspire 5741-333G32Mn – £419 
<img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20142/WLT142.rev1.Acer01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420" /> 
The Acer Aspire 5741-333G32Mn is a budget laptop that combines strong performance and mobility with a solid and highly usable chassis. At 2.5kg, the chassis is a little heavier than many in our round up, but it's still light enough to carry in your bag all day.? 
The Intel Core i3-330M chip offers more than enough power to comfortably multitask with fairly demanding office software, making this a successful budget entry in Acer's portfolio. Performance is assured by the Intel Core i3 processor and the strong build makes for a robust and highly usable laptop. 
<a href="about:%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/acer-aspire-5741-333g32mn-716125/review">Read our full Acer Aspire 5741-333G32Mn review</a> 
5. HP G62-a45SA – £477 
<img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20142/WLT142.rev1.hp01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420" /> 
An Intel Core i3 processor provides ample performance for office tasks. The Core i3-350M chip includes integrated graphics, so while there's not enough power for running complex multimedia applications or playing the latest games, watching high-definition movies and basic photo and video editing is fine.?? 
Overall the G62-a45SA is a good machine that offers strong Intel Core i3 performance at a reasonable price and features such as LightScribe disc burning support and a fast hard drive are a welcome bonus.??? 
<a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/hp-g62-a45sa-716193/review">Read our full HP G62-a45SA review??</a> 
6. Packard Bell EasyNote NM86 – £499 
<img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20142/WLT142.rev1.pb01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420" /> 
With a weight of 2.3kg and thickness of 34mm, this is a compact and portable laptop. The 303-minute battery life is a great result and means you can leave the charger at home and work at university without too much worry. 
With excellent build quality and a sharp and vibrant screen, not to mention strong performance for the price, the EasyNote NM86-GN-010UK offers fantastic value for money. Granted, the limited storage is a let-down, but is forgivable considering the many strengths on offer.??? 
<a href="about:%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/packard-bell-easynote-nm86-716215/review">Read our full Packard Bell EasyNote NM86 review</a> 
7. Samsung R730 – £515 
<img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20143/WLT143.rev1.Samsung01_1-420-100.jpg" width="420" /> 
Over the past few years, Samsung has impressed us time and again by releasing a range of high-quality laptops at staggeringly low prices. The R730 is an entry-level, big-screen model and proves to be a fantastic home media centre for students who don't want a TV and DVD player.?? 
Offering bags of style, great usability and stunning big-screen entertainment, the R730 is a fantastic laptop for students looking for a work and entertainment tool for their bedroom. While it's not at the top of the range in terms of power and features of the Acer, this is still one of the best entry-level laptops you can buy at this price and comes highly recommended. 
<a href="about:%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%A8http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/samsung-r730-901575/review">Read our full Samsung R730 review</a> 
8. Asus K52F-SX065V – £579 
<img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/What%20Laptop/WLT%20139/WLT139.rev1.Asus01-420-100.jpg" width="420" /> 
The Asus K52F-SX065V is a 15.6-inch laptop that packs a cutting-edge Intel Core i3-350M processor and manages to greatly impress with a long-lasting battery and high-quality build. 
The Core i3 processor is designed to provide impressive performance at a budget price and the results are stunning, no doubt helped by the 4GB of system memory. 
?The Asus K52F-SX065V is a great performing laptop at a truly budget price – and it all comes at no cost to battery life. The solid build may be a little heavy for long days on campus, but it offers good protection and great usability.?? 
<a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/asus-k52f-sx065v-697404/review">Read our full Asus K52F-SX065V review??</a> 
9. Apple MacBook 13-inch – £849 
<img alt="student laptops" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20223/MAC223.rev_mbpro17.mb_09macbook1-420-100.jpg" width="420" /> 
The Macbook can easily be bettered by many PCs in terms of performance and value, but design students and those conscious of looking good on campus, will find the £849 price tag worth the premium. 
The mid-2010 refresh was useful update for the MacBook and the incremental processor boost and a significantly better graphics chipset makes it good value for money. 
The Nvidia GeForce 320M is a lot more energy efficient than its predecessor, giving the new MacBook a battery life of up to 10 hours on a single charge, which is enough for an entire day at uni, with plenty of juice yet for burning the midnight oil, or listening to tunes late at night.??? 
<a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/apple-macbook-13-core-2-duo-2-4ghz--694693/review">Read our full MacBook 13-inch review??</a>

Buying Guide: The best student laptops for Christmas

Buying the best student laptop can be a tricky purchase, because it's highly dependent on the needs of the individual. Some students w...

Buying Guide: Best 13-inch laptops: which one is right for you?

The 13-inch laptop is a bit of an oddity - not small enough to be considered a netbook, not big enough to be a proper laptop. But, in many ways, it's the perfect size for a portable PC; they're not as fiddly and squint-inducing as netbooks, but not as heavy and awkward as a full-on notebook. The price of these machines is higher than netbooks though, so if your wallet's feeling the strain we recommend you take a look at our guide to the <a href="" target="_blank">15 best netbooks in the world today.</A> Or for a broader view, look at our <a href="">20 best laptops in the world today</A>. But whatever you do, read on to find our favourite 13-inchers of the past few months - all in price order. 1. Lenovo Thinkpad Edge - £373 <img alt="Lenovo" src="/WLT136soloLenovo01-420-100.jpg" width="420"> If you can live with Lenovo's Thinkpad Edge's 80s-tastic looks, you'll find a relatively cheap but powerful little lappy. It's never going to perform as well as a £1,000 machine, but the integrated ATI GPU means it can handle complex multimedia presentations, as well as basic photo and video editing. Best of all is that it's as hard as nails, with a spill-resistant keyboard and high-quality plastics used throughout. Perfect for clumsy students who can't handle their drink. 2. Dell Vostro V13 - £409 <img alt="Dell" src="/PCP295ot03v13-420-100.jpg" width="420"> The polar opposite to Lenovo's industrial looks, Dell's Vostro V13 is sleek and shiny, but not much more expensive. It's got a wonderful screen, a built-in webcam and an SD card reader. At the base specs the power doesn't quite match its incredible looks, and the battery life could be better. But get Dell to slap in 4GB of RAM and a dual-core processor and you'll have quite the machine, for less than £500, too. 3. Samsung Q330 - £555 <img alt="Samsung" src="/WLT140solosamsung2-420-100.jpg" width="420"> Samsung's entry into the 13-inch market - the Q330 - is a powerful workhorse of a machine packed into a super-slim chassis. It includes Intel's latest Core i3 processor for decent performance plus 3GB of DDR3 memory. The integrated graphics chip could even handle some older games - such as Modern Warfare - albeit with the settings turned down. It's a class act of a laptop, and although battery life isn't quite up there with other ultraportables its high-performance features and low price more than make up for it. 4. Toshiba Satellite U500-1EX - £687 <img alt="Toshiba" src="/WLT137solotoshiba1-420-100.jpg" width="420"> Almost everything comes with a touchscreen these days - including this Toshiba Satellite laptop. The touch-sensitive nature of the display lets you play basic games and cruise through Windows 7 programs with a swipe of your fingers. It's all backed up with some fairly meaty specs, too, such as a Core i3 processor and 4GB of RAM. It's let down slightly by the poor integrated graphics and dodgy keyboard, but if you're really keen on the touchscreen you can simply use that instead. 5. Apple MacBook - £779 <img alt="Apple macbook" src="/MAC223revmbpro17mb09macbook1-420-100.jpg" width="420"> It says a lot that the cheapest Apple 13-inch laptop is almost twice the price of the cheapest Windows laptop. But you're getting a well-specced little machine, packing a 2GHz Core 2 Duo CPU, 2GB of RAM and - most importantly - an Nvidia GeForce 320M graphics chip. With Steam coming to the Mac, this makes games of Team Fortress 2 an actual possibility. And, of course, it's all wrapped up in Apple's lovely unibody chassis. 6. HP Envy 13 - £966 <img alt="HP" src="/WLT133solohp-420-100.jpg" width="420"> HP's Envy cost a whopping £1499 when we reviewed it, and we rightly criticised it for being far too expensive. Now that price has dropped to under £1000, making it a worthy competitor to Apple's 13-inch MacBook. Like the MacBook, it sports a quality build, lozenge-type keys, a lovely screen and a dedicated graphics card. Unfortunately, battery life isn't that great, but if you fancy buying something of Apple's inscrutable quality without the Apple branding, look no further. 7. Fujitsu LifeBook S760 - £999 <img alt="Fujitsu" src="/WLT139soloFujitso01-420-100.jpg" width="420"> The first notebook on our list to include Intel's Core i5 processor - and it's a belter as a result, with stunning results in our benchmarking tests. Fujitsu hasn't stopped there, though, and has included some handy innovations such as a circular trackpad that actually works, a fingerprint scanner and a really lovely keyboard. It's also incredibly slim and light, but let down slightly by a suspect build quality and a distinct lack of dedicated graphics. 8. Toshiba Portege R700 - £1,387 <img alt="Toshiba" src="/WLT140solotosh-420-100.jpg" width="420"> Spongy keyboard aside, the sample Toshiba Portege machine we received was absolutely stunning. Toshiba has reinvented the laptop with its Airflow Cooling Technology, which places core components near the edge of the machine to ensure optimum airflow over its most sensitive bits. Add to this the stunning transflective panel - which allows for use in bright sunlight - and an 128GB SSD and it's a machine as fast as it is innovative. Our sample came with a Core i7 processor, hence the high price, but you can pick up similar models with Core i3 processors from just £669. 9. Sony VAIO VGN-Z11WN/B - £1,478 <img alt="Sony" src="/WLT117rev3sony-420-100.jpg" width="420"> It's here that we get into the ridiculous levels of money for 13-inch laptops, but you get what you pay for. Sony's VAIO series is generally stunning, and this model includes a luscious screen capable of near-HD quality; a rarity on such a small laptop. It's all backed up by some almightily impressive specs, too: a high end 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of RAM and an Nvidia 9300M graphics card. The build quality is astonishing, battery life amazing and it's a marvel of modern micro-engineering. 10. Sony VAIO VPC-Z12V9E/X - £1,931 <img alt="Sony" src="/WLT142rev3Sony01-420-100.jpg" width="420"> Just under £2,000 is a lot to spend on a laptop, especially one so small. But this Sony VAIO is basically a desktop in a tiny laptops' clothing, and it includes a proper desktop Core i7, 6GB of DDR3 RAM and an Nvidia GT 330M graphics chip. You needn't worry about this beefy setup draining the battery, either: we got a decent 285 minutes out of it. It's all wrapped up in VAIO's exquisite style and rugged build quality, and the screen is a sight to behold. As we said in our review, "this is easily one of the best laptops you can currently buy."

Buying Guide: Best 13-inch laptops: which one is right for you?

The 13-inch laptop is a bit of an oddity - not small enough to be considered a netbook, not big enough to be a proper laptop. But, in many w...