Laptops

Go straight to our pick of 2009

Laptops have certainly kept us busy in 2009.  Whether it's new models with lower energy consumption thanks to improvements in components like processors and LED backlighting, improvements in battery life, ultra thin models or very low prices, there has certainly been plenty going on …

Battery life vs performance

Netbooks have been in the spotlight all year. Our product survey, now with over 40 models, is proof enough! From simple, low-priced mini computers, they've developed in terms of finish and design. The frontier with ultra portable laptops has pretty much disappeared. The main drawback with these light, compact computers is, of course, performance, the counterpoint to longer battery life.

When it comes to notebooks, a fair number of ultra-thin stylish models have appeared, in the image of Apple's MacBook Air. You can find them throughout the price range, but with two points in common: a very low consumption platform (Intel CULV mostly) and LED backlit screens, thinner, with lower energy consumption. This makes for less heat, longer battery life and increased compactness. Performance is lower in this segment too, though sufficient for office documents, browsing and a little photo work and video. A recent survey shows that many of our readers opt for battery life over performance and it seems supply is following demand.

In terms of performance, quad cores (Intel Core i7) are what it’s about right now. They offer great results but cut down on mobility and battery life.
When it comes to screens, we’re delighted to see that matte screens are making a comeback on some models. We’re hoping for some significant progress however as current panels are still very poor for the most part (contrast, black levels, viewing angles and so on).

Windows 7 has arrived and Mac OS is progressing

Can Windows 7 deliver where Vista disappointed? The new version seems to be keeping its promises, with a much more immediate success than Vista. 10% of our weekday readers and 12% of weekend readers now use Seven. Performance in comparison to Windows XP is sufficient to recommend it on any new machine. It brings gains in functionality without any loss in performance, which obviously wasn’t the case with Windows Vista.

The generalised use of Windows XP on netbooks should now gradually be phased out, with Windows 7 (Starter edition) gradually coming online. The use of XP on netbooks, as opposed to Vista, has been a thorn in the side of Microsoft but has enabled it to keep Linux at bay. Linux however is on its way back with Intel working on Moblin and Google its Chrome OS.

Apple, of course, plays by its own rules. MacBooks have never sold as well as right now. Indeed almost 9% of our readership use Mac OS X. The success is deserved when you look at the most recent machines tested. Design, finish, performance and battery life come together to give a final result that is often better than the competition. You do of course have to pay the Apple premium.

2010?

Next year netbooks and notebooks will finally fuse. We can also expect to find quieter machines with better battery life. Intel’s new processors also seem well set-up to flood the market. Performances are going to take a jump forward with these chips and we expect too see a reaction from AMD. We also hope to see fewer low-level built-in graphics cards.

The surprise may well come in the form of smartbooks. Equipped with all-rounder ARM processors such as the NVIDIA Tegra, they offer battery life on a par with the best mobile phones at prices that defy the competition, netbooks included. They have started to appear in the US and will be over here soon.

In terms of hardware, touch screens are going to become more common, with models that go beyond simple current "tablet PCs". 3D is also on its way, though we aren’t convinced that it’s worthwhile on such small screens. Surely it would be better to improve panel quality before venturing into new technologies!

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Our favourite
An affordable all-rounder, as much at ease with HD as office docs.

Dell Studio 15

If we had to limit ourselves to one, this is what we’d ask Father Christmas for. It has all the functionality and performance to make it a good all-rounder. Three configurations are on offer from Dell. We recommend the model with the Core i7 processor if you want to do any video editing or photo work. Otherwise, the Core 2 Duo T6600 will be enough. Unless you don’t do any gaming at all, don’t go for the lowest-price configuration. There are various customization options. Among them, we recommend the Full HD screen and 9-cell battery.

Small portable laptops

Best value Samsung N130	HD netbook: HP Compaq Mini 311c	Maximum mobility: Toshiba R600
Under 300 euros for this netbook that does everything you expect it to do: office documents, viewing photos and video (but not HD), compact and good battery life.	The Mini 311c is a treat to use. Equipped with an NVIDIA ION, it can play HD video and handle some gaming.	Very slim, very light, well finished and equipped with a matte display, the Toshiba R600 gives good performance and is fine for office use, photo editing and watching video, but not gaming

Design and performance--or green credentials?

Green: MSI X-Slim X400	Sexy Apple MacBook	Luxury: Apple MacBook Pro 15''
Ultra thin, light and yet affordable, the MSI X-Slim X400 doesn't need much power. It has long battery life and performance that's good enough for office docs and even plays HD video.	Current MacBooks combine sleek design and powerful performance, without, however, sacrificing battery life. This is important for the 13'' model.	An excellent finish, quality screen and good performance, what else do you need to convince you? Those on a budget will do better to look at the Dell Studio 15.

For multifmedia performance

Comfort & performance: Dell Studio 17	Gamer: Asus G60VX	Multimedia workstation: HP HDX18
Just updated with a top-end processor, the Studio 17 can do it all. Its large screen and digital trackpad make it comfortable to use.	Sure, it doesn’t give the highest performance available but gaming with all the current titles is a breeze and it’s very affordable.	A giant 18.4'' screen, Blu-Ray player and good performance make the HP HDX18 a transportable multimedia alternative to your desktop.

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Laptops at a glance:

	Portability & Battery Life	Processor Power	Hardware	Screen	Gaming	Audio
Dell Studio 15
Samsung N130
HP Compaq Mini 311c
Toshiba Portégé R600
MSI X-Slim X400
Apple MacBook 13
Apple MacBook Pro 15
Dell Studio 17
Asus G60VX
HP HDX18

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