Toybox Ten: 10 full-featured laptops for less than $750
It's the best of times, it's the worst of times -- at least when it comes to shopping for a laptop.
Prices are lower than ever before, yet a dizzying amount of options are available for your next machine. And with diminutive, Intel Atom-powered netbooks creeping up on the traditional notebook segment, it's hard to discern which system will give you enough bang for your buck.
To aid back-to-school shoppers out there looking to spend less than the $700 to $1200 range I used for my "Top 10 laptops for college students" list, here's a list of 10 fully-featured laptops for under $750.
(And no, you won't find any netbooks on this list.)
Lenovo IdeaPad Y450
We've recommended Lenovo's colorful IdeaPad before as a pleasing, un-Lenovo (read: corporate) take on a laptop, and the Y450 model fits the bill nicely: an Intel Core 2 Duo T4200, Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics, 3GB of DDR3 SDRAM, a 14-in., 1366x768 HD widescreen LED display and a 250GB HDD. An incredible bargain, it can all be had right now, on sale, for $599.
[read the review] [check prices]
Toshiba Satellite M500
Toshiba just revamped its Satellite lineup, and the Satellite M500 is one of its shining stars: An Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 processor, 2GB DDR2 SDRAM, 250GB HDD, DVD SuperMulti drive and HP's premium "Fusion" finish can be had for exactly $700.
[read the original announcement] [check prices]
Acer Aspire Timeline
The slim, 13-in. Acer Aspire Timeline claims an 8-hour battery life, just one element defining the Timeline as a razor-thin road warrior. The Timeline offers mostly business-class components for a consumer-minded price: 13.3-in. LED backlit widescreen HD display (1366 x 768), 4GB RAM, 320 GB HDD, 1.3 GHz Intel Pentium SU2700 processor, Intel GMA 4500MHD, 802.11a/b/g/n wireless, a 5-in-1 memory card reader, HDMI, a webcam and a multi-gesture touchpad -- all for $599.
[read the review] [check prices] [original site]
HP Pavilion dv3t
The Pavilion dv3t is a versatile machine with a pleasing array of options for varying price ranges. Configured with a 13.3-in. LED widescreen HD (1280 x 800) display, Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 processor, 3GB DDR2 RAM, 320GB HDD, Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics, SuperMulti 8X DVD/RW, webcam, and wireless-G card in a glossy espresso black finish, it sells for $699.
[ZDNet product page] [check prices]
Dell Studio 14z
Dell's revamped (March 2009) almost-ultraportable keeps pace with other systems on this list by offering many of the same components: Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 processor, 14-in. HD 720p LED display, 3GB DDR3 RAM, 250GB HDD, Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics, 802.11g wireless and 6 hours of battery life for $699. For an extra $40, pick from five bright colors.
[read the original announcement] [check prices]
Fujitsu A1130 Lifebook
If you're less concerned about looks and portability and more concerned about how much performance you can get for your dollar, the $750 A1130 Lifebook is the way to go. It manages to shoehorn the best components on this list into its sizeable frame: Intel Core 2 Duo T6500, 15.6-in. widescreen (1366 x 768) display, 4GB DDR2 memory, 500GB hard drive, DVD writer, 1.3-megapixel integrated webcam and microphone, 802.11b/g/n wireless, 3 USB 2.0 ports, an SD card slot and an ExpressCard slot.
[ZDNet product page] [check prices]
Gateway NV
The 15.6-in. Gateway NV series is a new face in the Gateway lineup, and by nature of its price tag -- the series starts at $499 -- it fits perfectly on this list. The $579 NV5814u, available soon at Amazon and TigerDirect, offers Intel Core 2 Duo T6500, 4GB DDR2 memory, 320GB hard drive, Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics and 802.11a/g/n wireless.
[read the original announcement] [check prices]
HP G70t
It's not easy to find an inexpensive 17-in. desktop replacement, but the HP G70t manages to make it happen. For $704, you get an Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 processor, 3GB DDR2 memory, a 250GB hard drive, Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics, a SuperMulti 8x DVD-RW, webcam, microphone, wireless-N and that 17-inch, WXGA+ HD (1440 x 900) widescreen display.
[ZDNet product page] [check prices]
Sony VAIO CS
Sony's VAIO CS series tops out far beyond our official $750 price limit, but the entry-level VGN-CS390 is worth consideration. At $749, it comes with a 14.1-in. widescreen (1280 x 800) display, Intel Core 2 Duo T4200 processor, 2GB DDR2 memory, a 160GB hard drive, CD/DVD player/burner (Blu-ray's $80 more), a fingerprint sensor and Sony's chiclet-style keyboard. Oh, and the crocodile finish? It'll cost you an extra $40.
[read the review] [check prices]
Dell Inspiron 14
There's nothing particularly special about Dell's affordable Inspiron 14 laptop besides the seven candy-coated colors, but the real value lies in Dell's trademark -- customization. For $609 configured, you can take home a machine with a Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 processor, 3GB of DDR2 memory, Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics, 8x CD/DVD burner, 802.11g wireless and a 14-in. HD (720p) widescreen LED display.
Doesn't suit your taste? A dual-core Pentium T4200 system starts at $449. Not enough juice? A Core 2 Duo T8600 system with 4GB RAM and 250GB HDD runs $719. Want Blu-ray playback? A 2x drive costs an additional $125, whatever the configuration. And if you don't dig the 14-inch screen, size up to the Inspiron 15, which starts at $349, or down to the Inspiron 13, which starts at $499.
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