It’s Raining Laptops

by MALIN GURUNG

FROM ISSUE # 168 (December 2009) | IN THIS ISSUE
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Asus Eee PC 1008HA Rs 45,000*

NETBOOKS

The best thing to come out in 2008, these tiny netbooks pack in a ridiculous amount of usability for their size and price. Netbooks have now evolved from being watered-down laptops to a distinct category, offering users almost all the functionality of a laptop in a compact, super-portable shell. Netbooks typically cost between 30-50 thousand rupees.

Sony Vaio W Series Rs 50,000 onwards

Lenovo IdeaPad S103 Rs 40,000*

HP mini 311 Rs 45,000*

Samsung N310 Rs 50,000*

Apple MacBook Pro 15 inch Rs 1,50,000

HIGH-END LAPTOPS

Great things await you if you cross the 1 lakh price point bar. These sleek, shiny beasts will happily and gracefully eat up any task you feed them. And you get a trophy gadget, something you are proud to be the owner of. You can also get hold of laptops specialised for a task in mind, something you could never get at a budget price.

Apple MacBook 13 inch Rs 1,00,000.

HP Envy 15 Rs 1,80,000*

Sony VAIO BZ Series Rs 1,00,000 onwards

ASUS-Dell Studio 15 Rs 1,00,000*

THINGS TO CHECK

CPU: The heart and brain of any computer, a good CPU is key. Look for a Core 2 Duo processor. As for netbooks, the norm is an Intel Atom processor, the latest being the N280. 1.8GHz will suffice for general computing, look for 2.8Ghz or higher for specialised computing.

RAM: 1-2 GB is standard. The more, the merrier.

WiFi: Remember that an Intel Centrino processor guarantees WiFi. If required to browse the internet wirelessly on your netbook, ask about WiFi.

CD/DVD: Netbooks don't have CD drives. Almost every other laptop has this.

Extras: Built-in webcams and backlit keyboards are not the norm, but they will add a nice touch to your experience.

Ergonomics: Buying a laptop is a lot like buying a desktop PC. Try the actual thing in the stores for comfort and ease of use. Check the weight, the keyboard and the overall feel because none of the nice pictures on the internet will tell you the whole story.

Other: Look for warranty and after sales-support.

Sony Vaio CW Series Rs 70,000 onwards.

Compaq Presario CQ61-310 Rs 50,000*

MSI X340 Rs 70,000*

ASUS-K40IJ Rs 59,000

MID-RANGE LAPTOPS

Lenovo G450 Rs 55,000

Laptops in the 50-80 thousand rupee price range are a confused lot. They suffer from an identity crisis-jack of all trade and master of none. Neither do they offer pro features or amenities for pure indulgence nor do they have any major caveats to halt your productivity. But this is also the category that will work for most people, so it is the most popular.

Accessorise it

You'll want...

An external hard-drive To store and back-up data. * Actual prices may vary.

A USB/Bluetooth mouse To avoid the discomfort of using tiny trackpads.