We keep track of laptops that we like for everyday / business use. Some people may like the most powerful laptops -- or more stylish looks -- but the specs below represent the "sweetspot" in terms of performance, price, and value. Here's a record of what you can get for the given price point over recent years.
It's exciting to have the new Intel "breakthrough" Core i3/i5/i7 series of chips in this price category. Other features that we have our eye on include:
- LED screens use much less power than LCD screen -- meaning improved battery life.
- Those concerned with battery life might want to consider a slightly smaller screen (14 inches instead of 15 inches means a smaller surface area to light up). (This is a trade-off for smartphones as well: a larger screen means more battery drain.)
- HDMI output is increasingly available.
| Date | Processor Speed | Memory | Harddrive | Battery | Price |
| Jan 11 | | | | | |
| Nov 10 | 2.4 Ghz (i3) Win 7 | 4 GB (exp to 8) | 320 GB | 4 hrs | $500 |
| Dec 09 | 2.2 Ghz (x2) Win 7 | 4 GB | 300 GB | 4 hrs | $550 |
| Aug 09 | 2.1 Ghz (x2) Vista | 3 GB | 320 GB | 3 hrs | $500 |
| Dec 08 | 2.0 Ghz (x2) Vista | 3 GB | 300 GB | 2.5 hrs | $550 |
| Aug 08 | 1.9 Ghz (x2) Vista | 3 GB | 250 GB | 2 hrs | $550 |
| Dec 07 | 1.6 Ghz (x2) Vista | 1.5 GB | 120 GB | 1.5 hrs | $550 |
