Marc Saltzman
Sun
Dell Inspiron XPS M1330
HP Pavilion dv9615ca Entertainment Notebook PC
MacBook Pro
It’s no wonder laptop computers have eclipsed the sale of desktop computers: there’s no longer a sacrifice in power for portability, they’ve dropped in price to be nearly on par with desktops, and inexpensive Wi-Fi networks mean users are no longer tethered to the wall to access the Internet at high speeds.
Once intended primarily for the business crowd — say, mobile executives who needed to crunch numbers at 30,000 feet — laptops are now in demand as a consumer product designed for virtually everyone, from the student to the homemaker and the retiree.
In fact, laptops are a hot commodity as we approach the holidays: a recent survey commissioned by the U.S-based Consumer Electronics Association found that a new computer outranked peace, happiness and clothes as the most wished-for gifts.
Looking for recommendations? Whether you’re planning on buying one for yourself or a loved one dropping serious hints, here are a few laptops ideal for use in and around the home.
THIN IS IN
At just 0.9 inches and under four pounds, the Dell Inspiron XPS M1330 (starts at $1,399; www.dell.ca) is one of the thinnest and lightest 13.3-inch laptops on the market. But it’s no slouch under the hood thanks to an Intel Core 2 Duo (up to 2.4Ghz, 800Mhz) processor, up to 4GB of system memory (“RAM”), slot-load DVD burner (with dual-layer support, for up to 8.5GB of data per disc), 8-in-1 memory card reader and up to 250GB of hard drive space. Built-in Wi-Fi is standard, but optional extras include Bluetooth and a webcam. The “MicroSatin” paint looks and feels great, and is available in one of three colours: Alpine White, Crimson Red or Tuxedo Black.
BIGGER IS BETTER
Those who rely on their computer for their entertainment needs — such as DVD movies, computer games and video editing — will love the 17-inch glossy high-definition screen on the HP Pavilion dv9615ca Entertainment Notebook PC (from $1079.99; www.hp.ca). Powering this 7.7-pound laptop is an Intel Core 2 Duo processor T5250 (1.50GHz); 200GB hard drive (two combined); 1GB of system memory; Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 and integrated Wi-Fi. And when you’re ready to create a custom music or movie disc on this dual-layer DVD burner, you can design and print text or graphics with the built-in LightScribe labelling technology (special CDs or DVDs required).
MEDIA HOUND, FOR LESS
Kick back on your couch, bed or kitchen table to watch movies — even high-definition ones — on the Toshiba Satellite P200 (from $899.00; www.toshiba.ca), offering a superb value for what you get including a 17-inch widescreen, integrated HD DVD drive (with dual-layer DVD burning), powerful Intel Core 2 Duo processor T5450 (1.66GHz); 2GB of system memory (up to 4GB) and a 200MB hard drive. If you don’t want to wear headphones, you can use the Harmon/Kardon stereo speakers. Convenient extras include a built-in 1.3-megapixel webcam, Bluetooth v2.0, microphone, 5-in-1 media card reader and Wi-Fi.
COOL TO THE CORE
While the three aforementioned laptops run on the Windows Vista operating system, Mac enthusiasts can turn to the new Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard and its 300-plus new features, which debuted at the end of October (more info is at www.apple.com/ca/macosx). While pricey, we like the 15-inch MacBook Pro ($2,799.00; apple.ca) with a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of system memory; 160GB hard drive; dual-layer DVD burner, fast 802.11n Wi-Fi and impressive graphics performance with its NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics with 256MB SDRAM. You can run Windows on this MacBook Pro using a program like BootCamp or Parallels.
