LAPTOP shopping is always a
difficult task. They come by so many different names these days,
Chromebooks, Ultrabooks, Zenbooks, Notebooks, Macbooks, it's all pretty
confusing.
we have put together a list of some of the best laptops on
the market to help your decision making process a little easier.
Please note there are a ton of great laptops on the market that didn't make this list, that doesn't mean they shouldn't be considered. There are just only so many computers you can fit into one story.
WHAT'S A CHROMEBOOK?
A Chromebook is a laptop brought to you buy the good people at Google and comes in eight different models that come from Acer, Samsung, HP and Google.
It runs on an operating system that is basically adapted from Google's own Chrome browser. These devices are making waves for its blurring of the boundaries between browser and desktop. Features like YouTube can run independent of the Chrome browser and it also supports offline browsing.
Upside: The low-end Chromebooks are incredibly lightweight, so much so you can carry them in a handbag all day without any strain.
With the exception of a few models, Chromebooks are mostly housed in plastic which gives them a sort of flimsy feeling but they're sturdy and you don't have to be as worried about fragile parts shattering or breaking off.
Prices start from $199 and go all the way up to $1299 - still a darn site cheaper than any Apple computer. They're also a lot cheaper than a lot of other laptops on the market.
Downside: The Chromebook may not be the device of choice for the paranoid. You have to login to your Google account to even begin using this computer. Google - as we already know - tracks the content of your inbox in order to deliver you targeted advertising. It's also been in hot water over allegedly sharing information with the NSA. If you're concerned about having your activity tracked, this probably isn't the device for you.
High end: The Chromebook Pixel
Price: $1299
Chromebook Pixel
Upside: The Chromebook Pixel has a stunning display with an insane resolution of 1560 x 1700 which is higher than even what the Macbook Pro offers. While you can only choose between 32 or 64GB of internal storage, all Chromebook Pixel users are given a Terabyte of cloud storage in Google Drive. The experience is smooth, fast and totally seamless. Hardware and performance wise it stands up against almost every rival on the market including the Macbook Pro or Windows OS.
It's all metal body and lack of tapering makes the Pixel one damn sturdy computer. It looks big. It feels big. It's probably more suited to people who don't do a lot of travel or need to take their laptop from place to place. This baby is too bulky to be carried around full-time.
It sports a touchscreen display so you can choose whether to scroll using the track pad or control the activity on screen with your fingers. You can select apps by tapping on the screen, or you can click the track pad - whichever you feel more comfortable with.
The Chromebook includes a range of customised functions buttons that sit above the keyboard which let you change things like brightness, a refresh button, and the ability to switch between browsers. The capslock button has also been replaced with a search key.
Downside: Most of the apps that run on this computer are web based and not optimised for touch yet - though Google has said that many of these missing features will be added to apps shortly - so you might find yourself relying more on traditional touchpad scrolling and clicking for apps. Switching between apps is also difficult.
While video streaming on sites like YouTube is seamless, playing videos that are saved to the device can be stutters at times. The computer can handle about five hours of active use before needing a recharge, which is slightly less than its Apple or Microsoft rivals.
$1299 is also a lot to play for a laptop that is basically designed for web browsing. If you regularly play video games, use video or photo editing software or word processing programs, this isn't the computer for you.
Low end: Acer C7 Chromebook
Price: $349
Upside: Its 1366 x 768 resolution is standard for most
laptops in its range. Its display is sharp and unless you're super up
close imperfections are difficult to notice. Comes with a headphone
jack, power adaptor port, an ethernet port, three USB ports, a VGI and
HDMI port to enable you to connect to an external display, and a
full-size SD card slot.
Like other Chromebook models the C7 has a bunch of function keys that sit above the keyboard that allow you to control brightness, video and music playback, refresh and go forward and back in the browser.
It also features a touch screen so you can choose between hands-on interaction or a more traditional trackpad, point and click experience. The Acer C7 Chromebook sports 2GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive, powered by a 1.1GHz chip. It sports between 4.5-5 hours of battery life. Also, did we mention it's $349?
Downside: The Acer is not the prettiest of the Chromebook range. It's all plastic body makes everything feel like it can bend, stretch or break. It's a pretty uninspired design and it's parts are a bit clunky. The hinge sticks out behind the base like it's about to come off. But obviously for a Chromebook that costs $200, you're obviously going to have to make some sacrifices on design.
The screen isn't very bright and the black bezel is glossy and reflective, it can be a bit distracting. The trackpad can be jolty at times and the cursor tends to jump around the screen. Like most of the Chromebook models they're designed mostly for web browsing. Those requiring processing power to run editing or word processing software will be left wanting. Tends to get hot when it runs absolutely anything.
WHAT'S A MACBOOK?
A Macbook is a laptop produced by Apple.
High end: Macbook Pro 15-inch
Price: Starting at $1349
Upside: At 1280 x 1800 pixels the full HD resolution of
the Macbook Pro 15-inch is the most powerful of the Mac range. (The 17
inch used to hold the top gong but it was recently quietly discontinued
by Apple). The resolution is not quite as amazing as the Retina Pro iPad
but it's the closest any in the range come to it.
If you're a photo editor, graphic designer, video editor this is the computer for you (that is if you really want to work on a laptop and not a desktop computer like the iMac - which, for the sake of your eyes, back and posture, we don't recommend).
The base model starts with a 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with a GeForce GT 650M, 8GB RAM, and flash storage that ranges from 256GB to 768GB, this laptop is great for gamers who will appreciate how the graphic chip set brings out their special affects. This isn't the most powerful gaming machine on the market but it's certainly up there and is capable of delivering amazing special affects and smooth playing at 24-30 FPS.
The 15 inch is a lot quieter than past models. And its flash storage makes it a much faster machine. The computer boots almost instantly and it transitions from sleep to wake even faster. The firewire and ethernet ports have been replaced with a thunderbolt port, two USB 3 ports, and an HDMI out port.
Downside: Though Apple claims the model is a lot cooler than past models but the machine is still hot to touch due to its massive processing power and apps. With prices between $1,349 and $3,199 for the Retina Pro model, it's the most expensive laptop in the Apple range and in the market.
Low end: Macbook air
Price: Starts at $1099
Upside: This is the freelancer's computer of choice. It
has CRAZY battery life which can last up to 12 hours. You know what
that means: portable office. Relocate your office to the nearest coffee
shop and annoy all the wait staff. Just remember to keep ordering coffee
or you'll likely be asked to leave.
It also boasts faster wi-fi speeds than previous models and improved graphics. It contains two USB ports, a thunderbolt port and SDXC card slot. Claims three times faster wi-fi than previous models but will depend on whether you're using a compatible router. (Apple routers cost $249). This computer is for normal people looking for all the regular things a laptop delivers like word processing, the ability to browse the web and run apps. It contains a 1.3Ghz core i5 processor, 128GB storage (an upgrade of 256GB more costs $200) and Apple claims it has 40 per cent better graphics that previous models.
Downside: If you're still the kind of person that buys CDs or DVDs, this computer isn't for you. The Macbook Air has no CD drive, though you can buy an external one that plugs in via USB but it'll cost you $99. It contains a Macsafe 2 power socket which means if you're upgrading from other models you'll also need to buy a new adaptor.
It contains a 720p Facetime front facing camera and a 1440 x 900 display - pretty average compared to its Windows and Chrome competitors - even against other Apple Macbook Pros. The air is definitely not a gaming computer, on the upside it handles the graphics reasonably well, but it does cause the computer to become very hot. This is also not the computer you'd use for any high end or professional photography or video work. The Air just doesn't have the processing power to run those kinds of programs.
WHAT'S AN ULTRABOOK?
An Ultrabook is a high-end laptop range released by Intel which are designed to massively reduce weight and bulk without compromising on battery life and performance.
High end: Fujitsu Lifebook U772
Price: $3079
Upside: This low cost laptop holds six hours of battery
life, weighs 2.4kgs and features a dual core processor. It contains 2
USB ports and an HDMI and VGA port. Contains a DVD + RW optical drive
and a resolution of 1366 x 768. It costs $499.
Downside: Only contains 4GB of RAM, this isn't exactly the kind of computer you're going to be able to store a lot of music or movies on. Future models will have 3G and LTE capability but sadly this is not available in the current model. It's also damn pricey, costing $3079.
Low end: Asus S56
Price: $765
Upside: Slim design, fast boot times, runs i5 processor
which consumes only 17W of power which will help with battery life.
Features 6GB of RAM running at 1600 MHz and it boots and wakes up
quickly. Durable, it is made out of aluminium and plastic. Features an
Ethernet port. Features three USB ports, a VGA, HDMI port and Ethernet
jack and a CD/DVD drive.
Downside: The s56's HD 4000 graphics, this is not a computer for hardcore gamers. It's resolution of 1366 x 768 and glossy screen makes glare and reflection a bit of an issue, making this better suited as an indoor computer.
Please note there are a ton of great laptops on the market that didn't make this list, that doesn't mean they shouldn't be considered. There are just only so many computers you can fit into one story.
WHAT'S A CHROMEBOOK?
A Chromebook is a laptop brought to you buy the good people at Google and comes in eight different models that come from Acer, Samsung, HP and Google.
It runs on an operating system that is basically adapted from Google's own Chrome browser. These devices are making waves for its blurring of the boundaries between browser and desktop. Features like YouTube can run independent of the Chrome browser and it also supports offline browsing.
Upside: The low-end Chromebooks are incredibly lightweight, so much so you can carry them in a handbag all day without any strain.
With the exception of a few models, Chromebooks are mostly housed in plastic which gives them a sort of flimsy feeling but they're sturdy and you don't have to be as worried about fragile parts shattering or breaking off.
Prices start from $199 and go all the way up to $1299 - still a darn site cheaper than any Apple computer. They're also a lot cheaper than a lot of other laptops on the market.
Downside: The Chromebook may not be the device of choice for the paranoid. You have to login to your Google account to even begin using this computer. Google - as we already know - tracks the content of your inbox in order to deliver you targeted advertising. It's also been in hot water over allegedly sharing information with the NSA. If you're concerned about having your activity tracked, this probably isn't the device for you.
High end: The Chromebook Pixel
Price: $1299
Chromebook Pixel
Upside: The Chromebook Pixel has a stunning display with an insane resolution of 1560 x 1700 which is higher than even what the Macbook Pro offers. While you can only choose between 32 or 64GB of internal storage, all Chromebook Pixel users are given a Terabyte of cloud storage in Google Drive. The experience is smooth, fast and totally seamless. Hardware and performance wise it stands up against almost every rival on the market including the Macbook Pro or Windows OS.
It's all metal body and lack of tapering makes the Pixel one damn sturdy computer. It looks big. It feels big. It's probably more suited to people who don't do a lot of travel or need to take their laptop from place to place. This baby is too bulky to be carried around full-time.
It sports a touchscreen display so you can choose whether to scroll using the track pad or control the activity on screen with your fingers. You can select apps by tapping on the screen, or you can click the track pad - whichever you feel more comfortable with.
The Chromebook includes a range of customised functions buttons that sit above the keyboard which let you change things like brightness, a refresh button, and the ability to switch between browsers. The capslock button has also been replaced with a search key.
Downside: Most of the apps that run on this computer are web based and not optimised for touch yet - though Google has said that many of these missing features will be added to apps shortly - so you might find yourself relying more on traditional touchpad scrolling and clicking for apps. Switching between apps is also difficult.
While video streaming on sites like YouTube is seamless, playing videos that are saved to the device can be stutters at times. The computer can handle about five hours of active use before needing a recharge, which is slightly less than its Apple or Microsoft rivals.
$1299 is also a lot to play for a laptop that is basically designed for web browsing. If you regularly play video games, use video or photo editing software or word processing programs, this isn't the computer for you.
Low end: Acer C7 Chromebook
Price: $349
Acer C7 Notebook
Source: Supplied
Like other Chromebook models the C7 has a bunch of function keys that sit above the keyboard that allow you to control brightness, video and music playback, refresh and go forward and back in the browser.
It also features a touch screen so you can choose between hands-on interaction or a more traditional trackpad, point and click experience. The Acer C7 Chromebook sports 2GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive, powered by a 1.1GHz chip. It sports between 4.5-5 hours of battery life. Also, did we mention it's $349?
Downside: The Acer is not the prettiest of the Chromebook range. It's all plastic body makes everything feel like it can bend, stretch or break. It's a pretty uninspired design and it's parts are a bit clunky. The hinge sticks out behind the base like it's about to come off. But obviously for a Chromebook that costs $200, you're obviously going to have to make some sacrifices on design.
The screen isn't very bright and the black bezel is glossy and reflective, it can be a bit distracting. The trackpad can be jolty at times and the cursor tends to jump around the screen. Like most of the Chromebook models they're designed mostly for web browsing. Those requiring processing power to run editing or word processing software will be left wanting. Tends to get hot when it runs absolutely anything.
WHAT'S A MACBOOK?
A Macbook is a laptop produced by Apple.
High end: Macbook Pro 15-inch
Price: Starting at $1349
Macbook Pro
Source: Supplied
If you're a photo editor, graphic designer, video editor this is the computer for you (that is if you really want to work on a laptop and not a desktop computer like the iMac - which, for the sake of your eyes, back and posture, we don't recommend).
The base model starts with a 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with a GeForce GT 650M, 8GB RAM, and flash storage that ranges from 256GB to 768GB, this laptop is great for gamers who will appreciate how the graphic chip set brings out their special affects. This isn't the most powerful gaming machine on the market but it's certainly up there and is capable of delivering amazing special affects and smooth playing at 24-30 FPS.
The 15 inch is a lot quieter than past models. And its flash storage makes it a much faster machine. The computer boots almost instantly and it transitions from sleep to wake even faster. The firewire and ethernet ports have been replaced with a thunderbolt port, two USB 3 ports, and an HDMI out port.
Downside: Though Apple claims the model is a lot cooler than past models but the machine is still hot to touch due to its massive processing power and apps. With prices between $1,349 and $3,199 for the Retina Pro model, it's the most expensive laptop in the Apple range and in the market.
Low end: Macbook air
Price: Starts at $1099
Macbook Air
Source: Supplied
It also boasts faster wi-fi speeds than previous models and improved graphics. It contains two USB ports, a thunderbolt port and SDXC card slot. Claims three times faster wi-fi than previous models but will depend on whether you're using a compatible router. (Apple routers cost $249). This computer is for normal people looking for all the regular things a laptop delivers like word processing, the ability to browse the web and run apps. It contains a 1.3Ghz core i5 processor, 128GB storage (an upgrade of 256GB more costs $200) and Apple claims it has 40 per cent better graphics that previous models.
Downside: If you're still the kind of person that buys CDs or DVDs, this computer isn't for you. The Macbook Air has no CD drive, though you can buy an external one that plugs in via USB but it'll cost you $99. It contains a Macsafe 2 power socket which means if you're upgrading from other models you'll also need to buy a new adaptor.
It contains a 720p Facetime front facing camera and a 1440 x 900 display - pretty average compared to its Windows and Chrome competitors - even against other Apple Macbook Pros. The air is definitely not a gaming computer, on the upside it handles the graphics reasonably well, but it does cause the computer to become very hot. This is also not the computer you'd use for any high end or professional photography or video work. The Air just doesn't have the processing power to run those kinds of programs.
WHAT'S AN ULTRABOOK?
An Ultrabook is a high-end laptop range released by Intel which are designed to massively reduce weight and bulk without compromising on battery life and performance.
High end: Fujitsu Lifebook U772
Price: $3079
Lifebook
Source: Supplied
Downside: Only contains 4GB of RAM, this isn't exactly the kind of computer you're going to be able to store a lot of music or movies on. Future models will have 3G and LTE capability but sadly this is not available in the current model. It's also damn pricey, costing $3079.
Low end: Asus S56
Price: $765
Asus S56
Source: Supplied
Downside: The s56's HD 4000 graphics, this is not a computer for hardcore gamers. It's resolution of 1366 x 768 and glossy screen makes glare and reflection a bit of an issue, making this better suited as an indoor computer.
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