Best Laptops of 2011

When planning to buy a gadget, the laptop is most likely the first on the list. Choosing the right one, however, can be a challenge. Apart from the many models available in the market, you also have to consider your ideal screen size, performance specs, and even the price. As 2011 draws to a close, here are the most purchase-worthy laptops of the year.

  

Apple MacBook Pro (Fall 2011 edition) – Tech experts may tell you that Apple’s MacBook Pro is a smart investment, even at its slightly steep price. Not only it has a user-friendly experience, but also of its impressive performance for home and/ or office usage. The latest edition of MacBook Pro, released in Fall of 2011, has a slight CPU upgrade from its previous versions and makes a great starting point for any optional upgrades. While its trackpad and gesture controls remain among the best of the bunch, the device still lacks features some may find significant such as an optical drive, HDMI, Blu-ray, and USB 3.0.

MacBook Air (Summer 2011 edition) – This very thin, 13.-inch laptop has performance upgrades, such as the latest Intel CPUs and longer battery life, that make the most recent MacBook Air worthy to be suitable for maintream usage. The down side, however, is that its 128GB solid-state drive that is smaller than a standard hard drive, not to mention that it costs at least $100 more than the latest MacBook Pro.

Samsung Series 7 – If you are craving for a Windows-based laptop with MacBook Pro performance, the Samsung Series 7 Chronos 700Z5A-S03 (pictured) is the closest you can get. It equals the MacBook in terms of specs, power, design, and battery life, but it is at least $500 cheaper that the entry-level MacBook Pro. However, its large multitouch click pad is not as responsive to its Apple rival. Considering its hefty price tag, it lacks Blu-ray and a 1080p screen.

Toshiba Portege R835-P70 – Looking for a laptop that costs under $800? The 13-inch Toshiba Portege R835-P70 is the best option. It features a new Intel Core i5 CPU, Intel’s integrated graphics, and a battery life that almost lasts a day. Despite its impressive graphics performance, however, it is not gamer-friendly. This Toshiba laptop also lacks Bluetooth and mobile broadband connectivity, as well as a Blu-ray option.

HP Pavilion dm1z – The most recommended among the budget ultraportable category has got to be the 11-inch, AMD-powered HP Pavilion dm1z. A upgraded version of its former self, the new HP laptop comes with Beats Audio, a more efficient touchpad, and an updated AMD processor. The bad part is that its performance and battery life remain the same.

Source: CNET

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