Must-have laptops in the market

DELLXPS15Z
Price: Rs 80,900
Specs: 15-inch screen, Intel i7 2.70 GHz; 8 GB RAM; 720 GB HDD; NVIDIA 525M graphics card; Slot dvd drive; USB, Windows 7 Home

The XPS 15Z is a specialist: it combines style with the capability to provide the best entertainment you wold need. This laptop is built to perfection. The shell has high-grade aluminium and plastics. Its silver colour is a sight for sore executive eyes. The keyboard is nicely laid down and is very comfortable to work with. On the sides, you will find a couple of USB 3.0 ports and a slot for a DVD drive. Users get a 15-inch LED screen which is exceptionally good for both gaming and movies.

The slim frame hides astounding fire power inside. For starters this laptop has the second generation Intel Core i7 processor with turbo boost, which clocks at 2.7 GHz, an impressive 8 GB of RAM and a lavish 720 GB hard drive. For gaming geeks it even carries the NVIDIA 525M graphics card. It boasts a configuration that allows for editing of HD videos. On our test bench, it did not a decent job, but a fabulous one. Its PC Mark Vantage benchmark score stood at 7741 while on 3D Mark 06, it had 6434-wonderful results. The battery lasts for about 6 hours. This is a laptop for a chosen few.

-Text by Sulabh Puri

LENOVO Z570
Price: Rs 37,990
Specs: 15.6-inch LED display, Intel Core i3 2.1 GHz, 3 GB RAM, 640 GB HDD; NVIDIA GT520M; Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HDMI; Windows 7 Basic; 2.8 kg

This Lenovo machine is for casual gaming, movies and Internet fun. It looks simple and lacks the zing of some of its fellow Lenovo laptops, but its 15.6-inch LED screen is excellent for games and movies. The sound is pretty decent too. Lenovo has put in some good apps for daily use, and you are sure to find them handy. As for the tests, this laptop is a very good performer.

With just an Intel i3, 2.1 GHz processor, 3 GB RAM and NVIDIA GT 520M graphics card, this machine still managed magnificent scores. It scored 5178 marks on PC Mark Vantage and 3301 marks on 3D Mark 06. We expected the battery to last longer, but it remained alive only for four and a half hours. Other features of this laptop include a 640 GB hard drive, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HDMI output and a 2 megapixel web cam. The configuration is pretty good. Perhaps just a bit of imagination on its crust and this notebook would have awesome.

-Text by Sulabh Puri

SAMSUNG NF 210
Price: Rs 22,900
Specs: 10-inch screen; Intel Atom 1.5 GHz dual core; 2 GB RAM; 320 GB HDD; Intel 3150 Media Accelerator; 3 x USB, Ethernet, VGA; Web cam, Wi-Fi.

We have seen some good looking netbooks from Samsung, but perhaps nothing as gorgeous as the NF210 had emerged as yet. With a curved bodyline and solid panels, its keyboard also gives an impression of reassuring solidity. The trackpad is a little small, but that is the case with every netbook these days. It has three USB ports, memory card reader, and Ethernet port, plus a web cam and Wi-Fi.

The configuration is among the best in its class. The NF210 comes with Intel Atom 1.5 GHz processor with dual cores, 2GB RAM and Intel 3150 Media Accelerator. For storage it has a 320-GB hard drive. On the test bench it did an adequate job. It got 1638 points on PC Mark and a disappointing 146 in 3D Mark 06. The battery lasts for just four hours. Frankly speaking, we were expecting better results. To connect it to wireless headphones and mobile phones, Samsung has added Bluetooth. This netbook gets high marks for its make but it sorely lacks in power.

-Text by Sulabh Puri

MSI GT680R
Price: Rs 1,09,999
Specs: 15.6-inch LED screen; Intel Core i7 2.0 GHz; 8GB RAM; 1 TB HDD; NVIDIA 460M graphics card; Windows 7 Home Premium

Enter the gaming expert. MSI has been quite active in the gaming segment of laptops and another of its machines now out in the field is the GT680R. This is a huge laptop. It has a big 15.6-inch screen with a full size keyboard with numeric pad-just the way gamers would like it. LED lights surround its whole structure and these can can be turned on/off at will. These also dance to the music notes that are being played on the notebook. When it comes to the configuration, this notebook is super mean. The Intel i7 2 GHz quad core processor is the main engine of this powerhouse.

The 8 GB RAM and NVIDIA 460M further boost the performance. For storage, a generous 1 TB hard drive has been embodied. All this fire power had to burn our test run. And it did. It got a super high score of 8693 points in PC Mark Vantage and 13,939 points in 3D Mark 06. These clearly prove that this rig is incredible for gaming. However, to own this gaming mammoth you'd need open your wallet wide.

-Text by Sulabh Puri

ALIENWARE M11X
Price: Rs 74,900
Specs: 11.6-inch screen; Intel Core i7, 1.5 Ghz; 8 GB RAM; 720 GB HDD; NVIDIA GT540M; HDMI, USB; Card reader; Windows 7 Ultimate.

The next generation of Alienware laptops have just launched. The M11X is one of them. It is the ultra-portable notebook specially built for gamers. The shell is very similar to the previous edition and users can change any LED light colour on it. The keyboard and track pad haven't changed but are still comfortable for gaming. What has changed is its brain. Alienware has equipped it with the latest ammunition-from a hefty Intel Core i7 processor that clocks at 1.5 GHz natively and can boost itself to 2.66 GHz when needed to a lavish 8 GB RAM.

The 11.6-inch screen is vivid and good for gaming, for which an NVIDIA 540M graphics card has been rigged. The 740 GB of hard drive space is adequate enough to store all your game files. It comes with a 9-cell battery that makes this notebook stay awake for over four hours. It tested really good too, scoring 5178 points on PC Mark Vantage and 8317 points on 3D Mark. M11X is a premium notebook for the avid gamer.

-Text by Sulabh Puri

ACER ASPIRE ONE HAPPY 2
Price: Rs 15,728
Specs: 10.1-inch screen; Intel N570 atom 1.66 GHz; 1 GB RAM; 320 GB HDD; Intel Media Cccelerator; 6-cell battery; Windows 7 starter and Android 2.3.

The Aspire One series is the royal one among netbooks. Acer has again upgraded the best-selling netbook, which it now calls Happy. Well, happy because it is available in a wide variety of exuberant colours. The build has changed a bit too. The cover lid now sports a ripple on the top, as if a drop of water has fallen on it and has created a wave effect. The edge to edge keyboard is still one of the most comfortable out there. But the trackpad key put us off a little.

Acer has used a single key which extends for both left and right clicks but the built quality is so-not-Acer. The insides have been upgraded as well. A 1.66 GHz dual core Atom processor comes within this netbook along with a 320 GB hard drive. But Happy also comes with a meagre 1 GB RAM which actually reduces performance. If only there had been another gig of RAM, this netbook would have been a rocket. But then it also has a first-rate battery life. Imagine, the battery lasted over 12 hours. Like the rest of the netbooks, this one scored 157 on the 3D Mark test. But here is what this one has and the others don't-Happy2 has a dual boot system that can load Windows 7 or Android 2.3 system. So in case you just want to check e-mails, update your facebook status or just play a game or two, you can quickly boot Android up and do this and more.

-Text by Sulabh Puri

SAMSUNG RV 511
Price: Rs 34,490
Specs: Intel Core i3 M380 2.53 GHz; 3 GB RAM; 500 GB HDD; Intel HD Graphics; Web cam; Wi-Fi; Windows 7 Home Basic.

This could very well be your first entertainment laptop. The RV 511 is a mix of good entry-level performance and excellent design. The dual tone silver and black exteriors not only impart a stylish sheen but also protect against scratches and fingerprints. The laptop is built in a way that it gives it a very slim outlook. The keyboard is fairly large and ergonomically correct.

The trackpad is placed well too. Samsung has been generous in hooking this machine up with better than basic configuration. It has a fast Intel i3 2.53 GHz processor, 3 GB RAM and 500 GB hard drive. The on-board graphics are fine for movies but not great for the latest games. The 15.6-inch LED screen displays vibrant colours. The speaker volume, however, is not too high. The RV511 scored 3746 PC Mark Vantage points and 1576 3D Mark 06 points. Both indicate good entry-level performance. The newly introduced Samsung Recovery Solution automatically backs up your data. If there is a system crash you know where to turn to.

-Text by Sulabh Puri

HCL ME M1024
Price: Rs 39,850
Specs: 14-inch display; Intel Core i5 processor; 4 GB RAM; 640 GB hard drive; USB 3.0, Wi-Fi; DVD Rom, Intel HD Graphics 3000.

HCL gave us the ME M1024 laptop with speeds so fast it left us gasping for air. It design is plain as you would expect of a serious business notebook. Its grey and black skin gives it an air of gravitas suited to boardrooms. The keyboard is excellent for long-duration work. If you look closely, you will find that HCL has added a special recovery button on it. Since data is the most important part of computing to a business notebook user, HCL has taken special care in this department.

On the burn field this laptop proved a scorcher. The configuration includes an Intel Core i5 processor, 4 GB RAM, 640 GB hard drive and Intel on board graphics. All this returned an incredible score of 6724 PC Mark Vantage points and 4754 3D Mark 06 points. The battery performance, however, was poor. It only powered the machine for three and a half hours. The USB 3.0 port graces the machine.

HCL has added some nice features to the Windows platform. The Split Me application automatically converts heavy files into light ones for easy emailing. Erase for Me completely vapourises the sensitive data, irretrievable afterwards. Lock Me securely locks the external ports of the laptop from unauthorised usage. This laptop might not be the best looking but it does have some really neat business features, that too for not such a bad price.

-Text by Sulabh Puri

LENOVO THINKPAD X1
Price: Rs 85,000 upwards
Specs: 13.3-inch screen; Intel Core i5 2.5 GHz; 4 GB RAM; 320 GB HDD; Intel HD graphics; fingerprint reader; HDMI; e-sata, USB 3.0, Windows 7 Professional.

Lenovo has launched the X1 for business use. It is the slimmest business notebook in the market. This is a no-nonsense notebook for users who want extreme performance. Like the rest of the slim laptops (think Apple Mac Air), the X1 too doesn't have an optical drive. Most of its ports are located at the back with the exception of a USB and audio port nicely hidden away behind a panel on the side. At the back one will also find USB 3.0, HDMI and E-Sata ports.

The 13.3-inch Gorilla Glass display is located in a rugged enclosure. Lenovo has put in few good software and a fingerprint reader for extra security. The configuration includes Intel Core i5 2.5 GHz processor, 4GB RAM, 320 GB hard drive and Intel HD graphics. On the PC Mark Vantage, it scored 5423 and on 3D Mark 06, 3747. Battery lasts for about 5 hours under normal use but will recharge to 80 per cent in 30 minutes.

-Text by Sulabh Puri

HP PAVILION DV6
Price: Rs 45,690
Specs: 15.6-inch display; Intel Core i3 2.1 GHz; 4 GB RAM; 500 GB HDD; AMD 6490m Radeon; Windows 7 Home Basic.

The new DV6 is better in every aspect from the previous generation. From the sexy looks to the raw gizmotics inside, most features will leave you admiring the machine. The whole laptop has a rich finish. The flat keyboard is big and nice and complements the big trackpad. The DV6's Intel Core i3 processor 2.1 GHz, 4GB RAM and 500 GB hard drive combine with AMD 6490M graphic card and 15.6 inch screen to provide an excellent performance.

It is not only ready for HD movies but can play the latest games at optimum settings. However, this laptop is aimed at the musically inclined who want to make their own music. The speakers are super loud and tones are clear. This laptop returned a score of 5176 on PC Mark Vantage and 5596 on 3D Mark 06. DV6 can very well be an integral part of a music studio.

-Text by Sulabh Puri

ACER TIMELINE X5830T
Price: Rs 32,959
Specs: 15.6-inch screen; Intel Core i3 2310M 2.1 GHz; 2 GB RAM; 500 GB HDD; Intel HD Graphics 3000; Wi-Fi, Dolby HT professionally tuned; 6-cell battery.

Like most from the Timeline series, the 5830T has jaw-dropping looks. It accommodates an optical drive, a couple of USB ports and HDMI and VGA in its slim form. The 15.6-inch LED screen has very high brightness, perfect for watching HD movies. It also has a 1.3 MP webcam. The flat chicklet keyboard adds to the show. Configuration-wise, this laptop has decent ammo for beginners.

It has on board the Intel Core i3 2.1 GHz processor, 2GB RAM, 500 GB hard drive and Intel 3000 Series graphics card. Together, they managed to get pretty decent scores-4687 PC Mark Vantage points and 3507 3D Mark 06 points. The Timeline series has also been good on the battery front. This one lasted for about six hours in normal use. The sound gets a boost with Dolby incorporated. This notebook is fine option for the budget buyer.

-Text by Sulabh Puri