Thursday, May 28, 2009

The Ultimate PC Buying Guide

How We Rate Desktop Replacement Laptops

The Design rating takes into account aesthetics (admittedly, a subjective assessment) and also covers how well design elements function within the laptop. We considered colors, the metals used, and the balance between the system's weight and its thickness. Usability rates the placement and responsiveness of the keyboard, numeric keypad, touchpad, and mouse. The software load (whether bloated or perhaps anemic) is also factored in. How a laptop opens and closes and portability are additional considerations. Under Features, we look at storage capacity, the amount of USB ports, high-definition screens and drives, A/V accessories, and dedicated media keys. Performance rating is clear-cut: We look at benchmark-test results, processor speeds, RAM configuration, graphics cards, hard drive speeds, and battery life. The Overall rating takes all the other ratings into consideration, along with intangibles such as value for the dollar.

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