Notebook buyers guide

Size

The largest laptops that we have in the Hardware.info database have a screen size of 19 to 20 inch and these are of the wide screen variety. These machines can no longer be seen as ideal travel companions, but more as ideally portable home computers with an emergency power supply (UPS). With a weight of 7 kilo's and above were not talking about laptops anymore but about mobile home computers. When compared to a desktop computer these machines offer many benefits for the home user. Due to the fact that all the technology has been integrated into one system you don't have all the messy cables and with the clamshell design they can be folded up and easily stored. The one problem with laptops in this category are the rather limited choices available for the consumer.

A step down the ladder we have the 17 inch widescreen laptops and a larger choice in machine setups. We can just about call these machines "portable" (with a few exceptions) and there is a larger variety for the consumer to choose from. Ranging from models powerful enough to give most desktop computers a run for their money to more budget orientated machines, which may not speak to the imagination as much as they do to your pocket. 17 inch laptops are relatively heavy and a weight of around 3,5 kilo's is more the norm than the exception.

Another step down the ladder we find laptops in the 15,4 inch widescreen category. This is by far the most popular segment in the market and you will find the greatest amount of variety and choice here. Practically every manufacturer offers various models in this size. The availability of laptops with the somewhat outdated 4:3 screen format is becoming progressively less and less and wide screen displays are the new king of the hill in the market.
Laptops as a whole are at the forefront of the transition from standard (4:3) to widescreen displays. The average weight of 15,4 inch laptops is around 3 kilo's,

As we move another rung down the ladder we find 14,1 inch sized laptops. Market share is expected to grow substantially in this category in the near future. The advantage of 14,1 inch notebooks is that they offer practically the same functionality as the larger 15,4 inch models but that they are substantially lighter and compact. Price wise they are comparable to the 15,4 inch models. The average weight of a 14,1 inch notebook is around 2,5 kilo's.

Notebooks in the 13,3 and 12,2 inch range are considered "small" notebooks. These systems are usually equipped with less powerful components when compared to their larger siblings, for instance you would be hard pressed to find a model in this size with a separate graphics processor. The price of these laptops is generally somewhat higher than that of the larger models but in turn you get a small and compact unit that would make the ideal travel companion for anyone who travels frequently. The average weight of laptops in this segment is around 2 kilograms or less. Some manufacturers offer even smaller models.

17" notebook

15" notebook