Review: Top 15 laptops

IBM's ThinkPad A21p has a 32GB high-speed disk drive with video capture and playback capability

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By PC World Staff

(IDG) -- After holding steady for a couple of years -- mostly due to high screen costs -- laptop prices are trending downward again. It's now easier than ever to find a brand-name notebook in the $1000-to-$1200 range with a fast processor, an active-matrix screen, a decent-size hard drive, and a comfortable keyboard.

A compelling example: Dell's Inspiron 3800, our top budget machine for the fifth month in a row, has fallen $150 since January, to $1199.

Not a bad deal for a 12.1-inch active matrix screen, 5GB of storage, and dual pointing devices. Similarly equipped laptops are available for around the same price (or less) from Compaq, IBM, and Fujitsu. On the midrange side, Gateway's Solo 5300 has shed $200 since February, to $2074, and earns a Best Buy for the first time. Fujitsu PC's E-6571, at $2099, costs $800 less than it did last month.

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Three new notebooks debut this month. Micron's thin-and-light $2986 TransPort LT snags fourth place on the power chart, with WinBook's $3399 Z1 close on its heels. The Z1 line puts WinBook laptops on an equal configuration footing with competing power models by offering a 15-inch, high-resolution screen and a 30GB hard drive. Toshiba's $1799 Satellite 2805-S202, fourth on our budget chart, would make a fine personal laptop.

Top Power Notebooks ($2700 and over)

1. IBM ThinkPad A21p: IBM's best-equipped laptop, the ThinkPad A21p is the Lexus of portables, with superhigh screen resolution, a huge (32GB) hard drive, and a top-of-the-line Pentium-III 850/700 SpeedStep processor added to all the other little luxuries found on most ThinkPads.

2. Acer TravelMate 739TLV: With an easy-to-use fingerprint reader and great battery life added to all the usual features expected in a high-end portable these days, the TravelMate 739TLV belongs on the short list for companies seeking an extra-secure desktop replacement suitable for the road.

3. HP Omnibook 500: Frequent travelers with deep pockets will appreciate the fast, handsome Omnibook 500 the most. Its flexible design lets you trim connections to lower the notebook's weight, or add bays and legacy ports and even use three batteries at once and still be a portable package.

4. Micron TransPort LT: Though it can't quite match the IBM ThinkPad T20's combination of 5.2 pounds and 14.1-inch screen size, Micron's handsome TransPort LT makes a fine alternative.

5. WinBook Z1: Graphics pros who need a top-of-the-line desktop replacement equipped with a CD burner, big screen, and jumbo hard drive can save hundreds of dollars by going with the Z1 instead of IBM's ThinkPad A21.

Top Midrange Notebooks ($2000 to $2699)

1. Gateway Solo 5300: Gateway's new Solo lightweight laptops are almost as small and lightweight as IBM's standard-setting ThinkPad T20--and they cost hundreds of dollars less. For companies seeking a fairly thin, lightweight corporate laptop at a reasonable price, the 5300 is an excellent choice.

2. Fujitsu PC E-6571: Professionals and consumers looking for a fast, thin, light notebook with plenty of expansion possibilities, an extra layer of security, and the convenience of wireless mousing should take a close look at the E-6571.

3. Compaq Presario 1700T-850: Well-heeled consumers who prefer their laptops fast, flashy-looking, and girded to withstand the storage demands of a serious digital video or photography habit will like the trim Presario 1700T-850.

4. HP Omnibook XE3: : HP's latest business portable/CD player hybrid boasts better music controls and more work tools. Working stiffs who want to have a little fun between meetings and deadlines will like this unit's improved CD player design. Beefed-up connections improve its work chops, too.

5. Compaq Armada E500S: The industrial-looking Armada E500S is a workhorse notebook, suitable for a wide variety of business users, especially those who work out of the office for hours at a time.

Best Budget Notebooks (under $2000)

1. Dell Inspiron 3800: The Inspiron 3800 packs a lot of style and substance for the money. Users who don't need a huge hard drive or screen will like the Inspiron 3800, with its attractive case colors, choice of add-in devices, and all-around good performance.

2. WinBook Si 800 CD: WinBook laptops appeal to people looking for the biggest performance bang for the buck, and this model is no exception. Those willing to take a chance on the desktop-chip processor will get in exchange a nicely designed, relatively light notebook.

3. Fujitsu PC I-4187: Though too bulky to easily fit in a backpack, the I-4187 would make a good choice for the dorm room where students can type papers while listening to favorite CDs. First-time or home or notebook buyers who don't need legacy ports for older peripherals may also like this unusual-looking laptop.

4. Toshiba Satellite 2805-S202: With its Lotus SmartSuite software and musical talents, the 2805-S202 would make a fine personal laptop for budget-minded individuals looking for something beyond a basic machine.

5. Micro Express NP4800C: If they can live with the NP4800C's skimpy support materials and undersize command keys, power users and small businesses can score a great deal with this decked-out model from value-king Micro Express. It's fast and loaded with features usually found on much more expensive portables.

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IBM Corp.
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Gateway Inc.

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