Budget laptop reviews

We test 10 laptops that give you good bang for your hard-earned buck.
 
Get access to all CHOICE BENEFITS
$1.91/wk
*Billed quarterly
 
 
 
 
 

02.What to buy

There’s not a lot of space between the top six laptops in the final overall score.

  • The Dell Studio 1555 was the top scored laptop and is very well priced in the configuration we tested.
  • The Apple MacBook is let down by having only two USB ports, no multi-format card reader and a relatively small hard drive, but is still a very stylish and well integrated package and the included iLife software suite adds to its overall value. It can also be set up to run Windows (not included) as well as Mac OS X.
  • The Lenovo Thinkpad SL500 topped the performance scores and and comes with three-year warranty.
  • The Fujitsu L1010 was also a great performer but was the most expensive laptop in this test.
  • The Dell Inspiron 1525 was the cheapest laptop tested and excellent value overall.
  • The Acer Extensa 4630Z is a well balanced package, but our test unit came with Vista Business. This lacks the media centre software of Vista Premium, which is a better option for most people.
 

 

6 CHOICE buys

Dell Studio1555

Scored 77/100 | $129977%

Good points:

• Excellent port placement and labelling
• Has eSATA connection
• Best battery life
• Touch-sensitive battery status meter
• Excellent ease of use for battery removal/insertion
• 3GB RAM available
• HDMI port

Bad points:

• Only one-year warranty

 

Apple MacBookE

Scored 76/100 | $164976%

Good points:

• Stylish design
• Excellent data migration and synchronisation
• Includes full iLife productivity software suite
• Touch-sensitive battery status meter
• Cheapest to run

Bad points:

• No multimedia card slot
• Only one-year warranty
• Only 120GB hard drive
• Only two USB ports

 

Fujitsu L1010

Scored 74/100 | $184974%

Good points:

• Excellent port placement and labelling
• Two-year warranty
• HDMI port
• Carry bag supplied
• Full version of security suite included

Bad points:

• Very poor ease of use rating for the battery removal/insertion mechanism

 

Lenovo ThinkPadSL500

Scored 74/100 | $164074%

Good points:

• Best performance
• Three-year warranty
• Comes with two spare trackpoint caps
• HDMI port

Bad points:

• Slowest mean boot time
• Heaviest laptop in this test (2
8kg)

 

Dell Inspiron1525

Scored 73/100 | $99973%

Good points:

• Best for ease of use• Excellent ease of use for battery removal/insertion
• Excellent port placement and labelling
• 3GB RAM available
• HDMI port

Bad points:

• Only one-year warranty
• Relatively short battery life in heavy usage

 

Acer Extensa4630Z

Scored 71/100 | $125971%

Good points:

• Second quickest boot time

Bad points:

• Only one-year warranty
• Only 2 USB ports

 
 

How to comment

Here's your chance to join in the debate. Just click in the comment box and let the CHOICE Community know what you think, or view all of the comments on this article.

Reporting offensive comments

If you see something offensive or something that just shouldn't be there, hit the report button and let us know immediately. View the Terms of use for user comments.

 

Make a Comment