#3 HP ENVY 17
The good: Slim, attractive design; full-HD 1080p display; USB 3.0 port.
The bad: Only one GPU option; clickpad still isn't perfect; short battery life.
The bottom line: Though it's still in the upper ranges of current laptop prices, HP's upscale-feeling Envy 17 offers great hardware at a decent price.
The bad: Only one GPU option; clickpad still isn't perfect; short battery life.
The bottom line: Though it's still in the upper ranges of current laptop prices, HP's upscale-feeling Envy 17 offers great hardware at a decent price.
Review:
In an era where truly upscale laptops seem like an endangered species, it's always nice to run across a well-built system with few compromises, such as the HP Envy 17. We've always liked the Envy line in general, and the two most-recent models, the 14-inch Envy 14 and this 17-inch Envy 17, manage to surpass last year's original 13- and 15-inch versions by coming in at much more reasonable prices.
The feature-packed Envy 17 includes a Blu-ray drive, both HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, and a USB 3.0 port (although very little current hardware can take advantage ... Expand full review
The feature-packed Envy 17 includes a Blu-ray drive, both HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, and a USB 3.0 port (although very little current hardware can take advantage ... Expand full review
In an era where truly upscale laptops seem like an endangered species, it's always nice to run across a well-built system with few compromises, such as the HP Envy 17. We've always liked the Envy line in general, and the two most-recent models, the 14-inch Envy 14 and this 17-inch Envy 17, manage to surpass last year's original 13- and 15-inch versions by coming in at much more reasonable prices.
The feature-packed Envy 17 includes a Blu-ray drive, both HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, and a USB 3.0 port (although very little current hardware can take advantage of it). As the slim (for its size) Envy 17 is one of the only laptops that looks and feels like a real alternative to Apple's 17-inch MacBook Pro, its $1,399 starting price is even more attractive, as the 17-inch MacBook goes for $2,299 and up.
The feature-packed Envy 17 includes a Blu-ray drive, both HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, and a USB 3.0 port (although very little current hardware can take advantage of it). As the slim (for its size) Envy 17 is one of the only laptops that looks and feels like a real alternative to Apple's 17-inch MacBook Pro, its $1,399 starting price is even more attractive, as the 17-inch MacBook goes for $2,299 and up.
| Price as reviewed | $1,399 |
| Processor | 1.6GHz Intel Core i7 720QM |
| Memory | 4GB, 1066MHz DDR3 |
| Hard drive | 500GB 7,200rpm |
| Chipset | Mobile Intel PM55 Express Chipset |
| Graphics | ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850 |
| Operating System | Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) |
| Dimensions (WD) | 16.4 x 10.8 inches |
| Height | 1.3 - 1.5 inches |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 17.3 inches |
| System weight / Weight with AC adapter | 7.2/8.8 pounds |
| Category | Desktop replacement |
# 4 Samsung QX410-J01
The good: High-end look and feel; good keyboard; large touch pad; Intel Wireless Display, Nvidia Optimus graphics switching; very affordable for the features.
The bad: Mediocre battery life; no Bluetooth; entry-level Nvidia GeForce graphics.
The bottom line: Slickly designed and amply featured, the Samsung QX410 looks and plays the part of a more expensive high-end laptop at a price that's a solid value.
The bad: Mediocre battery life; no Bluetooth; entry-level Nvidia GeForce graphics.
The bottom line: Slickly designed and amply featured, the Samsung QX410 looks and plays the part of a more expensive high-end laptop at a price that's a solid value.
Review:
Though the average person might not normally think of Samsung when it comes to laptops, that's likely to change if he sees this new favorite of ours. The electronics giant has a huge reputation in HDTVs, smartphones, and other gadgets, and its 2010 forays into notebook computers have become just as notable. We were bullish about the sleek, affordable Samsung Q430 in our back-to-school retail laptop roundup, and now, topping even that model, we love the QX410 more.
A full set of features, including an Intel Core i5 CPU, Nvidia GeForce 310M Optimus-enabled graphics, and Intel Wireless Display, are ... Expand full review
A full set of features, including an Intel Core i5 CPU, Nvidia GeForce 310M Optimus-enabled graphics, and Intel Wireless Display, are ... Expand full review
Though the average person might not normally think of Samsung when it comes to laptops, that's likely to change if he sees this new favorite of ours. The electronics giant has a huge reputation in HDTVs, smartphones, and other gadgets, and its 2010 forays into notebook computers have become just as notable. We were bullish about the sleek, affordable Samsung Q430 in our back-to-school retail laptop roundup, and now, topping even that model, we love the QX410 more.
A full set of features, including an Intel Core i5 CPU, Nvidia GeForce 310M Optimus-enabled graphics, and Intel Wireless Display, are paired with a high-end metal chassis and edge-to-edge glossy display for $849. That's significantly less money than the forthcoming $1,079 Toshiba Satellite E205-S1980 we just reviewed, with the same specs, and the Samsung has a better-looking design to boot. Dell's entry-level XPS 15 costs the same and offers better graphics and speakers, but the XPS is far larger and has worse battery life.
Aside from lacking Blu-ray or more-advanced graphics, there really isn't anything this laptop lacks. It's a bargain for a borderline high-end machine, and a great holiday laptop pick this year.
A full set of features, including an Intel Core i5 CPU, Nvidia GeForce 310M Optimus-enabled graphics, and Intel Wireless Display, are paired with a high-end metal chassis and edge-to-edge glossy display for $849. That's significantly less money than the forthcoming $1,079 Toshiba Satellite E205-S1980 we just reviewed, with the same specs, and the Samsung has a better-looking design to boot. Dell's entry-level XPS 15 costs the same and offers better graphics and speakers, but the XPS is far larger and has worse battery life.
Aside from lacking Blu-ray or more-advanced graphics, there really isn't anything this laptop lacks. It's a bargain for a borderline high-end machine, and a great holiday laptop pick this year.
| Price as reviewed | $849 |
| Processor | 2.53 GHz Intel Core i5 M460 |
| Memory | 4GB, 1066 MHz DDR3 |
| Hard drive | 640GB 5,400rpm |
| Chipset | Intel HM55 |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce 310M + Intel GMA HD (Nvidia Optimus) |
| Operating system | Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) |
| Dimensions (WD) | 13.7 x 9.7 inches |
| Height | 1.1 inches |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 14 inches |
| System weight / Weight with AC adapter | 5.9/5.1 pounds |
| Category | Mainstream |
#5 DELL XPS 15
The good: Stellar JBL speakers with subwoofer; great specs for the price; large touch pad and backlit keyboard; Nvidia Optimus graphics; large variety of upgrade options; HDMI 1.4 and USB 3.0 ports come standard.
The bad: Clunky-looking design; disappointing battery life; no VGA port.
The bottom line: Dell's new line of XPS laptops, including the XPS 15, offers more bang for the buck than most, combining great audio and rock-solid features for less than $1,000.
The bad: Clunky-looking design; disappointing battery life; no VGA port.
The bottom line: Dell's new line of XPS laptops, including the XPS 15, offers more bang for the buck than most, combining great audio and rock-solid features for less than $1,000.
Review:
Dell is relaunching its high-end laptop line for the holiday season with a revamped line of XPS systems. These are media-focused counterparts to the gaming-centric Alienware, and, now that the poorly defined Studio line has been killed, the main alternative to the infinitely configurable mainstream Inspirons.
Surprisingly, despite a bulky, clunky design, the XPS' ample specs and stellar speakers combine to offer one of the best affordable high-end laptops around.
The pleasant surprise lies not in the features, but in the cost. The XPS 15 we reviewed was an entry-level model at $849, yet its specs were a pretty strong ... Expand full review
Surprisingly, despite a bulky, clunky design, the XPS' ample specs and stellar speakers combine to offer one of the best affordable high-end laptops around.
The pleasant surprise lies not in the features, but in the cost. The XPS 15 we reviewed was an entry-level model at $849, yet its specs were a pretty strong ... Expand full review
Dell is relaunching its high-end laptop line for the holiday season with a revamped line of XPS systems. These are media-focused counterparts to the gaming-centric Alienware, and, now that the poorly defined Studio line has been killed, the main alternative to the infinitely configurable mainstream Inspirons.
Surprisingly, despite a bulky, clunky design, the XPS' ample specs and stellar speakers combine to offer one of the best affordable high-end laptops around.
The pleasant surprise lies not in the features, but in the cost. The XPS 15 we reviewed was an entry-level model at $849, yet its specs were a pretty strong overall package: Core i5 processor, 500GB hard drive, 4GB of RAM, Nvidia GeForce GT420M graphics, backlit keyboard, and the aforementioned big-sounding JBL speaker array, which gave even the HP Envy line a run for its sonic money.
The Dell XPS comes in 14-, 15-, and 17-inch models, all with high-end arrays of JBL speakers, updated ports including USB 3.0 and HDMI 1.4, and Nvidia GeForce 400-series graphics with Optimus.
Though its looks don't scream high end and its size and weight demand placement on a desktop, the reasonably priced XPS 15 deserves consideration from any shopper looking for a good media and game-ready notebook. If you're looking at a MacBook Pro or an HP Envy, make sure you give the XPS 15 a serious look, too.
Surprisingly, despite a bulky, clunky design, the XPS' ample specs and stellar speakers combine to offer one of the best affordable high-end laptops around.
The pleasant surprise lies not in the features, but in the cost. The XPS 15 we reviewed was an entry-level model at $849, yet its specs were a pretty strong overall package: Core i5 processor, 500GB hard drive, 4GB of RAM, Nvidia GeForce GT420M graphics, backlit keyboard, and the aforementioned big-sounding JBL speaker array, which gave even the HP Envy line a run for its sonic money.
The Dell XPS comes in 14-, 15-, and 17-inch models, all with high-end arrays of JBL speakers, updated ports including USB 3.0 and HDMI 1.4, and Nvidia GeForce 400-series graphics with Optimus.
Though its looks don't scream high end and its size and weight demand placement on a desktop, the reasonably priced XPS 15 deserves consideration from any shopper looking for a good media and game-ready notebook. If you're looking at a MacBook Pro or an HP Envy, make sure you give the XPS 15 a serious look, too.
| Price as reviewed / starting price | $849 |
| Processor | 2.53 GHz Intel Core i5 M460 |
| Memory | 4GB, 1,333MHz DDR3 |
| Hard drive | 500GB 7,200rpm |
| Chipset | Intel HM57 |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce GT420M + Intel GMA HD (Nvidia Optimus) |
| Operating System | Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) |
| Dimensions (WD) | 15.0 inches x 10.4 inches |
| Height | 1.3-1.5 inches |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 15.6 inches |
| System weight / weight with AC adapter | 6.3 / 7.2 pounds |
| Category | Desktop replacement |
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