Desktop Replacement Laptops
All the power of a desktop PC in a fraction of the space. We put a selection of desktop replacements to the test.
If you’re thinking of replacing an ageing PC, now’s the time to switch to a laptop. Gone are the days when laptops were far more expensive than their desktop cousins, and no longer are they the underdog where power is concerned.
In fact, swapping to a laptop brings several benefits. Most obviously, laptops are portable, so you can move them from room to room, or even take them out to the garden.
Their batteries mean you have a backup if there’s a power cut, and you can get some work done or watch a movie when you’re travelling. Plus, instead of a tower case, monitor and speakers dominating a room, you can simply close the screen on a notebook, pop it in a drawer and it’s out of sight.
Of course, one of the main advantages of a desktop PC is a large screen, but with the Acer and HP sporting 20.1in LCDs, and others boasting 1920 x 1200 resolutions on their 17in screens, laptops have again caught up. Also, the majority here sport a numeric keypad, so there’s no compromising on a comfortable keyboard, either.
If you’re looking for an entertainment notebook, three here have built-in TV tuners and remote controls for use with Vista Home Premium’s Media Center. Not only can you schedule TV recordings, but Media Center can be used as a jukebox and for storing all your photo albums. Some also play games but if you want a gaming beast, then Dell’s XPS with its SLI graphics is worth checking out.
If, on the other hand, you want to spend as little as possible and still have a decent-sized screen, look at Toshiba’s Satellite P200, which has a 17in display, a dual-core CPU and 1GB of RAM for just $1525. Whatever you’re after, to find the ideal desktop replacement for you, read on.
Jim Martin: “Be careful of super-high-res 1920 x 1200 screens. While ideal for HD movies, cramming this many pixels into a 17in screen means text and icons are tiny. Unless you have superb eyesight, you could quickly end up with eyestrain. If unsure, check them out in your local computer shop first.”
How we test - plus the ratings explained
At the end of each review, there are four star ratings: one for Performance, another for Features & Design, a third for Value for Money and a final Overall rating. We don’t just pluck these figures out of the air: they’re calculated using a complex array of benchmark results, objective scores and subjective quality ratings.
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