Laptop computer sales have passed desktop computers for the first time. If you’re considering one, Consumer Reports, whose back-to-school guide is free on consumerreports.org through September, offers tips from its latest testing of 14 models.
“You don’t sacrifice anything if you choose a laptop versus a desktop,” said David Heim, deputy editor for special sections at Consumer Reports. “Pretty much anything you can do on a desktop you can do just fine on a laptop.
“The only thing you give up is a little more cash.”
Here is a short version of the results:
A workhorse
“A Sony VAIO PCG-V505 [about $1,750] is good if you are traveling a lot,” Heim said. “It has good battery life, and the only problem is that it’s a touch on the heavy side, just under six pounds.”
Slim and slick
The Apple Powerbooks and iBooks, including the 933, perform extremely well, Heim said. “Apple’s a very reliable brand, but with a PowerBook especially, you pay a real premium. The one we tested [with a 15-inch display], which was not top of line, was $2,300.”
Budget-friendly
The Dell Inspiron 1150 offers good all-around performance at a very low price–about $850, Heim said.
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Edited by Lara Weber (lweber@tribune.com) and Victoria Rodriguez (vrodriguez@tribune.com)
