Product Focus: Laptops for the Price of an iPad


eMachines eME442-V133

The eME442-V133 comes equipped with a single-core 2.3 GHz AMD V Series V140 chip (512 KB level-2 cache), a 15.6" HD (1,366 x 768) widescreen display, 250 GB internal SATA drive, and 2 GB DDR3 memory. It weighs 6.37 lbs.

Features
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 4250 graphics with 256 MB of dedicated system memory
Networking/Wireless: 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi; gigabit Ethernet
Connectivity: 3 USB 2.0 ports
Display Ports: HDMI, VGA
Optical Drive: CD/DVD±R DL
Card Reader: 2-in-1 media card reader (Secure Digital, MultiMediaCard)
Battery: 4 cell lithium ion battery, up to 2 hrs.
Other: 10-key number pad, Energy Star
Software
Operating System: 64-bit Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium

Dell Inspiron 17R

The Inspiron 17R base model comes equipped with the largest display in our sub-$500 laptop roundup, a 17.3-inch (1,600 x 900) screen. It runs on a dual-core 2 GHz Intel Pentium P6100 (265 MB level-2 cache per core, 3 MB shared level-3 cache) and comes equipped with a 250 GB internal SATA drive, and 2 GB DDR3 memory. It weighs in at 6.67 lbs.

Features
Graphics: Intel HD
Networking/Wireless: 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, 10/100 LAN
Connectivity: 3 USB 2.0 ports; 1 combo eSATA/USB 2.0 port w/sleep and charge
Display Ports: HDMI
Optical Drive: CD/DVD±R DL (optional Blu-ray player)
Card Reader: 7-in-1 media card reader (Secure Digital, Secure Digital High Capacity, Secure Digital High Density, MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, xD Picture Card)
Battery: 6 cell lithium ion battery, up to 3.8 hrs.
Other: 10-key number pad; 1.3 megapixel Webcam; Energy Star
Software
Operating System: 64-bit Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium

eMachines eME527 2537

eMachines eME527-2537

The eME527-2537 is powered by a single-core 2.2 GHz Intel Celeron 900 processor (1 MB level-2 cache, 800 MHz frontside bus) and comes configured with a 15.6" HD (1,366 x 768) widescreen display, 160 GB internal SATA drive, and 2 GB DDR3 memory. It weighs 6 lbs.

Features
Graphics: Intel 4500MHD
Networking/Wireless: 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi; 10/100 LAN
Connectivity: 2 USB 2.0 ports
Display Ports: VGA
Optical Drive: CD/DVD±R DL
Card Reader: 5-in-1 media card reader (Secure Digital, MultiMediaCard, Memor Stick, Memory Stick Pro, xD Picture Card)
Battery: 6 cell lithium ion battery, up to 3 hrs.
Other: 10-key number pad
Software
Operating System: 64-bit Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium

Toshiba Satellite L655D-S5055

Running on a single-core 2.2 GHz AMD V Series V120 chip (512 KB level-2 cache), the Satellite L655D-S5055 offers a 15.6" HD (1,366 x 768) widescreen display, 250 GB internal SATA drive, and 3 GB DDR3 memory. Weight: 6.4 lbs.

Features
Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250
Networking/Wireless: 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, 10/100 LAN
Connectivity: 2 USB 2.0 ports; 1 combo eSATA/USB 2.0 port
Display Ports: VGA
Optical Drive: CD/DVD±R DL
Card Reader: 4-in-1 shared memory card reader (Secure Digital, Secure Digital High Capacity, Mini SD, MultiMediaCard) (adaptor may be required)
Battery: 6 cell lithium ion battery
Other: Integrated Webcam with digital microphone; 10-key number pad; multi-gesture touchpad; Energy Star
Software
Operating System: 64-bit Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium