Before You BuyHelpful Buying Guides

What are they?

Mainstream notebooks deliver what most buyers are looking for in a portable: a screen that's not too small or too big, a CPU that's powerful but that doesn't kill battery life, a chassis that's easy to carry but that doesn't make you forego a comfortable keyboard and an on-board optical drive. In short, an all-purpose laptop is just right.

Who are they for?

Essentially, if a machine isn't intended for a niche buyer-someone looking for a tablet, an ultraportable, a desktop replacement, a budget model, and so on-it's a mainstream laptop. You'll find models tailored for business users, home PC buyers, students, and multimedia enthusiasts.

What to Expect:

Larger Screen Size

Opt for as large a screen as you care to carry, because more screen real estate will make working on your laptop more enjoyable. Road warriors may want to opt for a sub-4-pound machine with a 13.3-inch panel; but if the machine won't travel often, certainly step up to a heavier laptop (4.5 to 6.5 pounds or so) with a 14.1- or 15.4-inch LCD.

Dual-Core CPU, Plenty of RAM

Because a rock-bottom price is not the goal, insist on a model with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor in the 1.8- to 2.4-GHz range. This will give you plenty of power (especially when multitasking), while keeping an eye on battery life. And as the saying goes, you can never be too rich or have too much RAM, so opt for 2 GB.

Multi-Format, Dual-Layer DVD

In this class, be sure to upgrade to a multi-format dual-layer DVD burner. The 9.5 GB capacity will come in handy for backing up your music and photo collections and other important files.

The Right Operating System

Steer clear of machines that only offer Vista Basic in favor of Vista Home Premium or Vista Business. Many business buyers will want to stick with a model that still offers the leaner (and familiar) Windows XP.

And don't forget about a Mac. The latest OS X (Leopard) is arguably the best mainstream operating system available.

Warranty, Tech Support

Make sure you are getting at least a 1-year warranty, with phone/chat tech support hours that you can live with. 24/7 availability is ideal, but insist on tech support that at least coincides with your time zone's daytime hours.

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