Laptops Test (14'')

Reviews on Laptops (14'')

"Samsung R410 14.1in Notebook PC"

Published on: 6/2008

On test: Samsung R410

Will updates to Samsung's R410 make it worth the upgrade? → More

"Vista Laptops under £399"

Computing Made Easy
Issue: 123

On test: Acer Aspire 5720Z, Hewlett-Packard 530, Samsung R60, Lenovo ThinkPad R61

There was a time when a laptop was simply too expensive to justify buying as a desktop alternative. however, times have changed and the price gap has narrowed to such an extent that a laptop is now a feasible alternative or replacement. Comparably, a desktop will generally give a user more power for the pound, but it lacks certain features that can lure the consumer. A laptop is a great space saver and it's portable and powerful enough for everyday computing tasks. For this group test we have headed towards the bottom end of the laptop market, just to show exactly what you can get for your money. → More

"Samsung X22"

Issue: 12/2007

On test: Samsung X22

While Vista improves on XP in various areas, many companies have concluded that the practical benefits don't justify the expense and upheaval of migrating. And so, in accordance with the time-honoured principle of giving the people what they want, Samsung has produced the X22, a new business laptop that proudly bears a "Designed for Windows XP" sticker. → More

"Samsung X22"

Published on: 10/2007

On test: Samsung X22

We've become quite accustomed to Samsung producing well featured and affordable notebooks, particularly in the case of the Q35 and its successor the Q45, which still represents the best value sub-2kg notebook available today bar perhaps the Asus Eee PC, which is a law unto itself anyway. However, the Q45 isn't the beginning and end of Samsung's notebook range, with the X22 being the latest offering from the Korean giant. → More

Laptops (14'')

An inch here or there can make a big difference... especially when it comes to laptops... what I am trying to say is size matters... no wait... 14 inches is the perfect size... hold on... it's not how big it is but what you can do with it... well, let's just leave that there... that's what she said... I'll start again.

A 14in notebook computer can offer many advantages over a standard 15inch model. Loosing an inch from the screen allows for a not insignificant drop in weight and yet will have a similar specification and resolution. A new dual core processor will provide enough speed to get everything done and a discrete graphics card will allow for the odd game or two. If the laptop comes with the new Windows Vista operating system, 1GB is the minimum amount of memory to go for while 2GB will add a little extra future-proofing. It is also wise to go for a system with 2GB from the outset as many systems which come with 1024MB of memory will often use two 512MB chips meaning that if you want to upgrade in the future you will have to throw this memory away to fit the new SODIMMs.

14in systems may be a little more expensive than the ubiquitous 15.4in widescreen model, but as they are often intended for a smaller market and not mass-produced with such ferocity, the components used are often of a higher standard.

Well, after the smut of the opening passage it only remains to say that at one inch smaller, these little beauties can go on for a lot longer... i mean when they are running on batteries... oh forget it.