HP G62t Despite being a member of HP’s budget-minded G60 family of laptops, the G62T slightly resembles the high-end Envy line in terms of appearance with a stylish matte finish. It also has basically everything you could want for the money – you get an Intel Core i3 or i5 processor, DVD burner, 320GB 7,200RPM hard drive, 4GB of DDR3 RAM and a 15.6-inch 1366x768 LED display. Some of this basic hardware specs are upgradable, including the integrated Intel HD graphics which you can replace with an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5430 discrete GPU. In addition to the aforementioned features, the G62t also has full-size keyboard, VGA and optional HDMI, Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, three USB 2.0 ports, an optional media card reader, a 6-cell battery that runs for about 4 hours, as well as the usual headphone and mic jacks. With a price of around $500, the HP G62t offers a surprisingly complete package. Additional views:
MSI A6200 Abandoning the stereotype of thick-and-heavy traditional notebooks, MSI’s A Series offers a thinner and lighter solution for mobile users. This 15.6-inch laptop combines stylish looks with strong Core i3 performance at an affordable price. The base model is priced at $650 and features a 2.13GHz Core i3 330M processor, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a 320GB 5,400RPM hard drive, and a 6-cell battery. Because of its screen’s wide aspect ratio, the A6200 has managed to fit in a comfortable keyboard and a numeric keypad on the right. Graphics come courtesy of Intel’s integrated GMA HD chip, so don’t expect anything more than high-definition video playback and very light gaming capabilities, but the notebook’s processor is more than adequate for handling most tasks and allowing multitasking. Other features include a 4-in-1 media card reader, 1.3-megapixel webcam, 802.11n Wi-Fi and a DVD burner drive. Additional views:
Gateway NV7915u The Gateway NV7915u is a 17-inch desktop replacement made for the price-conscious user who doesn’t want to skimp on features or looks. Few systems will give you this much bang for your buck – besides the large screen and full-size keyboard, you’ll get a 2.13GHz Intel Core i3 330M processor, 4GB of DDR3 memory, and a 500GB hard drive. Although such combination of hardware won’t match the performance of more expensive desktop replacements like the ones we have listed in this guide, the NV7915u will easily handle your daily web and office tasks. Like most budget notebooks, graphics performance is handled by an Intel GMA HD integrated chip. This means light mainstream gaming is possible if you are willing to make some compromises, but video playback shouldn’t be a problem. Its 17.3-inch display features LED backlighting, a 16:9 aspect ratio, and a 1600x900-pixel native resolution. The NV7915u also comes with a good set of interface and media features, including a DVD burner, four USB 2.0 ports, HDMI and VGA-out, an SD Card reader, and network and modem ports. Additional views:
Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 14 Lenovo’s small-business notebook still delivers power and style at an affordable price. Despite its entry-level status it offers the same kind of top-quality keyboard and screen we’ve come to expect from its ThinkPad siblings. Price range: $730 - $800 Aspire TimelineX 4820t Acer delivers great value with a 14-inch LED-backlit display, speedy processor, switchable graphics, functional form factor and a friendly sticker price to boot. Price range: $680 - $750
