Apple MacBook Pro MD311LL/A REVIEW

If you are an Apple fan, you know the MacBook Pro is a laptop computer with a lot to offer. The display makes pictures and videos pop, even when you zoom in. Quad-core processing and an integrated GeForce graphics card only add to the screen's already stunning resolution. You may hit a snag when trying to get in touch with support, since it can take a long time over the phone, but this laptop will accomplish all your business and multimedia needs. As one of the best laptop computers on the market, it earns our TopTenREVIEWS Silver Award.

Performance:

9.4/10

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HP Envy dv6t

Apple MacBook Pro

Dell XPS 15z

Apple MacBook Air

Sony VAIO S Series

ASUS K73E

Toshiba Satellite P870

Lenovo IdeaPad Z580

Dell Inspiron i17R

Sony VAIO E15 Series

10

9.4

8.8

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8.8

9.4

8.8

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8.1

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The MacBook Pro boast a powerful, Intel Quad-Core i7 processor designed to run any level of software. This third-generation processor gives you a faster and smoother transition between programs. It also has lower power requirements and better cooling. In addition, the turbo Boost 2.0 makes the device even faster (3.6GHz), giving it the extra push which truly enhances your experience.

This laptop features excellent graphics and sound capabilities. First, the AMD Radeon HD 6770M integrated graphics card will handle a multitude of programs and you won't have to worry about the GPU overheating if you spend time editing video or photos. The second part of this multimedia duo is the speakers. Custom, high-definition speakers provide high-fidelity sound with a wide range of treble and bass.

This 15-inch laptop computer offers 4GB of RAM and 750GB of hard drive space. This is definitely plenty of hard drive space and provides a large amount of space for storing all your important files.

The Macbook Pro offers up to seven hours of battery life on a single battery charge. Battery life can fluctuate however, depending on your use of the device

Design:

9.4/10

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The Apple MacBook Pro has small dimensions, even with a large screen. This computing device is only 0.71 inches thick, making it one of the thinnest laptops available on the market. It also weighs 4.46 pounds, so it is easy to carry from one place to another. Even with the smaller body, this laptop is still sturdy and strong. It is built from a single piece of aluminum, which prevents small pieces from breaking off the device.

This laptop features a display with 1920 x 1200 resolution at 220 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors. This gives you stunning images and makes the color on the display screen pop. It also is an Energy-Star qualified device, meaning it has met the specifications proving it is an energy-efficient device.

Feature Set:

10/10

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This laptop computer features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology. This allows you to connect to the internet easily and in more areas. There are several ports located on the side of the laptop, including an Ethernet and FireWire port, two USB ports, a SDXC slot and a headphone jack. The HDMI port allows you to connect this device to any HDTV or HD monitor, and there are also two ultrafast Thunderbolt ports. Another benefit of this laptop is the 8x SuperDrive that reads and writes both DVDs and CDs.

This laptop has an HD camera for capturing widescreen HD video. The camera, along with the built-in, dual adaptive microphones, makes it possible to place video calls from one computer to another through Apple’s FaceTime software.

Support & Warranty:

7.5/10

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The MacBook Pro comes with a one-year warranty. Apple provides phone support for your apple products, but it is time consuming. The site also offers user forums, and you can submit a support ticket requesting them to call you back. There is no email support from Apple, so you are likely better off going into a local store and talking to a specialist.

Summary:

The Apple MacBook Pro is an excellent computer with a sleek design, sharp display and fast performance. This device offers several multimedia features, including an HD camera and FaceTime software for video chatting. It also boasts up to seven hours of battery life on a single charge. This MacBook is something to brag about. With a powerful graphics card, excellent design and a quick processor, this laptop will do just about anything.

Dell XPS 15z -5834ELS REVIEW

Dell has always been a powerful player in the laptop game, and their XPS 15 is no small player. This laptop computer features a third-generation Intel processor and a screen with full HD resolution. The screen pairs well with the Blu-ray disc drive, though this is an optional upgrade. This high-performance laptop comes with enough RAM and hard drive space for anyone who enjoys occasional gaming. It doesn't take much searching to discover that even the best laptops have both pros and cons; the trick is finding a device with far more pros than cons. The XPS 15 effectively stacks the pros column and earns our TopTenREVIEWS Bronze Award for being a laptop suitable for business, school or multimedia projects.

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Performance:

8.8/10

Compare 

HP Envy dv6t

Apple MacBook Pro

Dell XPS 15z

Apple MacBook Air

Sony VAIO S Series

ASUS K73E

Toshiba Satellite P870

Lenovo IdeaPad Z580

Dell Inspiron i17R

Sony VAIO E15 Series

10

9.4

8.8

9.4

8.8

9.4

8.8

8.1

8.8

8.1

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The Dell XPS 15z runs on the second-generation Intel i5 processor, and this quad-core processor is fast. It runs standard at 2.4hz, but with Turbo Boost 2.0, this laptop can give you an extra speed of 3.1GHz. That's one of the bigger jumps we have seen with these new processors.

Couple this processor with the GeForce 640M graphics card and you will see smooth web browsing, responsive applications and detailed graphics. Remember though, this is a mounted graphics card. It has no dedicated cooling system, and if you run games that are graphics heavy, the graphics card can heat up quickly, and you will notice it. But whether you are running games, editing videos or watching movies, the MaxxAudio 3 sound system gives you pure highs and deep lows. We noticed it is comparable to Beats Audio with some songs and movies.

The Dell XPS 15z offers an excellent amount of memory and storage. There is 6GB of RAM, upgradable, available on this device and 500GB of hard drive space available. This device offers a decent amount of memory and an ample amount of space for all your important data.

You will get up to eight hours of battery life on this computing device. This battery life provides plenty of time to accomplish your tasks on the computer and also benefits those who are traveling.

Design:

9.4/10

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This laptop computer sports a 15.6-inch display screen. With a screen this large, you have an easy time browsing web pages, viewing movies or photos. It is also ideal for gaming or creating presentations. It features a high-definition 1280 x 720 pixel resolution. Having pretty good resolution, and the HDMI port, makes it enjoyable to watch HD movies on a large TV, too.

The small design of the Dell XPS 15z enhances its portability. This laptop is 0.91 inches thick, making it one of the thinnest laptops you will find on the market. The thin design makes it easy to store the laptop and carry from place to place. Although, this computing device weighs 5.54 pounds, making it a little heavier than several similar devices.

Feature Set:

10/10

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This laptop computer offers an extensive feature set filled with tools for both business and pleasure. There are several connectivity options available on this laptop. Wi-Fi is available along with Bluetooth 3.0. There is a 1.3-megapixel webcam featured on the XPS 15, along with dual array digital microphones. These features make video chatting possible.

There are several slots and ports located on the device including an HDMI port. This allows you to connect the computer to an HDTV or other monitor for larger viewing. There is one mini display port, one headphone port, one microphone port and three USB ports. There is also a 5-in-1 media card reader for added versatility.

You will also find Stage software available on this laptop computer. This software acts as an interface and allows you to jump back and forth between your favorite multimedia programs including photos, videos, music and more. The design of this software's interface is similar to a movie reel, allowing you to easily scroll and find what you need. This software includes programs such as PhotoStage where you can upload and edit photos or videos. Also, MusicStage is included, which allows you to expand and manage your music collection.

Support & Warranty:

8.1/10

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Dell offers quality customer support in case any problems or concerns arise while you're using this laptop computer. You can reach a customer service representative through email, phone and live chat support, though we don't recommend trying to call them. They bounced us around between departments like a pinball when we called with a few questions. In addition, you can find a user forum for added assistance and feedback from other users. There is also a section of the support webpage where you can download drivers and software updates.

Summary:

The Dell XPS 15z is a laptop computer with an outstanding feature set, battery life and design. It offers one of the thinnest designs we have seen on any laptop in its class, and the high-def 15.6-inch screen and second-generation Intel Core i5-2430M processor are just a few added benefits. But despite the thin size, this laptop is heavy. If you are looking for a computing device that is media-centric, fast and offers an ample amount of battery life, the Dell XPS 15z is worth your consideration.

Apple MacBook Air MS224LL/A REVIEW

The MacBook Air is the ultimate in laptop portability. It is the lightest and thinnest laptop we found, but it doesn't skimp on the extras. This laptop features powerful third generation processors as well as flash storage available up to 128GB. The flash storage is significant since it's four times faster than a traditional hard drive. It does lack the extra RAM you will find on other laptops, and the MacBook Air doesn't feature the retina display, but you can still see high-resolution images and programs will still run smoothly.

This device has 4GB of RAM. This is an adequate amount of RAM but is meager compared to several laptops in this class. However, this laptop is configurable to 8GB of RAM, and the battery on this device offers up to seven hours of battery life on a single charge. And if the device is in standby mode, the laptop will remain powered for up to 30 days. There is a quick boot-up time on this device and we never had to wait long for the computer to boot up after it was in standby mode.

There is 128GB of flash storage on the Air but upgradable. This may be small, but with flash storage, you get quicker loading and startup times since it doesn't have moving parts like a standard hard drive. The Air can go from sleep to your homescreen in less than five seconds.

Between a dual-core processor and the integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000, the MacBook Air smoothly opens and runs programs with no glitches. While you won't be running graphics-heavy games, you can expect the MacBook Air to handle any workloads from Photoshop to PowerPoint. The graphics chip drives more than 4 million pixels of colors on this small screen, which gives you an intense visual experience.

The 11.6-inch screen has a native pixel resolution of 1366 x 768 while the 13.3-inch screen has 1440 x 900 resolution. The beautiful display is housed inside a unibody design, which means fewer parts, less complex design and more efficient cooling of the components inside the laptop.

There are several advanced features available on this laptop computer designed for both work and play. This computer offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. With these connectivity options, it is easy to access the web, send emails and download files. In addition, there are several ports and slots located on the device. There are two USB ports, an SD card slot (only available on the 13-inch model) and a headphone jack. There is also a mini HDMI display port that allows you to connect to an HDTV or a large monitor for enhanced viewing.

In addition, the MacBook Air features a 720p FaceTime HD camera and built-in microphone that make video calls possible on this device. The HD camera lets friends and family see you in much clearer view than any other laptop. In addition to this, the camera has a widescreen format so people don't have to crowd around the display. And this laptop features stereo speakers, which provide excellent sound without sacrificing design of the laptop.

The Apple MacBook Air offers a one-year warranty in case any serious technical issues arise. If you have any problems, concerns or questions regarding your laptop, Apple provides customer service representatives to answer your concerns. Representatives are available through live chat or phone support and their contact information is available on Apple’s website. Phone and live chat both provide a quick and easy way to communicate with a representative, but we were disappointed email support is not an option for reaching customer service.

Sony VAIO S Series SVS13A12FXB REVIEW

The Sony Vaio S Series offers you screen resolution that is comparable to our top ranked products. The graphics card is simple, but with a high-definition screen, colors are vibrant and the contrast is electric. This screen makes videos and graphics look how they're supposed to look. This laptop computer also offers an attractive, solid design, if you opt for the premium model. The large hard drive and extra RAM make this a solid multimedia laptop.

The 2.5GHz Intel i5 processor is the brains behind this laptop. With Turbo Boost, it can get up to 3.1GHz. If you opt for the i7 processor, it can get up to 3.6GHz. Either way, this processor is fast, and you will notice the speed when loading up programs such as Photoshop or games like StarCraft 2. Even if you simply want to browse, check emails or watch videos, you may want to consider this laptop.

This device offers 6GB of RAM, with room to upgrade to 8GB. You will get plenty of storage space as the laptop has a 640GB hard drive. Upgrades will give you more space, but no matter what, this is more than enough space for standard computing needs.

This laptop is equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M LE graphics card. This middle to low end card works well with videos and games that aren't very resource intensive. The screen is a high-resolution 1600 x 900 display with decent resolution, so you can expect fantastic viewing with Blu-ray movies. You can even use the HDMI port to connect the laptop to one of your HDTVs.

Another benefit of using the Sony Vaio S Series laptop is the extensive feature set this computing device offers. All of your basic computing features are included on this device, such as a memory card slot, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth capabilities, along with two USB 2.0 ports and a USB 3.0 port.

There is a built-in HD webcam on this laptop along with a microphone for chatting with friends and family. Another standout feature on this device is its ability to become a mobile hotspot. This laptop features Sony’s Share My Connection technology, which allows you to turn a 3G connection into a Wi-Fi connection and connect up to five other Wi-Fi enabled devices to the internet.

The Sony Vaio S Series provides a stunning display. This computing device features a widescreen 15.5-inch backlit LED display. The images on this device are sharp, and the high resolution makes viewing movies, TV shows and photos enjoyable. Although, we were disappointed in the speakers. Sony is known for their sound in the speaker world, but with this laptop, you will be better off using headphones to watch your flicks.

The small and sleek design of the Sony Vaio S series is one of this computer’s standout features. The lightweight, compact design makes this computing device enjoyable to carry throughout your day. The S Series also features seven-hour battery life.

Sony receives full marks for their exceptional customer service. The Sony Vaio S Series includes a one-year warranty in case any problems occur with the device. And if any questions or issues arise, you can contact a customer service representative through email, phone or live chat support. There is also a user forum available on the Sony website for additional feedback, advice and assistance.

ASUS K73E REVIEW

The Asus K73E laptop is meant to help you access all your multimedia content. The powerful LED screen emits clear and bright images that really bring the display to life, all in HD format. The speakers are also well designed and don't sound washed out. Unfortunately, this laptop is little heavy and is not as portable as other laptops. However, if you are looking to lose the desktop but keep a majority of the desktop's functionality, the K73E is a powerful alternative.

The Core i7 processor, which runs at 2.3GHz, powers this notebook laptop. This third generation processor uses less energy and runs at cooler temperatures compared to other systems, which means more play time for you on the computer. This laptop computer also has an Integrated Intel GMA HD graphics card. This graphics card works fairly well with the high-resolution screen.

This Asus laptop has the option to expand up to 8GB of RAM. For such a powerful laptop, we were disappointed you can't upgrade the RAM even more. The laptop comes with a 500GB hard drive with an option to upgrade to 720GB. The K73E has a 17.3-inch screen that is full HD with a resolution of 1600 x 900. The 1080p panel offers viewing angels of up to 150 degrees. With this screen, you'll see very detailed and vivid images with any type of media.

This laptop computer features Wi-Fi and optional Bluetooth connectivity. There are several ports located on this device, including four USB ports and an HDMI port. There is also a three-in-one media card reader, as well as a built-in microphone and a webcam for video chats. There are also several security features on the Asus K73E, such as HDD User Password Protection and a security lock.

The Asus K73E features a two-year warranty on the product’s hardware; the battery has a one-year warranty. You can reach a customer service representative through email, telephone and live chat support if you have any problems or concerns. We called the telephone support line, and representatives there were able to answer most of the questions we had that the live chat operators were not.

Toshiba Satellite P870 -ST3NX3 REVIEW

When searching for the best laptops for you, consider the Toshiba Satellite P870. It is a laptop computerdesigned for multimedia use, as long as you aren't looking to play games on it. It can't handle large loads of heavy graphics unless you upgrade the card, which can be expensive. That being said, everything else inside this system, like 8GB of RAM, a high-resolution screen and an i7 processor, works flawlessly to give your computing experience an upgrade. And with a 1TB hard drive, you'll have enough storage space to keep all your movies, pictures and music on it.

The quad-core i7 processor improves your overall experience with the P870 by unflinchingly loading programs without any lag. The processor provides superior performance for editing and creating videos or just enjoying music and photos. The i7 also helps with boosting gaming performance, though the integrated graphics unit falls short. While the graphics card only allows for some mid-level gaming, the processor gives you a chance to boost up your gaming performance. Just don't overheat the GPU.

This laptop comes standard with 8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive. No matter what you are doing, 8GB of memory helps with multitasking, especially if you are using multiple apps at the same time like Photoshop, Outlook and Firefox. Even with such powerful features, this laptop still lasts almost seven hours on one charge.

Toshiba packs this new laptop with a true HD resolution of 1600 x 900. The 17.3-inch screen with 16:9 aspect ratio supports up to 720p content. This means with a Blu-ray drive, you can watch crystal-clear videos. And with an HDMI port, you can display the screen on any HDTV you want to. This laptop lets you experience superior audio as well with the powerful Harman Kardon speakers.

The Toshiba P870 includes all the extra features you would want with a laptop. It has a 2-megapixel webcam, which is high definition. There are four USB ports and an RGB output port for older monitors that don't support HD display. This laptop computer is also Bluetooth compatible.

Toshiba offers a one-year warranty with all their P870 model laptops. You can find product updates, locate a repair center and download drivers from their website. The Satellite P870 is programmed to locate drivers automatically; you just have to choose when to install them. The site also has forums for everything from tablets to televisions.

Lenovo IdeaPad Z580 REVIEW

Lenovo is a company that takes pride in simplicity and easy-to-use features. The IdeaPad Z580 laptop computer is no exception. Some user-friendly features include a one-touch Direct Share of files and OneKey Theater, giving you access to all your media files with the touch of a button. It also features premium surround sound that offers surprisingly full audio. Unfortunately, no matter what model you choose, the battery life doesn't last very long.

This laptop features a third-generation Intel Dual-Core i7 processor. This processor clocks in at 2.1GHz, with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.0GHz. This is still fast and you won't notice a lot of lag time running applications. The Nvidia GeForce 540M mounted graphics card provides enough power to see sharp, crisp images with deep color and vibrant contrast. Unfortunately, you won't be playing games like Diablo 3 with the graphics settings turned all the way up.

One of the standout features on the Lenovo IdeaPad Z580 is the large amount of memory and storage included on the device. The standard amount of RAM available is 8GB. There is also 750GB of hard drive storage included on this device. Plenty of space available to store all your important data means having a place to put all your images and videos.

The battery life on this laptop did not meet our full expectations. This laptop offers up to five hours of battery life on a single charge. That number will differ depending on the computer’s use and configuration but we were disappointed to see a lower amount of battery when compared to several similar devices.

There is a 15.6-inch display on this laptop computer, which is ideal for multimedia viewing or for creating business presentations or reports. The display screen has 1366 x 768 pixel resolution, which provides crisp images. The display is also high-def pairs perfectly with Blu-ray players.

You have access to a wide selection of features with the Lenovo IdeaPad Z580. An HDMI port is included with this laptop, which allows you to plug the laptop into an HDTV for a larger viewing experience. There is also a webcam and a built-in microphone, making video chats and video conferencing possible. There is security identification technology available on this laptop, along with advanced multimedia features such as a Blu-ray drive. It also has two separate one-touch buttons; one allows you to share media and the other lets you access your media theater on the computer.

This laptop computer offers several options for reaching a customer service representative if any technical problems or issues arise. Lenovo offers email, phone and live chat support on their website. They also provide a user forum for additional assistance or feedback. This device includes a one-year warranty as well.

Dell Inspiron i17R -1316sLV REVIEW

If you're ready to upgrade your current laptop computer, the Dell Inspiron 17R is a good choice. The 17R has a 17.3-inch display with a Truelife screen that brings a crystal HD experience to your movies. This personal laptop has a huge hard drive and a speedy processor, which means this entry-level laptop will help you complete any task or project you throw at it.

A third generation Intel Core i7 processor is the heart of this system. The base speed is 2.3GHz with Turbo Boosts up to 3.1GHz – and when paired with the 8GB of RAM, you can expect your applications to run without any lag, even when you multitask. There is an Intel HD Graphics 4000 video card, which isn't the best for gaming, but it will enhance your media experience, especially on a display with a 1600- x 900-pixel resolution. You'll see a wide variety of colors and contrast.

The Dell Inspiron 17R features 750GB of hard drive space. It's nice to see this large amount of space available on such a basic laptop computer; you'll have plenty of space for your important data. This laptop keeps a charge for about six hours, but that number varies depending on the usage. If you are watching videos continually instead of simply browsing the interest, you will see a drop in battery life.

While most of the media features of this laptop are really good, but the speakers fall short. Even though Dell uses Waves MaxxAudio, the speakers sound grainy, almost to the point of sounding blown out. This Dell laptop has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity available. There is a built-in microphone and a 1.0-megapixel webcam so you can place video calls. An advantage of this laptop is the included 15 months of McAfee Security Center that allows you to protect your computer without the hassle of purchasing additional software.

Dell offers excellent customer service in case there are any problems or technical issues that occur with this laptop. You can communicate with a customer service representative via email, phone and live chat. Dell also offers a user forum on their website for additional assistance and feedback from users. In addition, there is a one-year warranty on this laptop computer.

Sony VAIO E15 Series SVE15125CXS REVIEW

The Sony VAIO E Series laptop computer offers a unique design with several powerful features. The crystal display lets you experience vibrant colors and deep contrast without fiddling with the settings. We are disappointed with the battery life on this laptop, especially since it boasts the features of a multimedia computer. However, with a standard with a Blu-ray player and Rapid Wake technology, which allows your computer to wake from sleep in less than two seconds, it's hard to overlook this laptop computer.

This polished laptop features a third-generation Intel i5 processor. The processor has a standard speed of 2.5GHz, which is one of the fastest we have seen. Mix a little Turbo Boost Technology in there, and it can reach 3.1GHz. The model we reviewed includes 6GB of installed RAM, but you can choose to max it out at 8GB. Either way, you'll find there is more than enough power to help you with your multimedia projects, or simply to allow multiple browsers open at once. Additionally, there's a healthy 750GB of hard drive storage space.

The Sony VAIO E Series specs show five and a half hours of battery life. This is a pretty low number for battery life, and you will have to charge the device frequently if you use it on long business trips or even if you take it back and forth between classes. However, the actual battery life will differ depending on the device’s use and configuration.

This laptop features a 15.5-inch screen with resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. This is standard for computers of this size, but the crystal display on this VAIO computer is up there with the best laptops. In our testing, we were very impressed the pure and clean picture we had when viewing Blu-ray movies on the laptop. You will not be disappointed with this screen.

The Sony VAIO E Series provides a wide variety of multimedia features, including a built-in camera and microphone for video chats. A Blu-ray drive comes standard with this laptop, so you won't have to upgrade for that feature. The speakers feature Clear Phase and XLoudClear technologies, which deliver rich, bold sound without sacrificing any sound quality. There is also an HDMI port located on the device that allows you to connect the computer to a larger monitor or an HDTV so you can experience Blu-ray movies, photos or other content on a much larger and more enhanced display.

This laptop also offers the Imagination Studio Suite 2. This software includes five different applications to help you improve and enjoy your multimedia. You can edit videos and photos, remix music, manage your photos and much more.

Sony provides excellent customer support in case any problems or technical issues arise while using this laptop. You can reach a customer service representative through email, phone or live chat support. There is also a user forum available on the Sony website so you can get additional assistance and feedback. There is also an area on the Sony website for driver and software downloads. This laptop features a one-year warranty.