Authored by Kumara Velu in Computer Hardware 
Published on 01-31-2009

Wondering which ones among the hundreds of laptop models stood out in 2008? Here’s a quick roundup.

ThinkPad T61

T61 comes with a durable chassis that looks set to withstand the hardest of knocks. It’s an ideal option for long distance travel but the weight – 2.3kg- may be off-putting.

If computer security is your concern, T61 allays your fears. There’s a fingerprint reader to help prevent unauthorized access to your laptop. Do you regularly visit many websites that require you to key in a username and password? You can configure the laptop to use the fingerprint mode to log in while still maintaining the password option.

Other features:

• Core 2 Duo T7300 with 2 GHz processor speed
• 1 GB RAM
• Hard Disk Space 80 GB
• 14.1″ Widescreen TFT 1280 x 800 in WXGA mode

Dell XPS M1530

If you spend a lot of time typing, the XPS provides a spacious wrist rest to make the whole process comfortable.

The XPS’ strong point is its stylish design. Although it weighs 2.6kg, you would tolerate it for the other impressive features it comes with.

M1530 excels in the graphics department – with a 256 MB RAM powered by NVIDIA’s GeForce 8600M GT it could tempt the user to take a crack at gaming.

It has a screen size of 15.4in (TFT LCD, 1440 x 900 pixel format) with CCFL backlight. If you don’t fancy that, you could opt for the LED backlight version by forking out a few extra bucks.

Other features:

• CPU: 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100
• 4GB RAM
• 320GB of Hard Disk Space (5400RPM SATA)

Toshiba Satellite A200

May not score in looks and the RAM size, but would suit the small businessman on a budget. Still, there may an issue for those who work in brightly-lit environments. A200 sports a glossy screen, notorious for glare and reflections in such places.

If you plan to watch movies, the limited viewing angle may not provide you with the experience you’re looking for. Still, you’ll be satisfied with the features for the budget price it comes with.

Other features:

• CPU: 2GHz Core 2 Duo T7250
• 1GB DDR2 RAM
• 120GB Hard Disk Space
• Dual-layer DVD±RW Drive
• 15.4-inch TFT Display

Sony VAIO SZ71

The SZ71 suits the corporate user who may need to engage in video conferencing. An integrated mic and a webcam is provided to that end. Weighing only a mere 1.9kg, it has an impressive battery life of up to 6 hours. The graphics department is also solid, coming with a Nvidia GeForce 8400M GS graphics card that could be turned off to save battery power. There are also Bluetooth and wireless capabilities for the traveler.

Other features:

• CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo T7250 / 2 GHz
• 2GB RAM
• 160 GB Hard Disk Space
• 13.3′ TFT 1280 x 768 (WXGA)
• DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM Integrated Drive