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CNET editors' buying advice
We have not reviewed this product but here is CNET's buying advice on Laptops. This content was chosen based on the features included with this model of laptop.
Thin-and-light laptop computer
A thin-and-light laptop computer offers the optimal combination of portability, performance, features, and cost. Power-tuned mobile processors deliver enough power to keep you working smoothly, and unlike ultraportables, most thin-and-light laptops have a more reasonably sized keyboard and display, a larger hard drive, and a built-in optical drive. Yes, they're more expensive than slightly larger, heavier mid-size laptops, but if you need maximum productivity in a portable package, this is the best choice.
Read more in the Laptop Buying Guide
See more Thin-and-light laptop computer products
Home user laptop computer
Home users are increasingly turning to notebook computers as their primary PCs, as they like that laptops can offer similar performance and features to those of a desktop PC, and can be easily moved from room to room. Though of course almost any notebook computer will do for typical home use, there are two types of laptops most suitable for home users: mid-size notebooks, which tend to be budget-friendly, and desktop replacements, which are usually packed with features.
Read more in the Laptop Buying Guide
Student laptop computer
Students and others on a tight budget should look for a cheap laptop computer that delivers the most bang for the buck. In particular, students need a notebook that is small and light enough to lug back and forth across campus but rugged enough to withstand bouncing around in a backpack.
Read more in the Laptop Buying Guide
Laptop computer memory size
To maximize battery life, notebook computer processors are often designed to save more energy and run cooler than desktop processors. The drawback is slower performance, but more memory can help, which it won't consume energy or radiate heat. Even better, up to 4GB of RAM can now be found in budget configurations. If you want more memory later, expansion is often a simple procedure.
See more Notebook computer RAM products
Notebook computer processors
The central processor (CPU) is the heart of any computer system and an excellent litmus test as to whether a desktop computer or notebook fits your needs. The trouble is, processor names like Athlon and Celeron are as cryptic as system names like Latitude and Pavilion. Here's a quick guide to see which chip is a fit:
| Manufacturer | Processor name | Processing power | Designed use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intel | Core 2 Extreme Quad | Very high | Gaming and graphics |
| Intel | Core 2 Quad | Very high | Gaming and graphics |
| AMD | Turion | High | Mainstream |
| AMD | Athlon | High | Mainstream |
| Intel | Core 2 Duo | High | Mainstream |
| AMD | Sempron | Medium | Entry level |
| Intel | Celeron | Medium | Entry level |
| Intel | Pentium Dual Core | Medium | Entry level |
| AMD | Athlon Neo | Low | Netbook |
| Intel | Atom | Low | Netbook |
| Via | C7-M | Low | Netbook |
| Via | Nano | Low | Netbook |
| Intel | Pentium | Low | Budget |
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CNET product brief
Description: This configuration of the Dell Latitude E6400 is a 4.4-pound, thin-and-light notebook computer.Compared to other thin-and-light notebooks on the market, it is very inexpensive at around $965.The 14.1 inch widescreen has a native resolution of 1280 x 800, which is fairly standard among laptops.Built around the Intel Core 2 Duo chip.This configuration includes a 160GB hard disk drive and 2.0 GB of memory.Features nVidia quadro NVS graphics with 256MB of video RAM.
Pros: Has a 2.53 GHz CPU speed, which is somewhat faster than some similarly priced notebooks.By way of comparison, the typical cost of a product with this speedy a CPU speed is $1,495.The External Serial ATA port (ESATA) will transfer data to an external hard drive much faster than USB 2.0.An anti-theft security tether can be fastened into the built-in lock slot.
Cons: Has only a 160GB hard drive, which is somewhat smaller than some similarly priced notebooks.For example, the Dell Studio XPS X1340-024B, a 4.9-pound notebook at around $900, has a 500GB hard drive.The poor battery performance of this laptop means it has to be recharged more often than other notebooks in its class.
Suitability: Suited for those who want a balance between power and portability.If you have a wireless network at home, wirelessly browse the Web from any room in your house with this Wi-Fi enabled notebook.Travel with your own digital entertainment center ? this notebook comes with a DVD player.You can compile audio CDs with this computer?s CD writer.With 256MB of dedicated video RAM, this machine will do quite well compared to most other notebooks when it comes to multimedia applications and games.
Value: In general, this notebook's features are as expected for this price.However, the average price of thin-and-light products with a comparable screen size is considerably more -- in fact around $1,330.
Suggestions: (1) Given this device's Wi-Fi capability, you may want to get a wireless access point for your home, so that you can browse the Web more conveniently from any room.(2) Using this PC's Firewire (1394) port, you can connect to many digital videocameras and other equipment to rapidly upload data to the notebook hard drive.
CNET's Product Briefs are generated by a software tool that combines product specifications with knowledge of our editorial experts. They do not reflect hands-on assessment or labs testing. For more information about how we create Product Briefs, contact us.
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