Size, ergonomics, battery life, tech support - Consumer Reports has opened the book on laptop computers.
Testers have rated about two dozen new laptop models to see how they performed.
"For ergonomics we examine factors such as how comfortable the keyboard is to use, whether or not the touch pad tracks properly, and the placement of the ports," said Consumer Reports tester Chris Lam.
They also tested how hot they get after 15 minutes of use - with surprising results. Some laptops can get hotter than 45 degrees Celsius.
In the end, Consumer Reports found the Lenovo ThinkPad T61 the best for basic needs, followed by Toshiba, and Dell laptops.
For laptops with more features and performance, testers liked Apple and hp.
So once you've bought your laptop, what kind of technical support can you expect from the manufacturer if something goes wrong?
Tech support unhelpful
Consumer Reports found tech support in general wasn't all that helpful.
"Our survey found the worst ways to get tech support were from the manufacturers' web sites and e-mail support," said Consumer Reports' Rosalind Tordesillas.
Manufacturers seemed to solve problems only 60 per cent of the time. The survey found Compaq and hp's online tech support were two of the worst.
The best by far was Apple, but it was only free for the first 90 days after purchase. Lenovo's tech support did well in the survey.
Tech support in Apple stores also ranked high because it was free for Apple computers whether they were in warranty or not.
Consumer Reports' survey shows that Mac's help in its stores solved problems 90 per cent of the time.
As for reliability, Apple desktops are the most reliable computers, according to Consumer Reports surveys over the last five years.
For laptops and notebooks, all the brands are fairly similar, with about a 20 per cent repair rate.
The Consumer Reports survey found that paying extra for premium plans that extend both tech support and the repair warranty wasn't worth it.
There was one exception -- with Dell and Gateway, the premium priority service was a lot better than regular tech support.
Consumer Reports Quick Picks: June 2008 Issue
Best Laptops for basic needs: Prices in $US
- Lenova Think Pad T61---$950
- Toshiba Satelite---$750
- Lenova Thinkpad R61---$860
- Dell Inspiron 1525--$675
Consumer Reports found The Lenovo Thinkpad T61 fast with a long battery life. Testers say the Toshiba has an antireflective glossy display, a sensible design and good speakers, but a shorter battery life.
CR found the Lenovo Thinkpad R61 well built, with long battery life. However, while it was fast when using AC power, testers found it was mediocre when it came to using its battery.
The Dell was found to be inexpensive with a long battery life.
Best for more features and performance:
- Apple Macbook Pro----$2,050
- HP Pavilion dv6700t---$1,200
Consumer Reports says the Apple Macbook Pro weighed the least and had the best battery life among the 15-inch models. The HP Pavilion was loaded with features and cost much less, but testers found the touchpad wasn't as user friendly.
With a report from CTV's Eleanor Coopsammy.
