Luxury Laptops
The laptop market these days is a crowded and occasionally confusing one – here,
Archer Adams assesses which of the current models might best suit the needs of the
modern diplomat
With hundreds of different laptop computer models available – ranging from ‘desktop
replacements’ to ultra-lights – choosing a laptop these days can be a daunting task.
Often, more choice brings with it more confusion. In order to simplify the process
I have placed myself in the shoes of a busy diplomat, thereby establishing which
features are the most important:
- Weight– you travel frequently and do not want to lug around heavy gear.
- Power – you need processing muscle that works quickly and can multi-task with ease.
- Screen size – you need a laptop with a bit of real estate to comfortably read and
compose documents and surf the internet, all without making you squint.
The computer options listed below fulfil all three of these requirements, albeit
in each case a little differently. I have looked at the lightest computers sporting
13-inch screens (except for the Samsung X460, which comes with a 14.1-inch screen
and a little more weight, because it is one of the best and lightest 14-inchers
around). All these models have fast, dual core processors and all of them (save
for the MacBook Air) are equipped with read/write DVD drives – an important feature
if you want to watch movies, download software from discs or back up to CD/DVD.
Lenovo ThinkPad X301
(Retail price: £1800)
Upsides: Extremely thin and light (at just 0.7 inches thick and
1.5kg in weight) but with a very solid feel; extra sharp 1,440 x 900 display resolution;
1.3-megapixel webcam and noise-cancelling digital microphone for Web conferencing;
built-in DVD burner; lots of connection ports; excellent keyboard (the same size
as those found on the Lenovo’s 14- and 15-inch models) with a nice glowing light.
Downsides: The most expensive of the bunch; the touch pad’s location
makes it easy to accidentally graze while typing.
Final Analysis: The Lenovo ThinkPad line is legendary for its solid
construction; the 13.3-inch ThinkPad X301, which is equipped with Intel’s latest
Centrino 2 platform, also offers strong performance. The X301 is expensive, but
well worth the outlay for highly mobile users seeking extensive features in a sleek,
lightweight case.
Sony Vaio Z Series
(Retail price: starting at £1500)
Upsides: Simple, elegant design; very lightweight thanks to its
sturdy carbon fibre case, which also helps protect against shocks; a clever switch
that allows users to choose between ‘Stamina’ (improved battery life) and ‘Speed’
(improved computing power); the most extensive overall feature set of the four laptops
reviewed here.
Downsides: Pricey.
Final Analysis: A top-of-the line laptop that does it all. The
Sony Vaio Z Series combines ultra-portability with a very impressive level of computing
power and is available in many different configurations (so there are possibilities
to lower the price – eg by choosing a smaller hard drive or slightly slower processer).
MacBook Air
(Retail price: £1600)
Upsides: Incredibly thin (it is, after all, billed as ‘world’s
thinnest notebook’) yet surprisingly sturdy; new trackpad controls are very useful.
Downsides: The absence of an Ethernet port means limited connectivity
(you’ll have to access the internet via Wi-Fi unless you buy an adapter); less powerful
than other MacBooks, with capacity limited to 80G on a relatively slow drive; just
one USB port; no DVD drive.
Final Analysis: The design may be revolutionary, but Apple’s MacBook
Air will appeal to a smaller, more specialised audience than the standard MacBook,
thanks to a stripped-down set of connections and features. Deciding whether this
computer is worth having poses just one major question: How much are you willing
to compromise? Admittedly, the darn thing is gorgeous, and for many the Mac platform
is non-negotiable because it’s simply not as fiddly as Windows (although the MacBook
Air can also run Window programs by allowing you to boot up in that platform); on
the other hand, MacBook Air is also the slowest laptop in Apple’s current product
line, and as mentioned it comes without a range of features that one might otherwise
expect. Nonetheless, for those who factor size, weight, and – yes, I’ll admit it
– style into the equation, the MacBook Air begins to make much more sense, and it
will still take care of most tasks you would need to handle in your travels.
Samsung X460
(Retail price: £977)
Upsides: Very slim and lightweight (measuring respectively 1.3
inches and 1.9kg) given its 14.1-inch screen; 1.3-megapixel webcam; fingerprint
reader for extra security; distinctive and sturdy solid brushed-metal construction;
excellent battery life; lots of connection ports; comfortable keyboard; surprisingly
big speaker sound; built-in read/write DVD drive.
Downsides: Expensive, compared with similar 14-inch laptops.
Final Analysis: For those who like a really big work space and
don’t mind carrying just a little extra weight, then the Samsung X460 is the ticket.
Solid performance is provided by a fast Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3GB of RAM,
which means you’ll have plenty of memory to open several different programs at once.
While not excelling at any one specific task, the X460 is a good all-purpose machine
that still comes close to qualifying as an ultra-portable. The amazingly bright
14.1-inch screen does not blast out saturation and is therefore extremely easy on
the eyes; in fact, you can see the display in just about any lighting condition,
outdoors or in.