Built-in wireless capability and large displays add to home usage.

Bigger, crisper displays and more usable key layouts have replaced small screens and cramped keyboards on laptop computers. Processors have caught up in speed with desktop models, and innovative dual-core processors are also available. Fast CD- and DVD-recording drives are common, as are ample hard drives.

New technology is providing consumer laptops with such benefits as longer battery life, lighter systems, and brighter displays. In mid-2007 Intel introduced a version of its Centrino Duo chipset, which we tested. It adds a bit to the speed of laptops, but its main advantage is in extending battery life, which we found to be 30 to 45 minutes longer than older chipsets. An up-and-coming storage technology, the solid-state flash drive, is also adding to battery life.

As computers become a repository for digital photos, music, and video, manufacturers are making laptops and their peripherals even more competitive with home-entertainment systems.

And widespread wireless computing plays to the laptop’s main strength: its portability.
A laptop is the most convenient way to take full advantage of the growing availability of high-speed, wireless Internet access at airports, schools, hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops.

Most laptops now have wireless networking capability built in and deliver commendably long battery life. The thinnest on the market are less than an inch thick and weigh just 3 to 5 pounds.

But to get these light, sleek models, you’ll have to pay a premium and make some sacrifices in performance, screen size, and features.

A desktop computer typically costs less for equivalent performance and is easier to upgrade, expand, and repair. It usually offers better ergonomics, such as a more comfortable keyboard, bigger eye-level display, and enhanced audio. But as costs plummet, a laptop computer is your best choice if portability and compactness are priorities.

Acer, Dell, Gateway (recently purchased by Acer), HP (which also makes Compaq), Lenovo (formerly branded as IBM), Sony, and Toshiba are the leading Windows laptop brands. Apple makes Mac OS MacBook and MacBook Pro models. Laptops can be grouped into several basic configurations:

Budget models. These have slower processors and fewer features than others but are suitable for routine office work and home software. Price: $800 or less.

Workhorse models. These have faster processors and more built-in devices, so there’s less need for external attachments. They also have larger screens and enhanced sound and video components for home-entertainment uses. They’re not lightweight or battery-efficient enough for frequent travelers. Price: $800 and up.

Slim-and-light models. These are for travelers. They are about an inch thick and weigh about 3 to 4 pounds. Some require an external drive to read DVDs or burn CDs. Price: $1,000 and up.

Tablet-style. These sit in your hand like a clipboard and have handwriting-recognition software. Some convert to a “normal” laptop with a keyboard. Price: $1,000 and up.

Laptops generally come with a single- or dual-core processor. Cheaper ones come with a single-core processor such as the Intel Celeron or AMD Sempron, which are fine for basic Web browsing and e-mail. For computer users with greater needs, dual-core processors such as the Intel Core 2 Duo and AMD Turion 64 X2 are recommended.
Laptops come with a 60- to 250-gigabyte hard drive and 512 megabytes or more of random-access memory (RAM). We recommend at least 1GB. Models that come standard with 2GB of RAM have become common, a healthy trend for those using Windows Vista, which should have at least 1GB but runs even better with double that amount.

Laptops use a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. In CONSUMER REPORTS tests, a normal battery provided two to nearly five hours of continuous use when running office applications. (Laptops go into sleep mode when used intermittently, extending the time between charges.) You can lengthen battery life if you dim the display, turn off wireless devices when not needed, and use only basic applications. Playing a DVD movie uses more battery power than other functions, but most laptops should be able to play one through to the end. Many laptops can accept an “extended” battery, adding size and weight but giving as much as twice the battery life.

A laptop’s keyboard can be quite different from that of a desktop computer. The keys themselves might be full-sized (generally only lightweight models pare them down), but they might not feel as solid. Some laptops have extra buttons to expedite your access to e-mail or a Web browser, or to control DVD playback. You can attach a USB keyboard, which you might find easier to use.

A 14- to 15-inch display, measured diagonally, should suit most people. Displays that are 17 inches are becoming more common. A resolution of 1,440x900 (WXGA+) pixels (picture elements) or more is better than 1,280x800 (WXGA) for viewing the fine detail in photographs or video, but it might shrink objects on the screen. You can use settings in Windows to make them larger. Most models are offered with a display that has a glossy surface instead of a matte one. Those look better in bright ambient light as long as you avoid direct reflections. Try to view the screen in bright light before buying. A “wide aspect” display (WXGA or WSXGA) fits wide-screen DVD movies better.

A new display technology called LED-backlit LCD is making its way into laptops. An advantage of the technology is its more efficient use of power and, as a result, longer battery life. Color on LED-backlit screens is sometimes better, sometimes worse than displays using older technologies.

Most laptops use a small touchpad in place of a mouse; you slide your finger across it to move the cursor. You can also program the pad to respond to a “tap” as a “click,” or scroll as you sweep your index finger along the pad’s right edge. An alternative system uses a pointing stick the size of a pencil eraser in the middle of the keyboard. You can attach a USB or wireless mouse or trackball if you prefer.

Laptops usually include at least one PC-card or Expresscard slot for expansion. You might add a wireless-network card or a cellular modem if those are not built in.

Some laptops offer a connection for a docking station, a $100 to $200 base that makes it easy to connect an external monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, network, and power in one step.

Most laptops let you attach those devices without the docking station. At least two USB ports for easy hookup of, say, a printer, digital camera, or scanner are standard. A wired network (Ethernet) port is also standard. A FireWire port for digital-video transfer is common. An internal wireless-network (Wi-Fi) adapter is standard. Another option is an internal Bluetooth wireless adapter to link to a Bluetooth-capable cell phone, camera, or another laptop.

A growing number of laptops include fingerprint scanners for security and as a convenient alternative to typing a password when logging in.

For backing up files or transferring them to other computers, you can use a USB memory drive (about $20 and up), which fits on a keychain and holds as much data as a CD-R, or save files on a writeable CD or camera-memory card. The small speakers built into laptops often sound tinny. Headphones or external speakers deliver much better sound.

Consider the following:

Windows vs. Macintosh. Many people choose laptops using the Windows operating system because it’s what they’ve always used, but Apple’s Mac OS is a fine alternative. In recent subscriber surveys, Consumer Reports found Apple’s technical support to be top-notch. According to another survey, we also found that Apple computers were less susceptible to most viruses and spyware than Windows-based computers. Among Windows laptops, Lenovo’s tech support is above average. Dell’s problem-solving skills are above average.

Buy à la carte. Dell and Gateway pioneered the notion that every computer could be tailored to an individual’s needs. Configure-to-order is now common practice for laptops as well as desktops.

Menus show you all the options and let you see how a change affects the overall price. You might decide on a less-expensive processor, for example, but spend more for wireless capability or better graphics. Configure-to-order will often give you choices you won’t get if you buy an off-the-shelf model. And it means less chance of overlooking important details. But be sure to double-check your choices before ordering, and look for unwanted items that some manufacturers include by default.

You can also purchase a computer off the shelf. (You can do the same online if you opt for the default choices of equipment the manufacturer offers.) Most retail configurations are quite robust.

Downplay the processor speed. Current dual-core processors deliver all the speed most people need. Spend your money on more memory.

Ergonomics can make or break a laptop. Look for a keyboard with keys that don’t feel mushy. Touchpads should be large enough so your finger can cover the span of the screen without repeatedly lifting it, and touchpad buttons should be easy to find and press. The touchpad should also have a dedicated scroll area.

The laptop shouldn’t get hot during use (89 to 100 degrees is a good range), and it should run quietly. Ideally, devices such as optical drives should be in front for easy access. Glossy screens are now standard on most laptops. Several have added antireflective coatings, with mixed results.

Decide on a screen size. If you’re planning to carry the laptop around with you frequently, a 13-inch model is probably the right choice. In our tests of 13-inch systems, we found that you might have to sacrifice some speed, and you’ll spend a few hundred dollars more than you would for a larger laptop. But you’ll also lighten your load by at least a couple of pounds, and you’ll find many of the same features on slim-and-lights that are available on larger laptops, including webcams, memory-card readers, and fingerprint scanners.

If you don’t mind trading an inch of screen space for a half-pound to a pound or so of weight, laptops with 14-inch displays are a good, welterweight alternative for travelers on a budget.

Laptops with a 15-inch screen generally offer the ideal balance of performance, portability, and price. They weigh about 6 pounds, although you can find some lighter ones. They’re a good choice for those who need to take a laptop along less frequently, and a system in the 15-inch size range can easily be configured to serve as a desktop replacement.

For a full-blown, entertainment-oriented desktop replacement, consider a 17-inch model. You’ll get a good-sized screen, better speakers, and more options for multimedia features. It will cost more than a comparable desktop, but it’s handy if you have space constraints or if you’re planning to use it in areas of your house other than the home office.

Think green. A new, voluntary Energy Star standard went into effect last summer for laptop and desktop computers that should result in more efficient power use. Energy-use guidelines now cover three operating modes—standby, sleep, and running—with systems entering sleep mode within 30 minutes of inactivity. Power supplies will also need to operate more efficiently.

You probably won’t notice much difference in the operation of your computer, but your electric bill might go down a bit. Look for the Energy Star label on qualified laptops. The price of laptops won’t increase because of the new standard, according to a spokesperson for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program.

Most laptop manufacturers also have recycling programs that help you dispose of your old laptop, but the programs vary considerably from one company to another.

Apple’s and Dell’s recycling options are the best among the brands we rated for this article. They provide free recycling of your old system when you buy a new Apple or Dell product, no matter what brand you are replacing. Acer’s program exists only in a few states.