The requirements of a laptop differ with personal needs.
Some people love mobility and style; others crave performance and engineering, while some just want it all.
For many, laptops are their bread and butter -- and purchasing the perfect model is not an easy task.
With more people buying laptops these days than desktop computers, the latest test results of the mobile information boxes revealed an array of prices, products and some bargains.
Chris Lam of Consumer Reports ran a series of tests on 24 laptops to see how fast they perform, their screen quality and how long their batteries last.
He also tested ergonomics -- the efficiency and user-friendly comfort of the machine -- another important consideration.
"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," Lam said.
Lam ran a test measuring how hot the bottom of each laptop gets after being on for 15 minutes.
In the lab where Consumer Reports tested laptops, was everything from the Mini Asus EEE PC, with its seven-inch screen, to the 20-inch HP.
The HP laptop weighs more than 15 pounds. Compare that to Apple's Macbook Air, which is super thin and weighs just three pounds.
Testers also checked out the Lenovo Ideapad that makes logging on a lot simpler. This laptop stores a scan of your face and then uses face recognition technology to make sure it is really you.
Testers found the laptop did let registered users in and out and kept everyone else out. Although, it does not work well in dim light for some people wearing glasses.
Consumer Reports found several laptops to recommend, including the Lenovo Thinkpad T61, for under $1,000 -- its fast with a long battery life, though you do have to log on the old-fashioned way.
For the larger, workhorse machines, which could be a desktop replacement, the Apple Macbook Pro topped the rating. Its battery life lasts over five hours, but it's pricey, at over $3,000.
Whenever you are shopping for a laptop, don't forget the cost of extras like a power adapter, remote control, software upgrades and carrying cases.
Always factor in the complete cost before you buy -- and remember to recycle your old computer.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen
