Tips for Buying a Desktop Replacement
Make sure you can handle the heft. The most important things to consider in connection with a desktop replacement are its weight and bulk.
Lenovo ThinkPad T61pDesktop replacements are the heaviest notebooks on the market. On our most recent Top 10 Power Laptops chart, the minimum weight for the machines ranged from 6.5 pounds (Lenovo ThinkPad T61p) to a back-breaking 15.5 pounds (HP Pavilion HDX). The average weight for a ranked laptop was 8.83 pounds.
Meanwhile, the minimum laptop weight on our Top 10 All-Purpose Laptops chart ranged from 5.3 pounds (Lenovo 3000 N200) to 8.5 pounds (HP Pavilion dv9500t). The average for a member of the top 10: 5.89 pounds.
And the average minimum weight of portables in our Top 10 Ultraportable Laptops chart was only 3.79 pounds--5 pounds less than the average minimum weight of a top 10 desktop replacement.
Gateway NX860XLMake sure you can pay the price. Besides being the most powerful laptops, desktop replacements tend to be the most expensive. Prices for the units on our Top 10 Power Laptops chart ranged from $1580 for the Gateway NX86OXL to $5158 for the Eurocom D900C Phantom-X. Average price: $2797.70.
Ultraportables can be pricey, too, because you pay a premium for their extreme portability. But even so, the average price of an ultraportable in our top 10 was $1992.10.
If value is your priority, head to our Top 10 All-Purpose Laptops chart. Average price: $1446.20. These models aren't as convenient as ultraportables or as awesome as desktop replacements, however.
Make sure you love the monitor. Since desktop replacements have large screens, the LCD on the model you choose is likely to be your only monitor. Some models--among them many HP laptops--are sold primarily with high-gloss, high-contrast screens, which are bright and make video, images, and colors pop. Some people love these screens, but others complain that the high-gloss display is too reflective (you can actually see yourself in one) and produces too much glare. For more on this topic, read "Bright and Glossy Notebook Screens, Part 1" and "Bright and Glossy Notebook Screens, Part 2." Or examine a high-gloss Sony VAIO laptop screen in bright sunlight.
Don't forget the ergonomics. Even though most desktop replacements have full-size keyboards, consider adding an external keyboard and mouse, trackball, or glidepad for ergonomic comfort. If you can, elevate your laptop so that the top of its screen is at eye level. Then position the external keyboard and input device screen so you can type with your wrists held straight and your elbows bent at a 90-degree angle. Healthy Computing offers detailed information on this subject.
Get more information before you decide. Still not sure whether a desktop replacement is for you? Read our buying guide for notebook PCs, "How to Buy a Laptop" for more tips and advice. And check out MyProductAdvisor.com, which offers an online assessment tool to help you decide which laptop is best for you based on your usage and preferences.
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