Four Great Laptops for Under $800

People are always looking for great buys on almost everything.  Laptops are no exception.  However, with the many brands and models coming out now, it is very difficult to compare laptops and come up with a best list.  What is more, this is compounded by the fact that different people really look for different things when considering a laptop.  Some go for superior performance, some go for great features, and some make their decisions based on how portable it is.

However, in this recession, almost everyone is looking for value for money.  Here are four great laptops that you can own for less than $800!

Toshiba Satellite L505-S5969

Toshiba tops the list of value for money laptops with the Satellite L505-S5969.  This laptop has a full sized keyboard, a separate numeric keypad and a USB/eSata port to use for those eSATA drives that have been widely considered as very fast.  The screen measure 15.6 inches, making watching videos on YouTube more enjoyable.

For about $500, you get a laptop with very respectable specs: one that runs on Intel Pentium Dual Core T4200 and armed with a 3GB memory.  It also comes with a DVD/RW drive, built-in Web cam, and modem.

WOW Factor: Low priced laptop with a retail price of around $500.

NO Factor: No support for 802.11n (only 802.11b/g) protocol for wireless connections, low speaker volume, no HDMI port.

Acer Aspire AS5738DG

The Acer Aspire AS5738DG is the costliest in this list, with prices starting from $780.  However, it is worth the price tag if only for the capability to view images, games and movies in 3D.  3D is the latest buzzword during the whole of last year, and it was the most featured technology at this year Consumer Electronic Show.  With the success of Avatar, along with the push from different content providers to come up with 3D content, 3D is driving up the prices of 3D devices for the home like Bluray players and 3D TVs.

On the computing front, a lot of Web and IT giants are delving into 3D, the most notable of which, is Google's foray into 3D with its Sketchup service.

Acer capitalizes on this new technology when it launched the Acer Aspire AS5738DG in the last quarter of 2009.  Using CineCrystal HD for its 3D monitor, this laptop also features a 2.2 GHz Duo T6600 processor, 4GB of RAM, 320GB hard drive.  Other features include a DVD RW drive, Ethernet, Wi-Fi support, and a Web cam.

Considering the better specs on the Aspire AS5738DG, plus the fact that it is a lot cheaper than even the most inexpensive 3D TV, the relatively higher price tag might not be that high at all.

WOW Factor: 3D!  Basically, the specs and the performance of this one are already great.  The addition of 3D takes it over the top.

NO Factor: Thick frame. Relatively more expensive.

Dell Inspiron 15

It used to be that those who do graphics work on their laptops have no other choice than to get a Mac, which is certainly not an option for those with budgets of under $1000.  However, with Dell Inspiron 15's WLED display, superior brightness and crisp colors, graphics guys now have a cheaper alternative.  Unlike other laptops that scrimp on screen color, Inspiron's 15.6 inch screen can display the colors required for graphics work.

Dell offers parts customization for the Inspiron, so if you have a tight budget, $600 can get you 160GB hard drive, Pentium Dual Core t4200, 3GB memory, DVD RW and wireless support.

WOW Factor: Great display.

NO Factor: Dell Inspiron comes with a 4-cell battery that translates to a short running time.

Acer Aspire Timeline AS4810T

Acer Aspire Timeline AS4810T features a 320 GB hard drive, LED screen, 802.11a/g/n wireless support, HDMI output, all running on a Core 2 Solo SU3500.  All these in one very thin and light package.

What is more, Timeline AS4810T-8480 allows you a full freedom with more than 8 hours of operation on a fully charged battery.

However, if you value speed, you certainly will notice that this laptop gives you a very sluggish experience because of its single core processor.  This also comes with a lot of useless preinstalled software.

WOW Factor:  Very light and svelte.  Long battery life.

NO Factor: Bloatware and single core leading to slow performance.

At a Glance: How They Stack Up