How to Buy a Laptop?

While tablets get all the attention these days, there’s a reason why laptops continue to be the computing device of choice for most people. Notebooks offer real keyboards for faster typing, they’re better at multitasking, and they offer a lot more power for everything from editing video and creating PowerPoints to playing the latest games. So what type of laptop should you get?

There’s a wide variety of sizes, features, and prices, which makes choosing the right notebook a challenge. That’s why you need to figure out what your needs are. To make the right call, just answer the following seven questions.

1. What Size Do You Need?

If you’ll be using your laptop primarily at home and won’t be moving it much from room to room or using it on your lap, get a laptop with a 15-inch display (generally 6 pounds and up). This is the most popular screen size.

However, for the best balance of mobility, performance, and battery life, consider a laptop with a 13- to 14-inch display (3.5 to 5.5 pounds). If you want to travel really light, get an ultraportable laptop with an 11.6- to 12-inch screen (3 to 4 pounds).
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Opt for a 17-inch or 18-inch notebook if you plan on moving your machine rarely or not at all. Having a bigger screen is better for watching movies and working with multiple windows open at once. But we only recommend stepping up to a large display if you get a resolution higher than 1366 x 768 pixels. Otherwise, it’s a waste of extra space.

Netbooks (10 inches) have pretty much fallen out of favor because of tablets, but they’re still available. If possible, get a model with a resolution of 1366 x 768.

2. How Much Can Your Get for Your Money?

    * $500 to $600: These days, you can easily find an all-purpose laptop with good performance for about $500. We’re talking about a speedy dual-core Intel Core i3 or an AMD A6 processor, 3 to 4GB of RAM, and at least 320GB of hard drive space. That’s good enough for most consumers looking to surf the web, go on Facebook, check email, and play casual games.
      
    * $600 to $800: As you get above $600, you’ll start to see more premium designs, such as metal finishes. Manufacturers also start to add in other features as you climb the price ladder, including better audio and backlit keyboards. Look for a second-generation Core i5 processor in this range, as well as 6GB of RAM and a 500 to 640GB hard drive.

      If you’re willing to spend $700 or more, expect laptops with faster processors (such as Intel’s quad-core Core i7) and/or dedicated graphics cards from AMD or Nvidia for gaming. Adding a Blu-ray drive will cost at least $75 more.
    * Above $800: If you have $800 or more to spend, you’ll mostly be looking at laptops that focus on multimedia and gaming, as well as highly durable and secure business machines. Higher-resolution screens are also expected.

      All of Apple’s laptops also fall in this price range, as the company focuses on premium designs and higher-end features, such as solid state drives in the MacBook Air. MacBooks start at $999. So-called Ultrabooks, which compete directly with the MacBook Air in terms of thinness, start as low as $799 but go up to and beyond $1,499.

3. Will It Be Comfortable to Use?

The most impressive specs in the world don’t mean diddly if the laptop you’re shopping for doesn’t have good ergonomics. Does the keyboard have solid tactile feedback and enough space between the keys? Is the touchpad smooth to operate or jumpy? Do the mouse buttons have a satisfying click, or do they feel mushy? How well do multitouch gestures work? You should be able to zoom in and out with ease, as well as select text with the touchpad without the cursor skipping around.

In general, Apple and Lenovo offer the best keyboards and touchpads. Toshiba is generally pretty reliable in this category, as is Sony. Acer and ASUS don’t offer the most ergonomic designs, so you’ll want to try before you buy.

Five Things to Look for in Your Next Notebook Keyboard

4. What Specs Do You Need?

Notebook specs such as CPU, hard drive, RAM, and graphics chip can confuse even notebook aficionados, so don’t feel bad if spec sheets look like alphabet soup to you. What you need really depends on what you plan to do with your laptop. More intensive tasks such as 3D gaming and HD video-editing require more expensive components.
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Here are the main components to keep an eye on.

    * CPU: Bargain hunters will find AMD’s E Series processor in machines that cost less than $400, which offers better performance than a netbook but not very good multitasking chops. Similarly, Intel’s Pentium CPUs can get the job done, but you can do better if you spend a little bit more. (Intel Atom processors are only for netbooks, a category that’s on the decline.)

      For mainstream performance, we recommend Intel’s Core i3 processors. AMD’s A Series processors aren’t as fast as their Intel counterparts, but they offer better graphics performance.

      Power users and gamers should consider higher-end Intel Core i5 or Core i7 CPUs.
    * RAM: When it comes to memory, or RAM, opt for a minimum of 3GB (4GB is better) to run Windows 7 Premium. Those who demand more performance will want to spring for 6GB or even 8GB of memory.
      
    * Hard Drive: For most users, a fast drive is more important than a large one. If you have a choice, go for a 7,200-rpm hard drive over a 5,400-rpm unit. Even if you have several movies and games on your hard drive, a 320GB should provide more than enough space, but 500GB drives usually don’t cost much more.
      
    * Solid State Drives (SSDs): These drives cost quite a bit more than traditional hard drives and come with less capacity (usually 128 to 256GB), but they dramatically improve performance. You’ll enjoy faster boot times, faster resume times, and faster application open times. Plus, because SSDs don’t have moving parts such as mechanical drives, failure is much less of an issue.
      
    * Display:The more pixels you have, the more content you can fit on-screen, and the sharper it will look. Most notebooks come with 1366 x 768-pixel resolutions. However, if you have the option to choose a laptop with a higher pixel count—1440 x 900 or 1600 x 900—always choose the highest res you can get. You’ll see more of your favorite web pages, multitask better, and have a better movie-watching experience. Full HD panels (1920 x 1080) cost about $150 more than your typical display, but are worth the splurge, especially on larger screens.
      
    * Graphics Chip: For the most part, an integrated graphics chip (one that shares system memory) will be fine for basic tasks, including surfing the web, watching video, and even playing some mainstream games. But a discrete graphics processor from AMD or Nvidia (which has dedicated video memory) will provide better performance when it comes to the most-demanding games. Plus, a good GPU can accelerate video playback on sites such as Hulu, as well as speed up video editing.

      A couple of quick notes on graphics cards. In general, 1GB of video memory will be fine for mainstream games, but more-demanding gamers will want 2GB of dedicated memory. If you like the idea of your laptop switching between integrated and discrete graphics to save battery life, Nvidia’s technology (called Optimus) is superior to AMD’s because it’s seamless.
    * DVD/Blu-ray Drives: Netbooks don’t have optical drives, and they’re also disappearing from lightweight notebooks. That’s because you can download most software and download or stream video from the web. Unless you burn discs or want to watch Blu-ray movies, you don’t need one of these drives and can save some weight by avoiding them. At this point, DVD drives are a safety blanket.

5. Mac or Windows?

This is not an easy question to answer, especially if you’ve never considered making the switch from Windows to Mac. But this quick overview of each platform’s strengths and weaknesses should help.
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Apple’s MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros offer an easy-to-use operating system in Mac OS X Lion. It offers iOS-like features such as Launch Pad for your apps, superior multitouch gestures, and Auto Save and Resume so you can pick up on your work right where you left off. Macs also tend to outperform similarly configured Windows machines, especially when it comes to boot and resume times. While Windows PCs offer more software choices, Apple makes it easier to find and install programs with the Mac App Store.

MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros also tend to outclass most Windows machines when it comes to the sturdiness of their industrial designs, the touchpad, and display quality. However, Apple’s notebooks start at $999.

Windows 7 notebooks are generally more affordable and offer a much wider range of design choices from more than a dozen major vendors. Windows machines also have access to a much bigger selection of software, especially when it comes to games. Windows 7 is certainly easier to use than previous versions of Windows, and includes convenient features such as Snap (to view two open windows side by side). And if you care about security, there are many Windows notebooks explicitly designed to appeal to the business crowd.

Mac OS X Lion vs. Windows 7: Which OS is Best?

6. How Much Battery Life Do You Need?

Even if you only plan to move your laptop from the desk to the couch and the bed or from your cubicle to the conference room, battery life matters. Nobody wants to be chained to a power outlet, even if there’s a socket within reach. If you’re buying a 15-inch notebook, look for at least 4 hours of endurance.
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If you expect to be fairly mobile, shop for notebooks that offer more than 5 hours of battery life, with 6-plus hours being ideal.

If given the choice, pay extra for an extended battery; you won’t regret it. Keep in mind that some notebooks (such as the MacBook Air) feature sealed batteries that you can’t easily upgrade yourself.

To determine a notebook’s expected battery life, read third-party results from objective sources—LAPTOP notebook reviews, for example—rather than taking the manufacturer’s word for it. Your actual battery life will vary depending on your screen brightness and what tasks you perform (video eats more juice than web surfing).

Best Battery Life: Laptops That Last 7+ Hours

7. Do You Trust the Brand Behind It?

Your laptop is only as good as the company that stands behind it. Accurate and timely technical support is paramount, which is why LAPTOP evaluates every major brand in our annual Tech Support Showdown. This past year Apple came in first place, followed by Dell, Samsung, and Lenovo.

Support is only part of what makes a notebook brand worth your money. You also have to consider how the manufacturer stacks up to the competition in terms of design, value and selection, review performance, and other criteria. Apple, Lenovo, and HP notched first, second, and third place, respectively.

ASUS Zenbook Prime UX31A Review

ASUS's original Ultrabook was the first ultraportable laptop to give the MacBook Air a run for its money, but it ultimately fell short. The new ASUS Zenbook Prime UX31A (starting at $1,099, $1,499 as configured) is a sequel to truly get excited about. This successor has the same sleek spun metal design and offers lots more eye candy on the inside with a new 1080p IPS display. The Prime also adds a comfier backlit keyboard and a third-generation Intel Core processor for a serious speed boost. Do all of these ingredients add up to the best Ultrabook yet?

Design

ASUS ZenBook Prime UX31AClick to EnlargeFrom the outside, the Zenbook Prime looks like a dead ringer for its predecessor -- and we're not complaining. The 3-pound Ultrabook is just as elegant as ever, thanks to a dark brushed metal lid with a subtle circular pattern that emanates from the ASUS logo. (It's a little darker than the UX31). The inside and bottom of the Prime sport a lighter brushed aluminum finish with a vertical pattern.

The overall construction feels as solid as ever, even if the corners are a bit sharp for our tastes. We also find the lid easier to open on the UX31A than the UX31.

ASUS ZenBook Prime UX31a Side ViewClick to EnlargeAt 13.3 x 8.9 x 0.44-0.66 inches (our measurements), the Zenbook Prime has the same dimensions as the original UX31. The HP Envy Spectre XT (12.9 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches) and Dell XPS 13 (12.4 x 8.1 x 0.7 inches) manage to cram a 13-inch display into a 12-inch chassis using a thinner bezel. Nevertheless, we don't think users will mind the slightly wider and taller body on the ASUS. It's easy to slip into a bag or backpack, and will easily fit on an airline tray.

Just like the original, the Zenbook Prime features a speaker integrated into the display hinge, and a very large touchpad sits underneath the keyboard. The layout is now black instead of silver, making the keys easier to read.

Our only real quibble with the design is that the display sometimes flopped back, which happened during a bumpy bus ride and on a couple of occasions when picking the Ultrabook up. But the lid doesn't fall back very far.

Keyboard

ASUS ZenBook Prime UX31a KeyboardClick to EnlargeAll the keys are in the same place on the Zenbook Prime, but they feel a lot better. That's because ASUS ripped out the old silver layout and added black keys with much improved travel (12 percent better key cap travel distance). Typing this review felt fluid and fast on the UX31A, compared with the mushier experience on the UX31.

Just as importantly, ASUS made this keyboard backlit, making the layout much easier to see in our dimly lit living room.

ASUS ZenBook Prime UX31a BacklightClick to EnlargeYou can also adjust the intensity using a function key combination. Annoyingly, the right side of the keyboard didn't get as bright as the left, but ASUS assured us that final production units shouldn't have this issue.

So what did ASUS not fix? That would be reversing the function row to make them direct access keys. We'd much prefer adjusting the volume, brightness and other settings without having to execute a key combo.

Touchpad

ASUS ZenBook Prime UX31s TouchpadClick to EnlargeThe good news is that the Zenbook Prime's 4.1 x 2.8-inch Elan touchpad can provide a satisfying navigation experience. The bad news is that we had to tweak some settings to make that happen. At first the cursor was too unwieldy, especially when typing, and we would accidentally type over our work. However, once we disabled both tapping and drag and drop in settings, the UX31A was less temperamental.

Most multitouch gestures worked smoothly right out of the box. We quickly three-finger flicked through photos, and three-finger flicking up for switching windows and flicking down to show the desktop were both responsive. Pinch to zoom and rotate also worked well.

Two-finger scrolling was inconsistent in our testing, however. On applications such as WordPad we scrolled smoothly and quickly, but the same gesture was sluggish in both Chrome and Internet Explorer.

Heat

While slightly warmer than its predecessor, the UX31A managed to stay pretty cool during our tests. After streaming a Hulu video at full screeen for 15 minutes, the touchpad measured 83 degrees Fahrenheit, the space between the G and H keys was 91 degrees, and the middle of the underside was 92 degrees. All are less than what we consider uncomfortable: 95 degrees.

Display

ASUS ZenBook Prime UX31a DisplaysClick to EnlargeIf you have the means, splurge for the $1,399 configuration of the Zenbook Prime. Not only is this 1920 x 1080 matte panel sharper than the MacBook Air--and most other 13-inch laptops--it's superbright and offers generously wide 178-degree viewing angles.

When we hit the UX31A with our light meter, the display averaged 423 lux, which is brighter than the older UX31 (391 lux) and well above the ultraportable average (219 lux). The Zenbook Prime also handily beats the MacBook Air (285 lux) and Samsung Series 9 13-inch (355 lux).

To compare picture quality, we put the Zenbook Prime and MacBook Air side by side and played "The Avengers" trailer in full HD. We preferred the warmer colors on the ASUS, which made skin tones look more natural and explosions pop more. In addition, the Prime's matte screen allows for wide horizontal and vertical viewing angles, on a par with the Air.

Is 1080p on a 13-inch notebook overkill? Not to us, because you get full HD video playback and the ability to see more content on screen when surfing the Web and when snapping two windows side by side. The trade-off is that that you often need to zoom in to read text.

Audio

Powered by Bang & Olufsen's ICEPower technology, the speakers embedded in the Zenbook Prime's hinge delivered moderately loud and clean-sounding audio. When streaming Fun's "We Are Young," Nate Ruess' vocals had a nice warmth. However, Coldplay's "Speed of Sound" sounded louder and fuller on the UX31 than the Zenbook Prime.

The sound effects in "Angry Birds" came through loud and clear when we played the game on the Chrome browser, as did the audio on "The Avengers" trailer. We just wish the audio controls were more robust; the UX31A only has the standard Windows enhancements.

Ports

ASUS ZenBook Prime UX31a USB 3.0 PortClick to EnlargeThe Zenbook Prime keeps ports to a minimum, with a USB 3.0 port, headphone jack and SD Card reader on the left side. A micro HDMI, mini VGA port, second USB 3.0 port and power jack line the right side. You're going to have to spring for an HDMI or VGA adapter if you want to output video to an external display. By comparison, the slightly thicker UX32 will have a full-size HDMI port and three USB 3.0 ports.

Webcam

ASUS ZenBook UX31a WebcamClick to EnlargeThe Zenbook Prime's webcam is capable of capturing 720p video, but you'll need a fair amount of ambient light to get a bright picture. When near a window, the blue in our shirt popped, but the background was fuzzy. When we merely swiveled our chair around away from the window, the picture got so dark we could barely make out our face. We're also not fans of the Lifeframe software.

Performance

We can't tell you yet exactly what processor powers the Zenbook Prime UX31A (model number or clock speed), but we can say that the third-generation Core i7 CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 256 GB solid state drive under the hood really make this ultraportable fly.

On the PCMark07 test, which measures overall performance, the Zenbook Prime scored 4,989, which is nearly double the ultraportable category average (2,593) and well above the UX31 (3,606) and Dell XPS 13 (3,521). Then again, you should expect faster performance from an Ivy Bridge Core i7 CPU withn an SSD. The only lightweight laptop we've tested that comes close to the Zenbook Prime is the Eurocom Monster (4,299), which has Ivy Bridge and discrete Nvidia graphics.

The Zenbook Prime took 4 minutes and 59 seconds to complete the LAPTOP Spreadsheet Macro Test, in which we use OpenOffice calc to match 20,000 names with their addresses. That showing bests the the HP Folio 13 (6:44), UX31 (5:50) and the IdeaPad U300s (5:05).

So how about transcoding video? The UX31A took 30 seconds to convert a 5-minute 1080p video to an iPhone friendly format using Cyberlink's MediaEspresso. That time is actually a bit behind the Dell XPS 13 and Samsung Series 9 15-inch (both 29 seconds) but ahead of the Folio 13 (41 seconds). However, our pre-production version of the Zenbook Prime didn't have Intel's latest video drivers; we expect performance to improve once those become available.

The SanDisk SSD inside the Zenbook Prime is faster than your typical hard drive, but not as speedy as other Ultrabooks. The notebook duplicated a 4.97 GB folder of multimedia files in 1 minute and 39 seconds for a rate of 51.4 MBps. That's faster than the ultraportable average (46 MBps), but slower than the older UX31 with an ADATA SSD (98 MBps). By comparison, the XPS 13 notched 137.5 MBps and the Air 127 MBps.

Boot and Wake Times

Thanks to the 256GB SSD, booting into Windows 7 took the UX31A only 23 seconds, which is faster than the Dell XPS 13 (27 seconds), UX31 (29 seconds) and HP Folio 13 (26 seconds). The Air is still faster at 17 seconds, but this notebook will never keep you waiting. That also applies to wake from sleep. Upon lifting the lid, the Zenbook Prime sprung back to life within 2 seconds.

Graphics
Intel's third-generation Core processors promise increased graphics performance via Intel HD Graphics 4000 technology, and the Zenbook Prime delivers just that. When playing "World of Warcraft," the Ultrabook notched 52 frames per second at 1366 x 768 resolution. That's considerably better than the UX31 (40 fps) and category average (36 fps). Even on 1080p resolution, the Prime achieved a playable 36.3 fps with the settings on Good.

On 3Dmark06, the UX31A turned in an impressive score of 5,021, which beats the MacBook Air in Boot Camp mode (4,236) and every other Ultrabook we tested, most of which have scored in the 3,500 range.

If you want more graphics muscle, ASUS will also offer a version of the Zenbook Prime with the Nvidia GT620M discrete GPU with 1GB of video memory.

Battery Life

ASUS ZenBook Prime UX31a BatteryClick to EnlargeThe original Zenbook's 50-watt-hour battery lasted a fairly good 5 hours and 58 mintues on a charge. The new Zenbook Prime lasts 6 hours and 28 minutes, or a half-hour longer. That's impressive endurance given that this configuration uses a faster Core i7 processor and the older UX31 had a Core i5. The 13-inch MacBook Air lasted 6:25 and the XPS 13 and 5:46. However, the HP Folio 13 supplies nearly 8 hours of juice (7:50), while the Toshiba Portege Z835 lasted 6:48, albeit with a slower Core i3 CPU.

Software and Warranty

ASUS ZenBook Prime UX31a ASUS VibeClick to EnlargeOut of the box, the Zenbook Prime will hit you with two types of pop-ups pretty consistently unless you act on them. One is McAfee Internet Security and the other is ASUS Webstorage, which provides 2GB of free space for one year. We say activate the security and stick with Dropbox, Google Drive or Windows SkyDrive instead of opting for a whole new service. Other ASUS programs of note include the Vibe Fun Center for accessing Music, Games and Books, Instant Connect for taking your notebook online via an Android smartphone and FaceLogon for logging on with facial recognition.

ASUS covers the Zenbook Prime with a one-year warranty that includes parts, labor, and one instance of accidental coverage as well as 24/7 support. See how ASUS fared in our our Tech Support Showdown and Best & Worst Brands repots.

Configuration Options

The ASUS Zenbook Prime UX31A will start at $,1099 with a Core i5 processor and 128GB SSD. Stepppking up to the $1,199 model gives you TPM security. Our $1,499 configuration adss a Core i7 processor and 256GB SSD. All of these models include a 1080p display.

ASUS will sell another version of the Zenbook Prime, the UX32A, starting as low as $799. For that price you get Core i3 performance and a 320GB hard drive with 24GB SSD and a 1366 x 768 screen. The UX32 line is slightly thicker but adds an additional USB port and full-size HDMI port.

Want an Ultrabook with discrete graphics? ASUS will also offer a $1,299 Zenbook Prime, the UX32 VD, with an Nvidia GT620M discrete GPU with 1GB of video memory. The company promises twice the performance of Intel's HD 4000 graphics along with Optimus support for automatic graphics switching to preserve battery life. However, you won't get an SSD at this price; it will be a 320GB or 500GB hard drive plus a 24GB SSD.

Verdict

ASUS ZenBook Prime UX31a OutroClick to EnlargeAfter testing the Zenbook Prime, it's clear that ASUS worked hard to improve its Ultrabook. Although the $1,499 price of our configuration isn't cheap, you get a sharper screen than the 256GB MacBook Air for $100 less. And the new backlit keyboard is much easier to type on than the previous Zenbook. Add in a faster 3rd-gen Core i7 CPU and longer battery life and ASUS has elevated its Ultrabook from a very good product to one of the best money can buy. The only drawbacks are a slightly wonky touchpad and relatively slow SSD. Overall though, the Zenbook Prime is our new favorite Ultrabook.

Eurocom Monster Review

Eurocom's 11-inch Monster ($1,444) may be small, but with its Intel Ivy Bridge processor, Nvidia 650M graphics and solid-state drive, it packs more than enough power to go toe-to-toe with some of the biggest and baddest gaming machines on the planet. But a gaming machine needs more than strong performance numbers to be considered a must-have.

Design

Eurocomm MonsterClick to EnlargeFor a gaming notebook, the Eurocom Monster has a relatively subdued look to it. Its rubberized lid features a nearly imperceptible grid pattern that is bisected by a pinstripe that runs through its center. In the middle of the pinstripe sits a silver Eurocom logo. The system feels good, but it doesn't have the premium, more menacing vibe of the Alienware M11x.

Pop the lid and you'll see the same rubberized material and grid pattern found on the Monster's wrist rest and touchpad. The keyboard deck also gets a rubberized treatment, although no grid pattern. In the top left corner of the Monster's keyboard deck sit the system's green Wi-Fi, hard drive, caps lock, number lock and scroll lock indicators. Opposite those is the Monster's large power button complete with a blue LED.

Measuring 11.5 x 8.3 x 1.5 inches and weighing 4 pounds, the Eurocom Monster is lighter than the Alienware M11x (4.4 pounds), but it has a chunkier profile. The Alienware measures 1.3 inches thick. Overall, the Monster reminds of an oversized premium netbook.

Display

Eurocomm Monster DisplayClick to EnlargeNext to excellent performance numbers, one of the most important things a gaming notebook needs is a top-notch display. Unfortunately, the Eurocom Monster is saddled with a glossy 11.3-inch panel (1366 x 768) that's relatively dim. The screen registered just 173 lux, compared with the category average of 228 lux.

Images were still sharp and colors accurate while watching a 1080p trailer for "The Amazing Spider-Man." Viewing angles, however, were subpar, making it tough to watch Peter Parker's exploits at a 45-degree angle.

Audio

Eurocom built the Monster's speakers into the rear of the Monster's underside, which caused the audio to sound slightly muffled when the notebook was in our lap. That issue aside, the Monster pumped out crisp and accurate audio.

While listening to Jay-Z and Kanye West's "H.A.M." bass notes were on point, and the dramatic breakdowns in the song still had the same intense impact as they would on a larger system. The heavy guitar riffs and guttural sounds of All That Remain's "Overcome" were equally clean.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Eurocomm Keyboard/TouchpadClick to EnlargeWe didn't experience any trouble crushing goons while playing "Batman: Arkham City" on the Monster's chiclet-style keyboard. That's because the WASD keys (and other keys) offer satisfying feedback. We were able to run through Arkham without skipping a beat.

That said, the direction keys on the right side of the keyboard are incredibly small, so gamers accustomed to using those to navigate might have a difficult time. Touch typists will also be frustrated by the shrunken right Shift key.

The Monster's Elan multitouch touchpad features the same textured rubberized material found on its keyboard deck. Overall, we found the touchpad to be accurate and well-suited for gaming.

Heat

The Eurocom Monster managed to remain cool when pushed to its limits. After running "Batman: Arkham City" on its highest settings for 15 minutes, the Monster's keyboard was still a relatively cool 83 degrees. The touchpad was a bit hotter at 94 degrees, while the system's underside was 95 degrees. We consider temperatures of 95 and below to be comfortable.

That's not to say the Monster doesn't generate its share of heat. In fact, the left corner of the notebook's underside, where the system's vents are located, reached 108 degrees.

Ports

Eurocomm Monster PortsClick to EnlargeEurocom outfitted the Monster with a good number of ports for such a small system. On the left side are its two USB 3.0 ports, headphone and microphone jacks, HDMI port, VGA connector and Ethernet port. The right side features a USB 2.0 port, lock slot and power jack. Up front, you'll find the Monster's 9-in-1 card reader. Because it lacks an optical drive, gamers will need to download digital copies of their games (or use an external drive).

Webcam

Eurocomm Monster WebcamClick to EnlargeThe Monster's 1.3-megapixel webcam captured disappointingly grainy images. Photos and videos of faces lacked significant detail, whether in a well-lit setting or more softly lit room. When we tried using the cam with a strong light source to our back, the image got washed out.

Graphics and Gaming

Eurocomm Monster GamingClick to EnlargeFor a manufacturer to call its laptop a gaming machine, it has to pack it with some of the best hardware on the planet. And that's exactly what Eurocom did with the Monster. This little guy comes with Nvidia's Kepler-based GeForce GT650M with 2GB of RAM. While not as powerful as, say, the Nvidia GTX 670M graphics chip found in the excellent MSI GT60, the Monster muscled its way to some strong scores.

With the graphics set to auto-detect, the Eurocom Monster ran "World of Warcraft" at a blistering 179 frames per second. That's better than the Samsung Series 7 Gamer's (Nvidia GeForce GTX 675M with 2GB of RAM) 167 fps and the ASUS G75VW-DS71's (GeForce GTX 660M GPUs with 2GB of RAM) 158fps. When we set the graphics settings to max, the Monster still managed 96 fps, besting the category average of 16 fps and the ASUS G75VW's 88 fps.

The Eurocom Monster also managed to party with the big boys when it came to running "Batman: Arkham City." With the graphics at their lowest setting and the resolution set to 1,366 x 768 (the Monster's max), we cleaned up Gotham's streets at a brisk 41 fps. When we pumped the graphics up to Very High and switched on Direct X11 and 4X MSAA, the Monster dropped to an unplayable 22 fps.

It's worth noting that rendering graphics on the MSI GT60's 15-inch and the ASUS and Samsung's 17-inch displays at their native resolutions requires more processing power than it takes to the Monster's to power its lower-res 11-inch display.

Performance

The Eurocom Monster is the smallest Ivy Bridge notebook yet to land in our labs. But don't let its diminutive footprint fool you. The Monster's 2.6-GHz Intel Core i7-3720QM quad-core processor, 8GB of RAM and 120GB SSD make for a potent combo.

On the PCMark 07 test, which measures a PC's overall performance, the Monster scored 4,299. That's almost double the category average of 2,476 and nearly 1,000 points better than the MSI GT60's score of 3,336 (2.3-GHz Intel Core i7-3610QM quad-core processor, 12GB of RAM and dual 500GB, 7,200-rpm HDDs). The Monster even managed to outclass the Samsung Series 7 Gamer, which scored 3,611 on the same test (2.3-GHz Intel Core i7-3610QM quad-core processor, 16GB of RAM and dual 750GB 7,200-rpm HDDs).

The Monster's 120GB SSD made quick work of our LAPTOP File Transfer test, moving 4.97GB of mixed media files in 45 seconds. That's a rate of 113 MBps. The average ultraportable manages 45 MBps.

Just as impressive was the Monster's blazing boot time: just 19 seconds.

Software

Eurocomm Monster AudioClick to EnlargeEurocom doesn't cram any bloatware down your throat like other manufacturers. Our system came with Windows 7 Ultimate, THX TrueStudio Pro audio software and that's all.

Configurations

Our $1,444 Eurocom Monster review unit came with a 2.6-GHz Intel Ivy Bridge Core i7-3720QM quad-core processor, 8GB of RAM, a 120GB SSD and Nvidia GeForce GT 650M graphics chip with 2GB of RAM. If you're looking for even more power, you can step up to the big leagues and outfit the Monster with a 2.7-GHz Intel Ivy Bridge Core i7-3820QM quad-core processor, 16GB of RAM and 600GB SSD for $3,409.

If, however, you're in the market for a gaming machine and are on a sub-$1,000 budget, you can pick up a Monster with an Intel 2.3-GHz Intel Core i5-2410M dual-core processor, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB 7,200-rpm HDD and Nvidia GeForce GT 650M with 2GB of RAM with no operating system installed for $899.

Battery Life

Eurocomm MonsterClick to EnlargeWhen it comes to gaming laptops, battery life is usually an afterthought, and the Eurocom Monster is no different. On the LAPTOP Battery Test, the Eurocom's 6-cell lithium ion battery lasted just 3 hours and 28 minutes. That's well below the ultraportable category average of 6 hours and 49 minutes, but not too bad when you consider how its fellow gaming rigs fared on the same test.

Verdict

Eurocomm Monster OutroClick to EnlargeThe Eurocom Monster proves that you can get an 11-inch notebook with serious gaming muscle. This pricey but very capable $1,444 mini rig can play the latest titles and go with you anywhere, and the built-in SSD adds an extra dose of speed. However, the keyboard feels netbookish, and we wish the display were brighter. Despite these drawbacks, the Monster is an impressive little powerhouse.