Holiday Preview: Laptop and PC Buying Guide

With processor, graphics and storage technologies rushing ahead at breakneck speed, this year’s holiday shoppers will have more tech on tap for less money than they could have dreamed a year ago. Ultra-premium hardware that used to be reserved for dream systems, like solid-state drives, has plummeted in price, and computers that started as inexpensive toys, like netbooks, have sprouted more and more features, turning into real, viable PCs. Here are a few unique systems to make sure to check out on store shelves.

Asus G50Vt, $1,100

Half gaming rig, half portable lightshow, Asus’ flashy G50Vt makes a solid gift for gamers who want to take in the latest titles without any sacrifices in performance, but don’t want to be tied to their desktop PCs. Battery life and weight are both sore spots for this rather hungry clunky, machine, but it’s about raw performance, not convenience. An Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce 9800M all help ensure the frames keep coming fast and smooth. And priced at a hair over a grand, you’re not going to find a better performing notebook for the money. (Read Digitaltrends Asus G50VT review) (Check Price)

Voodoo Envy 133, $1899+

Apple may have stolen the show back in January with its launch of the MacBook Air, but VooDoo’s carbon-fiber competitor is better equipped, thinner, and, if we do say so ourselves, sexier. Besides the exotic composite materials used in its construction, the Envy is also unique for its power brick, which doubles as a Wi-Fi router to turn any wired connection into a wireless hotspot without any extra gear. Now that’s a road warrior’s dream. (www.voodoopc.com)

Acer Aspire X3200, $680

Proving you don’t need a desktop computer the size of mini-fridge to churn out some serious computational grunt, Acer’s new X3200 desktop manages to fit a 2.1GHz AMD Phenom X3 Triple-Core processor, 4GB of RAM and an Nvidia GeForce 8200 into a box just 10 inches tall. As a multimedia machine, it also includes a Blu-Ray player, 640GB of hard drive space for storing movies and other content, and support for 5.1 Dolby Home Theater audio output. We also think the classy piano-black case would look pretty swank with most home theater systems, and a price tag of $630 should leave plenty of cash left over for other home theater goodies. (www.acer.com)

iBuyPower F-Series Paladin Gaming PC, $2,199

For gamers, PCs based on Intel’s upcoming i7 chipset will be the ones to have this season, and iBuyPower delivers the hot new chips in a package surrounded by equally impressive hardware, for a reasonable price. The F860-n variant finds it nestled alongside 6GB of RAM, Nvidia’s high-end GTX260 graphics card, and a full terabyte of storage. And the collection of cases they can be ordered in will catch eyes, to say the least. (www.ibuypower.com)

Asus Eee S101, $699+

Now that every company with a notebook line has a factory in Taiwan pumping out nearly identical netbooks, it’s getting tougher and tougher to tell which one to buy. Asus, the company that spawned the entire netbook class to begin with, has managed to set its product line apart yet again with the S101. The 10-inch mini PC gets a dressed up exterior with a choice of three different metallic colors, up to 64GB of solid-state hard drive space, and Intel’s cool-running, energy-saving Atom processor. Though its pricier than your run-of-the-mill netbook, it’s still an inexpensive alternative to true ultraportables. (Check Price) 

Fujitsu LifeBook N7010, $1499

Who said notebooks had to have just one LCD screen? Fujitsu’s LifeBook N7010 tacks on a secondary 4-inch touchscreen above the keyboard to perform all sorts of extra functions, from serving as a photo frame to a set of media controls. There’s also a built-in Blu-ray drive for watching movies on its large 16-inch Crystal View display, and gesture-enabled touch pad for quicker navigation. (www.fujitsu.com)

Dell Studio Hybrid, $499+

Dell combines high fashion and low electricity usage with the Studio Hybrid, which is both its most efficient desktop to date, and, if we do say so ourselves, its most attractive. With a stylish oval profile and miniscule desktop footprint as small as its environmental footprint, it’s one system you won’t have to hide. Dell also offers it in a stunning array of colors, from classics like Slate and Ruby to more exotic choices like black leather and bamboo. (Check Price)

Sony Vaio JS, $1099

Rounding out its already burgeoning line of all-in-one PCs, Sony added the new Vaio JS series in September, and it’s the most affordable yet. Starting at $1099, the system combines a 20.1-inch monitor with powerful Intel Dual Core processors and other premium hardware in a slick one-piece design reminiscent of the iMac. If you’re considering springing for a giant desktop-replacement notebook, these JS machines would make a great, equally tidy alternative. (Check Price)

MacBook Pro, $1,999+

Speaking of Macs, we would be remiss if we didn’t point out that Mac fans have this gorgeous new machine to look forward to under the tree this season – if they’ve been good boys and girls. With a brighter screen, more powerful graphics card, and faster processor packed inside, it’s a definite upgrade from the last MacBook Pro. And Apple’s new unibody one-piece aluminum frame is the most solid we’ve ever felt. This is the notebook to own if you like Macs and have the change. (Read the Digitaltrends MacBook Pro review) (Check Price)

HP BlackBird 002, $1,799

The BlackBird name might not be new for this year, but the 002 edition of this gaming rig still holds water a year after its introduction – and it’s gone down in price. HP has dropped the price on the most affordable BlackBird down to just $1,799. That will buy you an Intel Core2 Duo clocked at 3.0GHz, 2GB of Corsair DDR2 memory, and ATI’s Radeon HD3870, all neatly packaged into HP’s unmistakably aggressive BlackBird 002 case. Sometimes it pays to wait. (www.hp.com)