Six laptops under Rs 45,000 that you could buy for college
#5 Acer AS4820TG - 5463G50Mnks
Specifications:
Processor: Intel i5-460M - 2.53 Ghz 3M Cache
RAM: 3 GB DDR3 (Upgradable to 8 GB)
Hard disk: 500 GB SATA 5400 Rpm
Screen Size: 14' Active Matrix TFT Colour LCD Resoultion: 1366 x 768
GPU: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 1 GB
OS: Genuine 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium
Weight: 2.20 kg
Price: Rs 42,500-ish
The goods: Fast processor, ample HDD space, very good GPU, Windows 7 home premium (better multimedia capabilities), Thin and light form factor.
The bads: Better deals available at lower prices, glossy screen makes it difficult to see in the sun.
Why is it here?
This is is a good laptop which can easily transform from a business laptop to a gaming one. However it is a little too pricey for its configuration as you will find out.
Six laptops under Rs 45,000 that you could buy for college
#4 Dell Inspiron 14R New Laptop
Specifications
Processor: Intel Core I3-380m (2.53 GHz, 4 Threads, 3M)
RAM: 4GB DDR3
Hard disk: 500 GB SATA 5400 Rpm
Screen Size: 14? (35.6cm) HD WLED Glossy Display with TrueLife™ (1366×768)
GPU: Intel HD Graphics
OS: Genuine Windows 7 Home Basic SP1 64bit (English)
Weight: 2.25 kg.
Price: Rs 34,400-ish.
Pros: RAM, and HDD, lower price, easily portable (14'' screen). Accidental Damage cover by Dell in the warranty period, which can be extended to second year at an extra cost of Rs 3235. Recommended if there is almost no need for gaming and/or viewing HD content.
Cons: No GPU, basic 1st generation i3 processor.
Why is it here?
This is a laptop that is purely for people who are looking for something that matches the rigours of a curriculum; nothing more, nothing less. This laptop can easily take the load of the applications needed in the MBA course, but might tire out if used for gaming or extensive multimedia. Recommended if you absolutely do not need a laptop for gaming or viewing HD content.
Six laptops under Rs 45,000 that you could buy for college
#3 Hewlett-Packard HP G6-1017TU
Specifications
Processor: Intel Core i5-2410M (2.30GHz, 4 threads, turbo boost up to 2.93 Ghz, 3M cache)
RAM: 4 GB DDR3 (Upgradable to 8 GB)
HDD: 320GB SATA 5400 Rpm
Screen Size: 15.6? (39.6cm) HD LED HP BrightView Display (1366×768)
GPU: Intel HD Graphics 3000 (Internal)
OS: Genuine Windows 7 Home Basic SP1 64bit (English)
Weight: 2.4 kg
Price: Rs 40,500
Pros: 2nd Gen i5 processor (fast, really), decent RAM.
Cons: No separate GPU.
Why is it here?
A very well-rounded package for business needs, with a fast processor and ample RAM. Well suited for delivering rich multimedia experience coupled with superb performance in routine tasks. The lack of a separate GPU means that avid gamers might want to look for some other options, but it can handle casual games quite well with Intel HD Graphics 3000 integrated GPU.
Six laptops under Rs 45,000 that you could buy for college
#3 Lenovo IdeaPad Z570 59-067847
Specifications
Processor: Intel Core i5-2410M (2.30GHz, 4 threads, turbo boost up to 2.93Ghz, 3M cache)
RAM: 4 GB DDR3 (Upgradable to 8 GB)
HDD: 640GB SATA 5400 Rpm
Screen Size: 15.6 HD LED Glare (1366×768)
GPU: Integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000
OS: Win7 Home Premium( 64 Bits)
Weight: 2.5 kg
Price: Rs 40,990+tax
Pros: Good processor, RAM and HDD config, Windows 7 Home Premium
Cons: Price, absence of a separate GPU will cause problems for gamers.
Why is it here?
This model has slight edge over the Hewlett Packard HP G6-1017TU as it offers an additional 320GB HDD space and Windows 7 Home premium, which offer better multimedia capabilities over Windows 7 Home Basic. But because of its price the Lenovo ties with HP for #3.
Six laptops under Rs 45,000 that you could buy for college
#2 Lenovo IdeaPad Z570 59-069600
Specifications
Processor: Intel Core i3-2310M (2.10 GHz 3M cache)
RAM: 4GB DDR3 (Upgradable to 8 GB)
HDD: 640GB SATA 5400 Rpm
Screen Size: 14? (35.6cm) Widescreen HD WLED Glossy Display with TrueLife™ (1366×768)
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GT 520M - 1GB
OS: Genuine Windows 7 Home Basic SP1 64-bit (English)
Weight: 2.6 kg
Price: Rs 38,990+tax
Pros: 2nd Gen i3 processor, ample RAM and HDD space, and a separate GPU too!
Cons: The processor could have been faster, like a first generation i-5.
Why is it here?
A gaming laptop, akin to the #1, albeit with slightly downscaled performance parameters. However, the price is lower as well.
The only difference between this and the #1 laptop is the processor. The i3 second generation here, we feel is slightly underpowered. Both of them are at par as far as graphics is concerned with Lenovo's Nvidia 520M only slightly losing out. However with Nvidia's optimizer solution Optimus, the GPU power consumption is regulated for giving an optimum battery life. All in all a very good buy. Let us say Lenovo lost in a photo finish.
Six laptops under Rs 45,000 that you could buy for college
#1 Dell Inspiron 14R
Specifications
Processor: Intel Core i5-480M (2.66GHz, 4Threads, turbo boost up to 2.93Ghz, 3M cache)
RAM: 4 GB DDR3 (Upgradable to 8 GB)
HDD: 320GB SATA 5400 Rpm
Screen Size: 14? (35.6cm) Widescreen HD WLED Glossy Display with TrueLife™ (1366×768)
GPU: ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 5650 - 1GB
OS: Genuine Windows 7 Home Basic SP1 64bit (English)
Weight: 2.25 kg
Price: Rs 40,626 for this configuration, Rs 35,400 without Graphics card and 3 GB RAM.
Pros: Everything. Accidental Damage cover by Dell in the warranty period, which can be extended to second year at an extra cost of Rs 3235..
Cons: HDD space could've been larger.
Why is it here?
An i5 processor with 4GB RAM, coupled with a high-mid range separate GPU we guess that the configuration speaks volumes. And as stated earlier, Dell is known to have a superb after-sales service. It edges out the Lenovo Ideapad Z570 mainly because of its processor and its graphics handling capabilities are far better than the others in this range. The best laptop at this price, for b-school requirements, high definition movie watching and occasional gaming.
PS: For people willing to put a graphics card in their laptops and run the machine for more than 12 hours a day, you might want to invest in a laptop cooling stand. And if you want to use/play unplugged, a 9-cell battery would take care of the extra power consumption.
PPS: Apple makes excellent laptops. It's just that they never bother to come down to this price range.
Advisory
We have observed some people considering the Apple iPad or other tablet devices as a substitute for a full-fledged laptop. If you ask us, tablets such as the iPad or the Blackberry Playbook have not been designed and are not intended to replace a laptop. So please don't think of the iPad as a substitute to a laptop. Tablets for now are niche media consumption devices not geared up for complex spreadsheet or presentation-creating activities.