How to Compare Light Laptops

Compare the features that are most important to you.

A light laptop is any laptop with a 13- to 15-inch display, which is powerful enough to handle most applications. When comparing light laptops, the hard drive, display type, and battery life are three important components to examine.

Hard Drive

As of November 2010, laptops are sold with either a traditional magnetic head hard drive or a solid state hard drive (SSHD). Solid state hard drives use flash memory, much like flash drives, and are faster, lighter and more durable than magnetic disk drives. They also have less storage space and are more expensive. A light laptop with an SSHD may be lighter and thinner, but it will also cost more.

Display Type

Before 2007, nearly all laptop displays were illuminated with Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL) lights. As of November 2010, some laptops with CCFL lights are still sold, but LED backlights are becoming more common. LED lights are brighter than CCFL lights, and create better contrast levels. LED lights are also thinner and lighter, so a laptop with an LED display may be smaller and weigh less.

Battery Life

According to a PC World article, most lightweight and ultra-portable laptop batteries last between four and six hours. If you'll be traveling with your laptop or using it in places where you can't keep it constantly charged, then battery life is a factor you must take into account.

References

• PC Perspective: Intel X25-M 80GB Solid State Hard Drive Review
• PC Magazine: Asus U30Jc-A1
• Eco PC Review: LED Backlit (mercury-free) Laptops Arrive
• Notebook Check: SSs and HDDs in Comparison
• Cnet: Laptops with the Best Battery Life
• PC World: Holiday Laptop Buying Guide - Shopping for the Right Notebook

Resources

• Cnet: Best thin and light laptops
• Computer Shopper: Thin-and-Light Laptops Buying Guide