Multimedia laptops are becoming an important part of the laptop market. This isn’t terribly surprising. Laptops have been slowly replacing desktops for years now, but most users want their laptop to be capable of the same tasks their desktop can handle. This includes playing HD video.
This used to be a problem. HD video can be very demanding on processor resources, and mobile processor designs that were popular just a couple years ago could choke in some cases. However, advancements in the last two years have made HD video performance an almost non-issue. First, mobile processors (such as the Intel Core i3) have improved significantly. Second, integrated graphics solutions can now help play HD video.
These advancements are cause for celebration. Multimedia laptops are now inexpensive and readily available. In this article I’m going to highlight three of the best inexpensive multimedia laptops available today. These laptops are under $800, but are fully capable of playing HD video.
Lenovo Z560
The recently released Lenovo Z560 is a 1960′s talk show host. Its hair is slicked back and shiny, its pose is friendly but stiff, and it is always wearing a rather dour suit. It isn’t exactly sexy, but it certainly entertains, and does so with a elegance that is rarely found among more modern options.
I’m referring, of course, to the Z560′s silver-and-gray exterior of tough black plastics and smooth aluminum. Its both ugly and beautiful. Once you get past the looks – love them or hate them – you’ll find that the Z560 has a heart of gold. Okay, its actually silicon, but its damn good silicon – a Core i3 processor with Intel HD Graphics. Put these together and you have a recipe for HD entertainment. The Z560 sings well, too, thanks to Dolby 2.0 speakers. They lack bass, but they’re otherwise very crisp and loud.
, making it the best multimedia laptop value on the market today.
HP Pavilion dv7
Do you want your multimedia laptop to be large and in charge? Consider the HP Pavilion dv7. This massive desktop replacement multimedia laptop has a 17.3″ display. It also weighs about 9 pounds, so this isn’t exactly something you’ll want to take on long trips. The large display has a resolution of 1600×900, however, which makes HD video look superb.
You won’t be lacking in power, either. The dv7 offers a AMD Triple-Core processor running at 2.1 GHz and ATI Radeon HD 5650 graphics. The graphics are particularly impressive and allow the dv7 to moonlight as a gaming laptop. When it comes to entertainment, the dv7 can handle anything you throw at it.
And get this – the dv7, one of the best and most powerful multimedia laptops, . The dv7 is the clear choice for those who don’t care about portability.
Samsung R580
The Samsung R580 was, in a rare move, recently downgraded. It used to have a Core i5 processor with Nvidia 310M graphics. Now it has a Core i3 processor with Intel HD graphics. So, it is certainly slower than it used to be.
However, it is also less expensive. The price used to hover just under $900 – now it is $750. And while the processor and graphics have been downgraded, the rest of the laptop is the same. Yes, that means the R580 still comes with a Blu Ray drive standard. $750 for a 15.6″ laptop with a Blu Ray drive? Crazy, I know. The R580 also has a new trick up its sleeve – Intel Wireless Display support. This streams video from the laptop to a compatible adapter (not included) hooked up to your TV.
That seems like crazy talk, but there you have it. You’ll have to walk into your local Best Buy to get it, however, or order from Best Buy online. No other store carries the R580.
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