Top Three Laptops Under Rs. 40,000

If you aren’t still aware, we have a comment section at the bottom of every article where readers can post their comments on the article. The comments are moderated and we (the authors) have to approve it before the public can see it. Now, the reason why I am saying all this in a laptop article is because of the sheer number of comments that we still receive, every single day for an article that’s six months old. With technology outperforming itself like never before, even six months is a long time and that’s very well reflected in the processors used for the laptops mentioned below. From Pentium M and Celeron we now have all three laptops with dual core processors with two of them featuring Intel’s Core Duo Processors. So without wasting further time, let’s have a look at the three contenders.
Please Note:
We will be mentioning important points in the laptop description below. For a complete comprehensive feature list please refer to the comparison table.

Acer 5572ZNWXMi (Rs. 39,490)

This one has the richest set of features among all three. It’s powered by Intel’s 1.6 GHz T2050 Core Duo processor. Although it doesn’t belong to the Intel’s latest line of Core 2 Duo processors (Notice the ‘2’ between Core and Duo) the performance difference under normal applications is almost unnoticeable. Only in 3D rendering applications and encoding tasks will you notice a difference of about 10 to 20%. RAM is same across all three laptops—512MB DDR2and the Acer features a 667MHz module. The 5572ZNWXMi comes with a massive 120GB SATA hard drive. That’s pretty commendable for a budget laptop. Another noticeable feature is the screen resolution—1280x800 for a 14.1 inch wide-screen. The screen comes with a glossy anti-reflective finish that’s makes the colors more vibrant. The motherboard features Intel’s 945 chipset and has Intel’s GMA950 onboard graphic processor.

The downside, though not major, is in the placement of USB ports. There are three in total with one on the left hand side and two behind. All the current generation laptops with good design make it a point to have all the ports on the front or sides so that they are easily accessible. Another downside is the provision of a PCMCIA slot instead of ExpressCard slot. ExpressCard is the new standard offering much higher bandwidth. Though not many devices are available as of now, it will surely be the de-facto standard six months ahead.

Connectivity options are pretty standard with a 10/100 LAN, 56K modem and wireless 802.11 b/g. It features a standard six cell battery that lasts for around two hours and comes with a patent leather carry bag. Other extras worth mentioning include a 0.3 MP webcam and a SD/MMC/Memory Stick Duo/Pro Card reader. With regards to the weight, at 2.4 Kilos its neither light nor too heavy.

As with most entry-level laptops, the OS installed on this system is Linux. It has a one year ‘carry-in’ warranty. Carry-in indicates that in case of a problem with the laptop and a part needs to be replaced, you will have to take the laptop to the service center. In Mumbai, there are only two service centers, at Mahalakshmi and Mulund.
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HCL AX008002 (Rs. 39,490)

The AX8002 has the same processor as the Acer— Intel’s 1.6 GHz T2050 Core Duo processor. RAM is 512MB DDR2 running at 533 MHz. Hard drive size is cut to half in the HCL laptop with a capacity of 60GB. It also uses the SATA interface. This one features a 14.0 inch gloss wide-screen with a native resolution of 1280x768.

The high points here are the placement of ports and the availability of a firewire port. The AX008002 also comes with the latest Express Card Slot and features Gigabit LAN.

Other standard features include, 8x dual layer DVD writer, Linux OS, card reader and a six cell battery that lasts around 2 hours and a carry case similar to that of the Acer 5572ZNWXMi. Please make sure you take the Windows driver for the laptop from the vendor at the time of purchase. Trust me! locating drivers online can be very painful. Again, warranty is similar to that of Acer’s i.e. Carry-in and the service center in Mumbai is located at Saki Naka.

The laptop weighs 2.5 Kg.
__PAGEBREAK__Dell 1501 n-Series (Rs. 39,157)

The answer to Dell’s Numero Uno position in the world’s PC market lies in their legendary service. Dell offers 24/7 support and On-site warranty i.e. if you have a problem with your laptop, you can call their helpline numbers and sort out the issue. If a part needs replacement, Dell will send their representative directly to your home, eliminating the need to go to a service center.

We couldn’t fit in a Core Duo processor in a configuration under Rs. 40,000. Dell only sells their laptops online. That gives the opportunity to configure a laptop to your choice. You cannot mix and match anything, rather Dell has a pre-configured configuration wherein you can make changes, like increase the RAM or opt for a 9-cell battery instead of a 6-cell battery.

We modified the 1501 n-Series for a DVD writer instead of a Combo drive and added a nylon carry bag taking the cost to Rs. 39,157 with 4% VAT inclusive. Mumbai customers have to pay an additional 5% as Octroi.

Coming back to the main features, the 1501 features an AMD 1.6 GHz X2 TL-50 dual core processor. Though this processor is not as fast as the Core Duo or the Core 2 Duo, the performance difference hardly matters for general applications. In fact if you are leaning towards installing Windows Vista Premium or Ultimate, (again, the 1501 comes pre-installed with DOS), it can be done without any hassle. Dell has the ATI Xpress 1150 as its onboard graphics chip, which is the best of the lot and is Vista Premium capable i.e. it can comfortably run Aero Glass. For Vista premium capability, you will have to up your RAM to 1GB.

It comes with a 15.4 inch wide-screen with a resolution of 1280x800 pixels. Connectivity is in the form of 10/100 LAN, 56k Modem and 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi. Other features include a 80GB SATA hard drive and a 6 cell battery.

The 1501 weighs 2.7 kg. The reason for the increase in the overall weight is the Dell’s 15.4-inch screen as compared to a 14.1 in the above two comparisons.
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Comparison Table

Conclusion
The competition is mainly between the Dell and the Acer but HCL has one feature in Gigabit LAN that are missing in the other two. Acer, has a faster processor in the 1.6 GHz T2050 Intel Core Duo as compared to AMD’s 1.6 GHz X2 TL-50. Acer also has a larger capacity hard drive—120GB SATA as compared to the 80GB SATA. Besides it has other additional features like an integrated 0.3 MP webcam and a card reader.

On the other hand, the Dell has a powerful onboard graphic solution in the Xpress 1150 that is Vista Premium capable and can comfortably run Aero. Besides, Dell has the advantage of their brilliant support and service.

A Word of Advice: It’s a known fact, that laptops that come with no operating system installed, end up getting a pirated copy of Windows, though we strongly recommend against it. If you are planning on installing Vista, go for the Dell and up your RAM to 1GB. Also, if you are a first time user, Dell is what you should be looking at.

If you are decently aware of how a computer system works, the feature-packed Acer would be a better option.