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This story was printed from CNET Asia.
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Notebook Price Watch

By Darius Chang
18/12/2009
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/notebooks/0,39050495,62044141,00.htm

SITEX might be a distant memory to some, but some stores in Sim Lim Square are still offering the same prices and freebies given during the show. So don't pay retail and remember to ask for the best deals.

Though SITEX was supposed to be the last major IT fair in Singapore for the year, there is a new kid on the block. The first C3 (Computer, Communication and Consumer Electronics) show is going on from today till December 20. With consumers having heavier wallets, thanks to the year-end bonus, this could be the last chance for vendors to boost their annual sales figures, so we can expect some pretty nice deals there. If you are looking for a laptop, you can hop on down to Suntec Convention Centre and see what C3 has to offer.


Netbooks
Budget laptops

Performance notebooks
Price lists
Previous price lists


Highlights:
  • Latest reviews
  • Top 5 Blu-ray notebooks
  • Top 5 ultrathin laptops
  • Top 5 Core i7 laptops
  • Top 10 laptops of October
  • The battle between budget laptops
  • Fujitsu unveils the LifeBook UH900
  • Hands on with the Dell Vostro 13: A cheaper Adamo?
  • Acer claims it'll be out first with Chrome OS Netbook

    • Netbooks

    With the tech world waiting for the Pine Trail platform, most stores are in a hurry to clear the current crop of Atom-based Netbooks. You can therefore expect a pretty good bargain if you do not need the performance of the upcoming chipset.

    Our top three picks

    Model name
    Specs
    Price
    Vendor

    Acer Aspire One 751    		 Intel Atom processor (1.66GHz); 1GB RAM; 160GB HDD; 11.6-inch screen; integrated graphics card; Windows XP Home S$699 MC2, PA Mart
    Selling point: One of the first Netbooks with an 11.6-inch display, this Aspire One offers a comfortable keyboard along with a HD-ready screen.


    Model name
    Specs
    Price
    Vendor

    Toshiba NB200     		Intel Atom processor (1.66GHz); 1GB RAM; 160GB HDD; 10.1-inch screen; integrated graphics card; Windows XP Home S$599 PA Mart
    Selling point: Though it's a little hefty, this Netbook has one of the best keyboards for its class. And the excellent battery life doesn't hurt, either.


    Model name
    Specs
    Price
    Vendor

    MSI Wind U100+     		Intel Atom processor (1.66GHz); 2GB RAM; 160GB HDD; 10.1-inch screen; integrated graphics card; Windows XP Home S$499 Firdouse
    Selling point: One of the more popular Netbooks with an excellent keyboard. This model also comes bundled with a larger six-cell battery for longer uptimes.

    Budget

    With consumers wising up to the fact that Windows 7 has already become the norm, most vendors are offering free upgrades to Windows 7 for their earlier Vista stock without any shipping or handling charges. Still, make sure this is the case if you are eyeing a Vista notebook deal by ensuring that you do not get saddled with upgrade fees.

    Our top three picks

    Model name
    Specs
    Price
    Vendor

    Dell Inspiron 11z     		Celeron processor (1.3GHz); 2GB RAM; 250GB HDD; 11.6-inch screen; integrated graphics card; Windows 7 Home Premium

    S$849

    		 Dell online store
    Selling point: Despite its Netbook-like pricing, this machine not only has a superior computing and graphics performance, but also comes with a free external DVD drive to sweeten the deal.


    Model name
    Specs
    Price
    Vendor

    eMachine D725     		Pentium Dual-Core processor (2.2GHz); 2GB RAM; 250GB HDD; 14.1-inch screen; integrated graphics card; DVD writer; Windows 7 Home Premium S$799 MC2
    Selling point: Possibly one of the cheapest dual-core portables in the market, this notebook now comes with a slightly faster processor and the Windows 7.


    Model name
    Specs
    Price
    Vendor

    Lenovo G450    		 Pentium Dual-Core processor (2.1GHz); 2GB RAM; 250GB HDD; 14.1-inch display; integrated graphics card; DVD writer; Windows Vista Home Premium S$899 MC2
    Selling point: This business machine may not look exciting, but offers great value in a strong and sturdy chassis.

    Performance

    Core i7 machines are slowing becoming the norm in this category so seek out only machines with the latest Intel processor if performance is your goal. Otherwise, some of the older Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Quad notebooks are worth considering, too, if you are looking for a good bargain.

    Our top three picks

    Model name
    Specs
    Price
    Vendor

    Dell Studio XPS 16    		 Core i7 processor (1.6GHz); 4GB RAM; 500GB HDD; 15.6-inch screen; ATI Mobility Radeon HD4670 graphics card; Blu-ray combo drive; Windows 7 Home Premium S$2,699 Dell online store
    Selling point: Decked out with the latest Core i7 processor and Windows 7 operating system, this laptop still managed to come in at a very affordable price. In addition, little extras such as a leather trim and a backlit keyboard add to its appeal.


    Model name
    Specs
    Price
    Vendor

    HP Envy 15     		Core i7 processor (1.6GHz); 8GB RAM; 500GB HDD; 15.6-inch screen; Nvidia ATI Mobility Radeon HD4830 graphics card; external Blu-ray combo drive; Windows 7 Home Premium S$3,699 HP dealers
    Selling point: One of the first to sport Intel's latest Core i7 chipsets, this Envy packs a powerful computing platform in a sleek and stunning body.


    Model name
    Specs
    Price
    Vendor

    Acer Aspire 8935G     		Core 2 Quad processor (2.0GHz); 4GB RAM; 1TB HDD; 18.4-inch screen; ATI Mobility Radeon HD4670 graphics card; Blu-ray writer; Windows 7 Home Premium S$3,498 MC2
    Selling point: The Acer Aspire 8935G impressed us by being able to cram in almost every mobile entertainment feature known to man, and somehow managed to come in at an affordable price.