Choosing the right laptop is always hard, as you not only have to consider your price limit, but also your needs as well; do you want it for just browsing the Internet and sending emails, or do you want to create graphical work? We thought we would take a look at some of the best PORTABLE Windows laptops just to make things a little easier for you.

First up we have the Sony VAIO SB Series, which not only offers great performance from an ultraportable laptop, but also a thin design to go with it. Speaking of the design, it’s no secret that Windows laptops have never been that radical when it comes to their designs, so funny how they try and change their ways to copy Apple and the MacBook Air.
Okay, so back to this laptop from Sony; the base model starts at just $900, but you can spend up to $2,500 if you wish. Specs can go up to a Core i7-2620M processor, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD.

If we are looking at ultra slim Windows laptops, then how can we leave out the Samsung Series 9, which is a true successor to the MacBook Air? Samsung are being very bold with this laptop, as we all know what happened when Dell tried to do the same with the Adamo. However, the South Korean consumer electronics maker seems more on the ball than Dell does these days. So let’s take a look at specs and pricing. The CPU is a 1.4GHz Core i5, there’s 4GB of RAM, 128GB SSD and Intel’s HD Graphics 3000. You have to love the antiglare screen and the metal body, but the below par specs and dodgy clickpad could be a put off. Expect to pay around $1649.

Third on our list is the Lenovo ThinkPad X1, which some people seem to pass over due to the fact that Samsung and Sony have a much larger advertising budget. If you are looking for a laptop that offers a solid construction while staying thin and light, then this is for you. However, there is a trade-off, as the battery will run down rather quickly. Specs include Core i3 processor, 4GB or RAM, 320GB hard drive (SSD options available) and finally HD Graphics 3000, same as the Series 9 above. Prices start from $1199 but increase to $1304.

How can we look at the best portable laptops without considering the Dell Vostro V131. Some people will think that Dell has lost their way a little, and they would be right. However, you cannot take away the fact that this laptop is a pretty impressive machine. If you or the person you wish to buy for needs a laptop that is inexpensive and has two USB 3.0 ports then this is for you. However, we have to point out that this is pushing the limits of the name ultraportable, as it’s much larger than the others. That being said, the Intel Core i5-2410 CPU, 4GB of DDR3 RAM and 320GB hard drive should keep you happy. The price is just $799, there is a cheaper version, but that means drooping to a Celeron processor and just 2GB of RAM.

Well these are just four of what we believe to be a good choice; we just hope that we have helped you make the right one?

Something else that we noticed was its cool price tag of $999, this looks like a decent laptop that doesn’t break the bank. You can get the laptop in a few different versions paying for upgrades. See below for the base specs, courtesy of Slashgear.com.

This laptop has been designed to be high powered when needed, but to also to go easy on your battery. From the base specs above you can see that the power is definitely there but this is a laptop with a difference, the xm15 can deliver graphics for a wide variety of media content. This is all due to the NVIDIA’s GT425M 1GB video card. The laptop uses the Optimus Hybrid technology and it will actually switch automatically to a separate, less high powered video card for applications that don’t require the high level graphics. As a user you wouldn’t even notice that it had switched.

You can read more about the laptop from Slashgear.com, or alternatively, you can head over to Digital Storm’s forum here. When you reach the forum, have a read of the other technological advantages of this laptop’s internal workings.

We can see this being useful but can you? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Darren Murph over at Engadget is reporting that the new laptop which has just been launched in Japan has an 11.6 inch display. The unit has a lot of good specifications considering its compact size, which include a 1.33GHz dual core i5-470UM processor.

Added to that is a 320GB hard drive, 2GB of RAM, 1366 x 768 resolution display, and 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi. Other features include a 1.3 megapixel webcam, 4-in-1 card reader,, HDMI / VGA outputs, an Ethernet port, and a six-cell battery which may last for up to six hours. It has Windows 7 Home Premium bundled with it, and there is even Bluetooth 3.0. Priced at 65,000 yen, or about $775.

Currently priced at $599 which is a saving of $300 the HP comes packed with a host of features. These include an Intel Core i3-350M 2.26GHz processor, 4GB memory, 15.6” HD HP Bright View LED display. There is also the added bonus of a Blu-ray ROM with SuperMulti DVDñR/RW Double Layer Support.

A Brushed aluminum finish gives the HP a smart look and feel. You will also find a 5-in-1 digital card reader, and the keyboard has the nice feature of being backlit. Software bundled with the laptop is Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. It will be delivered within one business day free of charge.

Do you like the look of this HP Laptop?

The HP G56-129WM does not offer the same performance as the other two models above, but it will serve its purpose well. This has a 15.6-inch display and has been finished in black. I do find it funny how Walmart says that it will go with the décor in your home, but it just looks like another big lump of plastic to me.

Looking at the specs, the HP G56-129WM Laptop PC is not going to set any benchtest records, but it is more than up to the job of everyday use. You get a 2.2GHz Intel Celeron 900 processor, 3GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive. There’s also a DVD burner and a 10/100 Ethernet; 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi card.

Additional features include 3 USM ports, Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, and a 6-cell lithium-ion battery. As you can see from those specs above this is a entry-level laptop by today’s standards. Walmart currently has no price details, but we can be sure that they will update this soon.

Dell is one brand of laptop that always does well over Black Friday, so why should 2010 be any different? Walmart tends to have a few exclusive only models, but they have yet to introduce any on their website. The most wanted range of Dell laptops that I think are wanted this and every other year is the Inspiron range. These are mid range, so will appeal to most consumers in the market for a new laptop.

The most popular brand of laptops over the BF weekend has to be HP. While looking over on the Hewlett Packard website, the everyday computing range looks to be the most popular choice. All of their range is new on the website, but older models would have been removed from the site to make room. It makes sense that these older models will still be available in store for Black Friday – allowing stores to shift stock to make way for those new models.

These are just two brands of laptops that will do very well over Black Friday 2010. For those of you thinking about getting a bargain price on a MacBook pro or Air, then forget it – we all know what Apple is like? TVs will also do well this year, and Walmart has already started to offer deals on televisions ahead of Black Friday weekend.

Erica Ogg of Cnet is reporting in an article that Toshiba had earlier posted on its support forums last week a recall of several models of its Satellite T130 laptops. According to the CPSC there have been 129 cases of “overheating and deforming the plastic casing area around the AC adapter plug.”

On its web site Toshiba said the problem is a “faulty DC-In harness,” that can lead to the Laptop melting where the AC adapter connects to the unit. A BIOS update has been made available for users to download to solve the problem, and is recommended to be done straight away.

The list of models in the recall is: Satellite Pro T130-W1302, T130-EZ1301
Satellite T135D-S1326, T135D-SP2012L, T135-SP2909R, T135D-SP2012M, T135-SP2013L, T135-SP2013M, T135D-S1322, T135-S1330, T135D-S1328WH, T135D-S1328RD, T135D-S1328, T135D-S1327, T135D-S1325WH, T135D-S1325RD, T135D-S1325, T135D-S1324, T135D-S1320, T135-SP2911R, T135-S1312, T135-S1310WH, T135-S1310RD, T135-S1310, T135-S1309, T135-S1307, T135-S1305WH, T135-S1305RD, T135-S1305, T135-S1300WH, T135-S1300RD, T135-S1300, T135-SP2911C, T135-SP2911A, T135-SP2910R, T135-SP2910C, T135-SP2910A, T135-SP2909C, T135-SP2909A

Alan Mozes has written an article on USA Today that looks at some of the results from some research from the University of North Carolina. They point out that the main issue is how users are unable to arrange the keyboard and monitor (like the new New Apple 27-inch Cinema Display) on a laptop as they would on a desktop PC to get the perfect position.

Physician Dr. Kevin Carneiro said “When you use a laptop, you have to make some sort of sacrifice,” and he certainly has a point. I do not know how many times I have changed my seat or its position, as well as laptop stands just to try and get that perfect balance – something that I still look for now.

However, the research shows that there are certain steps that students and other long-term laptop users can take. The first tip is to make certain that your body forms 90-degree angles on your elbows, hips and knees. If you can, always try and connect your laptop to a monitor and add a keyboard (such as the Logitech K800) as well.

The most important thing is to make sure that you are in a position where you do not bend your neck – this will be the one thing that will help reduce the risk of headaches.

For a complete guide on how to reduce the risk of laptop-itis’ visit USA Today.

Laptop Lifts is great for those of you who are on a budget, also the fact that they do not take up any extra space like most other laptop coolers on the market. Laptop Lifts are a simple design and use the passive cooling concept to keep your laptop cool. The downside to this product is that it will only provide cooling while on a flat surface and not on your lap.

The concept of the design is simple, it raises your laptop just enough to increase airflow, this then keeps the temperature of the laptop down by a few degrees. The laptop lifts also provides a little extra grip, so your laptop will not slide around on flat surfaces, great, as the base of your laptop will not scratch.

The Laptop Lifts comes in a vacuum formed sealed packaging, allowing you to see what comes in the pack. You get two long laptop lifts and four short ones, all made from rubber with double-sided sticky tape on the rear.

Before we proceeded to place them on our laptop I made certain that, I put a t-shirt on the table so I did not scratch the top of my laptop. I then turned my laptop over so I could find the best place to position the lifts; I had a bit of a problem there. I have a Dell Studio 15 laptop and for those of you who have one know that the edges on the base all slope away, meaning that nothing flat will sit on it. I thought I would try to stick them to the rear of the laptop on the base; the laptop then rocked and was annoying.

My next step was to try it on my wife’s Compaq laptop; this was a bit better I only needed to place two of the small ones on the rear of the base, as most of the areas were not perfect for the laptop lifts. It seems that most of you will have the trouble of finding a laptop that will allow the longer lifts.

I made certain that I cleaned the surface first with an alcohol based cleaner; this assures that the laptop lifts will stick. The whole process is so simple; just peel of the backing of the laptop lifts and then place them in position the press gently. Then turn your laptop over and you are ready to go.

We did notice that the laptop temperature was down by a few degrees, which certainly helps with the running of the device. Overall, we have to say that the concept is simple, but the cooling of the laptop depends on where your laptop vents its air. If you are looking for a quick, easy and cheap way to keep your laptop cool then the Laptop Lifts are perfect for the job.

For more information visit: www.laptoplifts.com