Laptops Overtaking Desktops?

The computer industry may be undergoing a historic shift. This month, laptops outsold desktop units for the first time.

CNET.com editor-at-large Janice Chen

Some new laptops are so powerful, they can run high-end 3-D games, which typically demand the most powerful desktops.

And laptop prices continue to drop, relative to desktops, as laptop sales seem to be surpassing those of desktops.

In the last year, laptop prices dropped 17 percent, while desktop prices declined 4 percent.

As prices drop and notebooks become more powerful, more people are getting laptops to use in their homes and offices, Chen says. Laptops used to be more of a corporate machine, only.

Laptops are becoming thinner and lighter, and that includes even high-end "desktop replacement" and gaming notebooks, which are powerful and have big screens and every feature under the sun. An example is Dell's XPS Gen 2. It's one of the fastest and slimmest gaming machines we've seen, Chen notes. This is due to new processors that are faster and more energy efficient, meaning you don't need a bulky fan inside the computer. Small "ultra-portables.," such as the Dell Latitude X1, continue to get even smaller.Another laptop trend: better battery life. The new processors from AMD and Intel are more energy efficient, so even with a big screen, which is a power hog, you can get better battery life and watch movies on cross-country flights.

Laptops are getting more wireless connectivity options. In addition to having built-in WiFi, so you can connect to the Internet if you have a wireless network at home or in the office or at a "hotspot" such as airports, Starbucks, and McDonalds, new notebooks will enable you to use cell phone networks to get high-speed Internet access.

As with desktops, laptop buyers face the age-old question of whether to buy Apple or Windows machines.

Chen says Apple has always been on the leading edge of design for notebooks, with its attractive PowerBooks and iBooks. It's also been an innovator and leader in adding features, such as wireless connectivity. Apple was among the first to build wireless into notebooks, and to add DVD-recordable drives to notebooks.

But, while prices have come down significantly, Apple notebooks still tend to be more expensive than similarly configured Windows notebooks. There is also a lot more Windows software available, though "Macs" are great with graphics software, so most graphic artists and photographers use Macs.

While you can now run most Windows software on a Mac, there are still some compatibility and performance issues, Chen explains. But Apple recently announced it will start using Intel chips in its computers, instead of the PowerPC chips in them now, so that could change some of the compatibility issues as well.Chen spotlighted and commented on several of the newest laptops:

Dell Inspiron XPS Gen 2, CNET's Editors' Choice
From $2,400 to about $5,000, depending on which components you choose. This is also a great example of the new trend in high-performance gaming notebooks getting slimmer. With top-of-the-line components, this notebook is more powerful than most desktops, but surprisingly light for such a power-packed system, at just over 8 pounds. Like many gaming desktops, this notebook has special lighting effects: Its lid, side vents and speaker vents light up, and you can select one of 16 colors.

Apple PowerBook G4
$2,600 and up. Arguably one of the most well-designed notebook computers, the PowerBook is super-slim, especially considering its huge 17-inch screen. New features in the latest version include a scrolling track-pad, which makes navigation through documents and Web pages easier by letting you scroll with two fingers. A Sudden Motion Sensor protects the hard drive when you're transporting it. Despite its lowered the price also, it still costs more than a similarly equipped Windows laptop.

HP Pavilion zd8000, CNET's Editors' Choice
$1,200 and up. For $200 over the base price, you can get the system configured with Windows XP Media Center edition and an external TV tuner, which lets you use the laptop as a TV and a TiVo-like video recorder. For $25, you can upgrade to a LightScribe DVD burner, which lets you burn CDs and DVDs and print labels on them. A true "desktop replacement" notebook, this is a very big and heavy notebook, not meant for a lot of traveling. It enables you to combine all your home entertainment functions into one system that you can move from room to room.

Dell Latitude X1
$1,650 and up. Super-lightweight, at 2.5 pounds, it's designed especially for business travelers. Wide-screen display lets you maximize the space on a relatively small screen. For maximum portability, the CD/DVD drive is external, so you don't have to take it with you when you don't need it.

Apple iBook 12-inch
$999 and up. Great design like the PowerBook, but considerably less expensive. Rugged design makes it great for students. For people who want the sleek design and portability of a Mac notebook, this is a great option on a budget.

Gateway M460s
$900 and up. Good example of a mainstream notebook. Not the biggest and most powerful, nor the thinnest or lightest. Doesn't have the latest components, such as the fastest hard drive or best graphics, but still offers good performance and long battery-life at a super-low price for a notebook.