Business Notebooks

Business notebooks are more durable and secure than consumer notebooks, offering helpful features like spill-resistant keyboards and tools to help protect your data. Business machines are also designed to be more manageable than typical notebooks. Sizes range from 12 to 17 inches, and a decently equipped business notebook starts at around $549. A full-featured business notebook starts at about $749.

A business notebook is the right choice for employees of both small and large companies, as well as sole proprietors who need a productivity workhorse. If you travel often or need your notebook to last at least three years, it’s worth paying a little bit more of a business machine.

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What Can You Expect From a Business Notebook?

• Processor: 1.8-GHz to 2.4-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU.
  
  
• RAM: 2 to 4GB of RAM.
  
  
• Display: 12 to 17-inch screens are the norm, with resolutions ranging from 1280 x 800 to 1920 x 1200.
  
  
• Keyboard and Pointing Devices: Keyboards tend to be spill-resistant. Touchpads are nearly ubiquitous, but some systems also feature a pointing stick, which allows users to navigate around the desktop with greater precision.
  
  
• Hard Drive: 5,400- or 7,200-rpm drives that are either shock-mounted or protected by a 3D accelerometer. Encrypted hard drives are optional, and solid state drive options abound.
  
  
• Security Features: Expect a fingerprint reader, TPM (Trusted Platform Module) circuitry, and encryption software.
  
  
• Wireless Connectivity: 802.11n, Bluetooth, and sometimes integrated mobile broadband.

Buying Tips for Business Notebooks

• Choose the right size: If it will see a lot of use on airplane tray tables or be schlepped home on your daily commute, opt for a business notebook with a 12- to 13-inch screen. If the machine will simply be carried from your office to a conference room and back, go for one with a larger screen (14 to 15 inches).
  
  
• Go high-res: Unless you have eyesight problems, you’ll want the most pixels available so you can fit more windows and see more of your documents on-screen. If possible, avoid 16:9 aspect ratio displays (resolutions such as 1366 x 768) in favor of 16:10 screens (1280 x 800, 1440 x 900, etc). The greater number of vertical pixels in 16:10 displays will allow you to read more of your important documents without scrolling.
  
  
• Opt for speedy storage: Don’t settle for anything slower than a 7,200-rpm hard drive on a business system. If you can afford it, buy a solid state drive. The added speed provided by an SSD will greatly improve your productivity, as you will spend less time waiting for applications and files to open and save. SSDs are also more durable than traditional SATA hard drives.
  
  
• Durability matters: Most business portables will see travel during their lifespan, so features like magnesium-alloy outer shells, reinforced inner frames, spill-resistant keyboards, and hard drive protection systems are important.
  
  
• Graphics considerations: If you are using 3D graphics-intensive applications like CAD software, or you’re doing a lot of video editing, a discrete graphics card will benefit you. However, if you mostly use productivity apps (Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook) or only edit still images, integrated graphics will save you money and improve battery life. Some systems even offer switchable graphics, allowing you to get the best of both worlds.
  
  
• Bump up your security: Should it fall into the wrong hands, a business notebook should protect the locally stored data as well as the company network. A fingerprint reader will take care of the former, while TPM circuitry can handle password management. An encrypted hard drive is yet another way to keep your data from falling into the wrong hands. Services such as Computrace LoJack for Laptops also help keep your data secure.
  
  
• Connectivity: For business buyers, 802.11n Wi-Fi is a must, because it offers better range than 802.11g. Frequent travelers may also want to consider a model with embedded mobile broadband (either EV-DO or HSDPA) connectivity. Service isn’t cheap (about $60 per month for 5GB), but these 3G data networks offer good nationwide coverage, and a subscription can pay for itself in increased productivity and the money you’ll save in airport and hotel connection fees.