jason atchley
Top Laptop Computers for Lawyers
In a world transfixed by smartphones and tablets, laptops are still the best way to get real work done.
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While smartphones and tablets grab the headlines, innumerable lawyers still rely on laptop computers to handle an array of demanding legal and business applications that smaller mobile devices with their limited display, input, processing, memory and storage capabilities often struggle with.
Like all mobile devices, laptops have improved significantly over the past few years in terms of power, storage and connectivity. Today's top models easily outperform most of their desktop counterparts and even entry-level laptops are now more than capable of supporting routine legal and business tasks. At all price points, major advancements have also been made in battery life, portability (size and weight), durability and style.
The challenge facing a lawyer shopping for a new laptop is finding the model that most closely matches his or her work and lifestyle needs and preferences. To narrow down the number of choices, we've selected the top systems in five key categories. Here they are. (Click images to enlarge.)
SMALL AND LIGHTWEIGHT LAPTOP
For many lawyers, having an easy to carry laptop is far preferable to dragging around a larger system that's weighed down by a big screen and other nonessential components. Still, when shopping for a small and lightweight laptop, it's important not to sacrifice essential components, such as a decently sized display and comfortable keyboard, for carrying comfort. Go too far, and you'll find yourself with a system that's actually less useful than a tablet.
HP Spectre 13t-3000
The HP Spectre 13t-3000 strikes an acceptable balance between portability and performance. The system offers a highly readable, 13.3-inch display, a great keyboard, an extra-wide touch pad, a touch-screen, and a lightning-fast, solid-state drive.
Processor: 1.6GHz Intel dual-core i5 processorOS: Microsoft Windows 8
Screen/Display: 13.3-inch, 1920 x 1080 dots, touch-screen
Memory/Storage: 4MB RAM/128GB solid-state drive
Size/Weight: 12.75 x 8.66 x 0.59 inches (width x depth x height); 3.3 pounds
MSRP: $999.99
MacBook Air 11-inch
Mac users looking for highly compact laptops are pretty much limited to the MacBook Air 11-inch. The system's small screen and weak processor are balanced by a solid-state drive and a very lightweight and compact form factor. Apple, incidentally, doesn't offer touch-screens on its laptops. The late Steve Jobs believed that vertical touch-screens are awkward and, over extended periods of time, painful to use.
Processor: 1.3GHz Intel dual-core i5 processorOS: Mac OS X Mavericks
Screen/Display: 11.6-inch, 1366 x 768 dots
Memory/Storage: 4GB/128GB solid-state drive
Size/Weight: 11.8 x 7.56 x 0.68 (w x d x h) inches; 2.38 pounds
MSRP: $999.00
DESKTOP REPLACEMENT LAPTOP
Using a single computer both inside and outside the office is a concept that appeals to lawyers who don't want to waste time synchronizing, configuring and maintaining two systems. The key to this approach is finding a laptop that's powerful enough to effortlessly handle everyday legal and business tasks, yet sufficiently portable to be a reliable traveling companion.
Lenovo ThinkPad X240
Don't let the compact size fool you; the Lenovo ThinkPad X240 is a little dynamo that's more than capable of serving as a desktop replacement. The system's perky processor is complemented by 8 gigabytes of RAM and a relatively spacious 256-gigabyte solid-state disk drive. Whether functioning as a desktop or laptop, the ThinkPad X240 has more than enough power to support virtually any legal or business task.
Processor: 2.10GHz Intel dual-core i5 processorOS: Microsoft Windows 8
Screen/Display: 12.5 inch, 1366 x 768 dots, touch-screen
Memory/Storage: 8GB RAM/256GB solid-state storage
Size/Weight: 12.03 x 8.19 x 0.79 (w x d x h) inches; 3 pounds
MSRP: $1,879.00
Apple MacBook Pro 15-Inch With Retina Display
The stylish top-of-the-line Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch with Retina Display looks good in any office while outperforming most ordinary desktop PCs. The system offers a powerful processor, a boatload of memory (16 gigabytes) and a half-terabyte of storage.
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Jason Atchley Jason Atchley Jason Atchley Jason Atchley Jason Atchley Jason Atchley Jason Atchley Jason Atchley
Jason Atchley Jason Atchley Jason Atchley Jason Atchley Jason Atchley Jason Atchley Jason Atchley Jason Atchley
