Tags: 120gb, 17 inch, macbook

Laptop lowdown: 25 things you need to know to buy the perfect notebook

In the market for a new notebook? Check out our list of 25 things you need to consider before you hit the shops.

We round up the key specs, pricing and features of the current MacBook family in one handy spot.

Alienware Area-51 m9750

Alienware's flagship gaming laptop, the Area-51 m9750, has plenty of appeal for high-end gamers, but the alien head aesthetic seems dated, and newer components are right around the corner.
Apple MacBook (Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz, 13-inch, black)

The new MacBook, updated to Intel's Core 2 Duo CPU, compares very favourably with Apple's high-end MacBook Pro line, offering premium performance at a reasonable price.
Apple MacBook Pro (15.4-inch 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo)

If you've been holding off on making the leap to a MacBook because of the lack of Core 2 Duo processors, this new update adds the latest Intel CPUs and provides a great overall computing experience, albeit at a premium price.

Next-Gen Notebooks: Intel Centrino Duo Launch Guide

If you are planning on buying a new notebook in 2006, you'll more than likely be looking at one with a new computing platform from Intel known as Centrino Duo. Here's what you need to know as well as a first look at some of notebooks that are using the platform at launch.