Across the board, the consumer group lists Apple's MacBooks as the best, The Loop reports. Access to the recently refreshed rankings and scores requires a subscription.
According to the report, the 11-inch MacBook Air scored a 62 out of a 100, besting Gateway's second-place score of 52. HP came in third in the small laptop category with a score of 49.
Apple took an impressive five of the top seven spots in the 13-inch category. The 13-inch MacBook Air led the pack with 76 points, while Sony and Asus took the final two places. The Mac maker took three of the top spots in the15-inch category, though the competition lagged by just three points.
In the 17-inch category, Apple took the top two spots with scores of 80 and 81. However, it should be noted that Apple did not win the 14-inch category, since it doesn't make a laptop that qualifies for the size class.
Consumer Reports declared the late 2010 MacBook Airs best in their respective classes last year shortly after their October launch.
Apple released the latest batch of MacBook Pros in February, adding Sandy Bridge processors and the new high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology.
Last month, the group rated the iPad 2 as the best tablet on the market. "So far, Apple is leading the tablet market in both quality and price, which is unusual for a company whose products are usually premium priced," said Paul Reynolds, Electronics Editor at Consumer Reports. "However, it's likely we'll see more competitive pricing in tablets as other models begin to hit the market."
The organization sparked a controversy last year after it rescinded its recommendation of the iPhone 4 after testing the device for signal-loss problems. The research group had previously stated that there was "no reason" to forgo buying an iPhone 4 over reception concerns.
38 Comments
Well maybe I'm wrong but it does seem like other competitors would have a much harder time competing with the iPad 2's price, since apple makes the OS and the hardware. Not only that but the iPad 2 is simply the best tablet experience out right now IMO! I sure would like to get a new MacBook air. Had anybody test drove the new MacBook airs yet?
EDIT: are the new sandy bridge MacBook airs out yet? :-S
EDIT again!: nevermind a quick google search just let me know how uninformed I am! Scratch the MBA question! Lol
The king of rating coffee makers and washing machines is at it again. I mean, does CR even know that Sandy Bridge isn't a real bridge made of sand?
Well maybe I'm wrong but it does seem like other competitors would have a much harder time competing with the iPad 2's price, since apple makes the OS and the hardware. Not only that but the iPad 2 is simply the best tablet experience out right now IMO! I sure would like to get a new MacBook air. Had anybody test drove the new MacBook airs yet?
EDIT: are the new sandy bridge MacBook airs out yet? :-S
EDIT again!: nevermind a quick google search just let me know how uninformed I am! Scratch the MBA question! Lol
I test drove a MBA at Best Buy(hate that damn place) and it is freaking awesome!!!!!!!!!!!
I have the first generation unibody aluminum macbook from 2008 before it became the macbook pro. Fu***** insane piece of hardware man. Never a virus, never a shut down. Nothing. The experience is beyond words. Screw the pc.
But... but... but.... it doesn't have Blu-ray, HDMI, 21"-Matte Display, USB17, 20TB RAM with 100PetaByte Hard Drive!! It's just an overpriced notebook!
</sarcasm>
Seriously, the competitors just can't touch the entire polished package that the Macbooks have. From the quality construction to the awesome OSX. Oh.. and it'll run Windows too if you must.
Writing this from my late 2010 13" MBA. Absolutely phenomenal machine! Apple earned it!
21"-Matte Display
Just to chime in on the matte display thing.
For the record, the last iMac I bought was back when they had a matte display and I won't buy another as long as they only have glossy displays. The glossy display physically hurts my eyes and I can't use it for very long.
On smaller devices, the glossy display isn't really a big deal to me. iPad has a glossy display and I love it. I suppose the reason for the difference is that you can easily move the smaller device to get a good viewing angle. So on a MacBook Air, I think a glossy display would be less of an issue than on the iMac.