Tech Tools: Laptops 101

Our must-see guide for all the latest and greatest laptops

In a back-to-school spirit, we look at the best new laptops to tote from class to class (or meeting to meeting), the best laptop backpack to stow them in, and excellent accessories to help you get the most out of your computer. If you’re seeking portability without sacrificing performance, these systems and accessories earn our top grades.

Heavy-duty Storage

Kingston Data-Traveler R500
Considering the largest storage capacity for an iPad is 64GB, the fact that this pocket-sized USB flash drives holds 128GB is kind of astonishing. The Data-Traveler R500 is basically a massive upgrade for your computer’s hard drive, but it can be pocketed and taken anywhere, which is where its durable, rubber-coated design comes in handy. After all, what good is a ton of storage if it’s not well-protected from accidental drops or spills? Whether you use Windows or a Mac system, the R500 is compatible without any extra formatting on your end. $199 MSRP

Portable Wireless Audio

Jawbone’s Big Jambox
While the Bang & Olufsen system on the Asus ZENBOOK is a nice feature, there’s no getting around a simple truth: Laptops rarely come equipped with great speakers. Jawbone’s Big Jambox solves this by not only providing great audio—but doing so wirelessly (via Bluetooth) so you don’t have to worry about cables cluttering up your workspace or backpack. It may not be pocket-sized, but the Big Jambox is certainly portable, and you can stream audio effortlessly from any Bluetooth device, be it your mobile phone or your new laptop. $299.99 MSRP

Class Beauty

15-inch MacBook Pro
The idea behind the “Retina” display that first appeared on the iPhone—and now graces the latest top-of-the-line MacBook Pro—is simple: Create a screen with so many pixels that the human eye cannot discern any jagged edges or pixilation whatsoever. In practice, however, getting a screen resolution this high (2880 by 1800 pixels) on a display this big (15.4 inches) is quite an achievement. The rest of the laptop is no slouch either—built with Intel’s Core i7 processor and a powerful NVIDIA graphics card, which translates to a lightning-fast system with excellent video capabilities. Yet it somehow fits into a frame that’s about 0.7 inch tall. $2,199 (direct) and up

Stylish Protection

Victorinox Swiss Army Slimline Laptop Backpack
Much like its famous knives, Swiss Army’s Slimline Laptop Backpack is a versatile tool full of useful extras. A padded side-entry compartment fits any laptop up to 15.6-inches, while a small electronics pocket, pen holder, key fob and dual pockets ensure you won’t be digging for your phone or pen when you’re in a rush. The durable fabric has an abrasion-resistant nylon base, so it can take a beating without looking beat-up, and adjustable sternum and side compression straps help evenly distribute weight so that even with heavy loads, you’re always comfortable. $79.95 MSRP

Lean and Mean

Asus ZENBOOK Prime UX31A
The world of laptops has changed greatly in the last year or so—a new division of extremely thin Windows systems that use Intel’s speedy third-generation Core (aka “Ivy Bridge”) processors is taking the scene by storm. Among these Ultrabooks—so named by Intel—the Asus ZENBOOK Prime stands out with its 3-pound, 0.35-inch all-aluminum frame. That’s about as thin and light as a computer can get in 2012, but ASUS didn’t skimp on performance. The system features a click-touch pad for navigation, backlit keyboard, a Bang & Olufsen-designed sound system, two USB 3.0 ports, Bluetooth 4.0 and an excellent standby battery life—up to about 11 days! $1,099 (MSRP) and up

Rugged Individualist

Toshiba Portégé R930
An accident-prone workaholic’s dream, Toshiba’s Portégé R930 with 13.3-inch display is built to withstand spills of all kinds and has up to eight hours of battery life. The keyboard is resistant to liquid spills, while the hard drive features an impact sensor that auto-protects your information when it senses the computer is being dropped. The R930 also features a DVD drive and an HDMI output for gaming and video-watching on external hi-def screens. $1,399 MSRP and up

Listening Comfort

Bowers & Wilkins P3
Lightweight, extremely comfortable and easy to pack in its compact protective case, Bowers & Wilkins’ latest headphone pair, the P3, features ample bass response and clean, clear audio performance no matter what genre you’re listening to. The on-ear cushions also block out a significant portion of ambient noise, while the built-in controls allow for answering and ending phone calls on an iPhone as well as playback and volume control on most Apple products, including the aforementioned MacBook Pro. An alternate universal cable can be used to connect to other types of phones and MP3 players. $199.99 MSRP

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