Best Hardware: Workstation Editors' Best
Gold: ThinkStation S20—Lenovo (www.lenovo.com)
Silver: OptiPlex 760—Dell (www.dell.com)
Bronze: ThinkPad W700—Lenovo (www.lenovo.com)
"Designed for intensive tasks such as computer-aided design/engineering, scientific applications, and digital content creation, Lenovo's ThinkStation S20 is a powerhouse. This desktop workstation packs a whopping amount of power into an affordable price point for any organization." —Douglas Toombs, contributing editor,
Windows IT Pro
"The Lenovo ThinkPad W700 is a monster of a portable machine, with a 2.53 GHz quad-core Intel Core 2 Extreme processor T9300 (6MB, 1066MHz), 4 GB of RAM, a 250 GB hard drive, a 17-inch screen running at 1920 x 1200, and a built-in Wacom digitizer"—Paul Thurrott, news editor,
Windows IT Pro
Community Choice
Gold: OptiPlex 760—Dell (www.dell.com)
Silver: HP Z800—HP (www.hp.com)
Bronze: ThinkCentre—Lenovo (www.lenovo.com)
Quotes from the Windows IT Pro
community about Dell's OptiPlex 760 workstations …
"Dell makes workstations that are solid performers. Great warranty. I've been very lucky with my desktops and had pretty much zero system failures."
"Inexpensive, high quality, very dependable."
"Bulletproof!"
Best Hardware: Laptop Editors' Best
Gold: Lenovo T400—Lenovo (www.lenovo.com)
Silver: MacBook Pro—Apple (www.apple.com)
Bronze: EliteBook—HP (www.hp.com)
"The ThinkPad 400s offers familiar ThinkPad advantages like the best-in-class keyboard and build quality and custom add-in software that actually enhances the Windows user experience and combines it with one of the sleekest, lightest and most elegant notebooks ever created. The best news? It's available with an optional multi-touch screen too." —Paul Thurrott, news editor,
Windows IT Pro
"Apple’s $1200 13" Macbook Pro is easily the highest-quality notebook I’ve ever used, and as a network engineer I’ve been forced to use everything. Its seven-hour battery life is the real deal, too, not some trumped-up laboratory-only number. I routinely get eight hours working time on my MacBook Pro." —Mel Beckman, contributing editor,
SQL Server Magazine
"Now available with SSD drives, LCD backlit screens with desktop-worthy screen resolutions, and switchable discreet graphics while still featuring the awesome ThinkPad keyboard and docking options, the [ThinkPad T-Series] packs a punch without weighing you down or breaking the bank." —Michael Dragone, contributing editor,
Windows IT Pro
Community Choice
Gold: Latitude—Dell (www.dell.com)
Silver: MacBook Pro—Apple (www.apple.com)
Bronze: Elitebook Series—HP (www.hp.com)
Quotes from the Windows IT Pro
community about Dell's Latitude laptops …
"Exceptionally lightweight with great battery life."
"Just a terrific combination of features and functionality on the road."
"A sturdy, reliable performer."