In order to give you a general picture of a notebook, we have created a criteria catalogue based on the long-year experience of our editors with uncountable notebook brands and models, which ought to cover every aspect significant to purchasing a notebook. Naturally, you live and learn and also laptops or rather their specifications change. For this reason, we try to develop and improve our test reports continuously. Our readers, who give us food for thought by means of their lively support but also critique in our forum, provide important contributions and consequently they have the possibility to influence the development of the online magazine NotebookCHECK.net.

Therefore, we would be pleased to welcome you to participate to this exchange of thoughts. You can state your opinion either via e-mail or even in the forum of our German site (NotebookChECK.com). All review editors, as well as a whole row of engaged moderators are available here.

Aside from the decision, which technical configuration, such as processor, graphic card, RAM, hard disk, etc. your notebook should have (more in our Notebook Hardware Guide), there are still a lot of important open aspects to consider before buying a notebook. Extensive decision guidance can be found in our notebook Purchase Consultation.

In the following you will find an overview of all review test points from NotebookCHECK.net and also a detailed explanation.

The cases of our test devices are examined carefully for flaws in workmanship such as: uneven gaps, blemishes in the finish and material weaknesses like unstable components.

The notebook construction is also tested in view of robustness and winding stiffness. The chassis is exposed to burdens as they can also turn up at daily use with the device. These include burdening the case with point or face pressure as they might happen when picking up the notebook at its front edge.

Of course, the performance of the display lid plays an important role in the process because it encloses the sensitive screen and therefore also has a protection function.The modality of the hinges, as well as the closure mechanism (if applicable), are examined on its functionality and manner in practical use.

The workmanship rating lies in the judgment of the single editor and is made after consulting the editorial team for comparison to previous test devices.

On top of that, the offer of available connections is rated and their position on the device is tested on practibility. This is done under consideration of the device class because the expectations put into a less mobile DTR notebook are naturally completely different than those put into an, for instance, ultra mobile subnotebook.

Ergonomical aspects in view of the connection distribution also play an important role. Questions such as: does the occupation of a large amount of the available ports obstruct the usability of the notebook, or: do the various ports influence each other or rather the position of the "permanently occupied ports" such as power supply and LAN port are substantial criteria.

In regards to connectivity, the offered communication features like LAN, WLAN, Bluetooth, UMTS and the alike are handled and if necessary tested.

The supply of diverse safety features, and in case of existing equipment and shipment, are also tested and assessed here, as well.

The quality of the input devices, such as keyboard, Touchpad, also if present, trackpoint and the diverse hot keys, as well, has an important function in notebooks. Important criteria in the test are, for example, the keyboard layout, id est the arrangement and placement of the single keys, possible grouping of the function keys and the split-up of the available space for the keyboard. In the frame of our tests of the input devices, the workmanship, accordingly the fitting of the keyboard unit into the base unit, is also checked.

The key size shouldn't be ignored, either. Keys which have been greatly reduced make it hard to use the device and need a cumbersome accommodation period. This applies especially to subnotebooks, where the case size is defined through the display and therefore partly cuts the keyboard extremely.

A further important, though subjective, point is the responsiveness of the keys and the Touchpad, the typing feel and the soundscape emitted while typing. Our aim is to formulate the description of this as objectively as possible, so that the reader can build their own opinion.

The keyboard as well as the Touchpad and other applied input devices are tested on their user-friendliness and practicability in everyday use. This rating is also made by the responsible editor under comparison of previous tests of comparable device categories.

The brightness distribution or rather the display illumination is among other things an important asset of a high quality display and is indicated by us in percent. This value specifies the brightness percentage at the darkest reading point in comparison to the brightest. A too big difference can cause an irregular illumination, which can even be seen with the naked eye.

The display contrast principally specifies the ratio of how much more white in comparison to black is represented on the display due to the fact that black also has a certain amount of residual brightness. We evaluate the contrast at undimmed, maximum brightness in the central measuring area of the display. The lower the measured black value and the higher the maximum brightness in this range, the higher the contrast ratio.

Acceptable values for notebook lie at about 150:1 up to 300:1 or even higher. The subjective perception of the displayed image also depends on the screen surface, which can turn out as matt or reflective. The advantages of matt screens lie especially in the unreflective surface, which is eye-friendlier when working at the display for longer periods. Glossy displays profit, as a rule, from a slightly fresher color representation and partly better contrast values.

The viewing angle stability plays a more or less big role, depending on the utilization field of the notebook and the user's activities. In which viewing angle a stable image representation can be counted with, is described in the viewing angle stability check. This is supported with pictures, which show the notebook with a test image out of the singly defined angles (frontal, 45° horizontal and vertical, and two free pictures). Sometimes a video is also presented, which follows the viewing angle and possible reflections on the display can be observed.

Depending on the device category at hand and the possible utilization field, we test the performance of the particular model on the one hand with various benchmark tests (these are programs, which put a demand on the single components or the whole system and rate by means of achieved points) and on the other, with a practical test with different programs and computer games, because these often push the processor and the graphic card to their limits.
Among others, the 3D Mark and PC Mark benchmark tests from Futuremark, Cinebench R10, as well as various games, either in the demo or full version – depending on availability – are used.

You can recognize where the tested notebook is positioned in comparison to other class competitors or in relativity to the established minimum and maximum values based on the various diagrams.

No modifications are made on the test system in regards of the graphic driver, unless this is explicitly noted for demonstration reasons. An improvement of gaming and benchmark performance can often be achieved through an update with the most current graphic card drivers and possible modifications. Nevertheless, our opinion is that it is the responsibility of the manufacturer to configure their system with the utmost current and efficient software because it is irrational to expect an average user to operate with partly uncertified drivers.

Further information:

• Comparison of mobile graphic cards - detailed information, technical Data and performance values of all available graphic cards, sorted by efficiency.

• Comparison of mobile processors - extensive information and data of all mobile CPUs built into notebooks

• Benchmark listing of mobile graphic cards - sortable chart, in which all available mobile graphic cards can be classified by the various benchmarks and technical data.

• Benchmark listing of mobile CPUs - sortable chart, in which all available mobile processors can be classified by the various benchmarks and technical data

Loudspeakers

The evaluation of the loudspeakers is made in regards to their sound and the maximum volume. The placement of the speakers is also considered. The evaluation is made subjectively and in reflection of previous test devices. Depending on the device use it should also be considered that there are both devices with minimized speakers (subnotebooks), which are designed more for the use with headphones, as well as notebooks with integrated subwoofers and high quality loudspeakers, which are capable of emitting an remarkable sound.

Every notebook that we test in the frame of an extensive review is rated according to all of the above listed points and in comparison to categorically similar notebooks. The result of the evaluation is composed of a total of 12 points, whereas the achieved points are defined on a scale of 0-100 (the higher the better). In conclusion the tested notebook is rewarded with a total rating, into which the single points flow to a different degree in view of the device category at hand.

You can find more information about our rating system in this editorial.