Business Laptops For All Budgets

Lenovo ThinkPad T510

• Weight: 2.63 kg
• Screen Size / resolution: 15.6-inch / 1366 x 768
• Processor: Intel Core i5-520M, 2.40 GHz
• RAM: 3 GB DDR3
• Hard drive: 320 GB
• Graphics: Intel GMA 4500 MHD
• Operating System: Windows 7 Professional
• Price: Rs 86,150

The second variant of the T510 is powered by a Core i7 CPU and is priced at around Rs 1,00,800, and, that too comes pre-loaded with Windows 7 Professional. Now, this machine is the most powerful in the T400 and T500 series. If you compare this machine to the Core i7 variant of Sony’s Vaio Z, this one offers more value for money. It is an expensive machine, nonetheless.

You might also want to consider the Lenovo L412 series of laptops that feature a standard form factor, powered by mainstream Core i5 processors, and weigh about 2.5 kg. On a side not, if you want something lighter, and, as powerful as the T400 or T500 series, go with the X201s, which is powered by Core i7, weighs about 1.45 kg and costs approximately Rs 93,000. The Core i3 version costs about Rs 63,000 and weighs the same.
Remember, the lesser the power, the better the battery backup, unless you use an optional battery pack to make up for it. However, if sheer power is what you want, and if budget is no constraint, then, the W series (most expensive) rocks. Laptops in this series feature quad-core Core i7 CPUs, most powerful processors yet.

Dell Latitude E4310

• Weight: 1.54 kg
• Screen Size / resolution: 13.3-inch / 1366 x 768
• Processor: Intel Core i5-520M, 2.40 GHz
• RAM: 2 GB DDR3
• Hard drive: 250 GB (7200 rpm)
• Graphics: Intel HD
• Operating System: Windows 7 Professional
• Price: Rs 1,14,041

This is the latest entrant in the Latitude series and one of the most expensive too. For a cheaper version, you can opt for the Latitude E6410, which costs almost half the price and still features a Core i5 CPU.

In this list we have paid very little attention to the weight of the laptops, though most of them are light-enough to carry around. We recently made a list of ‘laptops for people on the go ’, which are actually very good for people into business, who want to travel light and who need very good battery backup. So if you’d like something lighter in weight and easy to carry, there are many other options to choose from.

Update: We've just received a word from HP stating that the 5320m laptop has still not launched in India, but the HP Elitebook 2540p has, and here's the common configuration:

HP Elitebook 2540p

• Processor: Intel Core i7-640LM (2.13 GHz, 4 MB L3 cache)
• Chipset: Mobile Intel QM57 Express Chipset
• Graphics: Intel HD
• Screen / Resolution: 12.1-inch / 1280 x 800
• RAM: 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM
• Hard drive: 250 GB (7200 rpm)
• Operating system Windows 7 Professional
• Webcam: 2 Megapixel
• Win 7 Pro
• Integrated DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL Drive
• Integrated HP Fingerprint Sensor
• 6-cell Li-Ion battery
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Wi-Fi N
• Bluetooth Specification v2.1
• HP Standard 3 year Onsite warranty
• HP Standard Carry Case
• Price: 96,600

This is a high-end configuration, hence the higher price. However there shouldn't be so much of a price difference between a Core i5 model and this one. Considering that, the Core i5 model could be priced higher than Rs 45,000 (the listed approx. price in this article).