Toshiba Qosmio X775-Q7384 (Source: us.toshiba.com)

For $1,349.99 you could consider the Toshiba Qosmio X775-Q7384 that has the same CPU as the MSI model and 8GB of DDR3 memory running at 1,333 MHz. It has a bigger 1TB (500GB + 500GB) SATA HDD spinning at 7,200 rpm and the same dedicated GPU solution. What set these two models apart is the bigger 17.3-inch display of this Toshiba model which has a native resolution of 1,600 x 900 pixels and features the company’s own TruBrite technology. The laptop has been equipped with a big 8-cell lithium-ion battery rated to last for up to 5 hours, while the curb weight of the system is 7.5 lbs, making it a little bit lighter than the MSI.

HP Envy 17-3070NR (Source: notebookcheck.com)

For $100 more you might want to have a look at the HP Envy 17-3070NR which is our favorite model and it’s also one of the newest laptops to make it into our list of recommendations.  It comes with a powerful, second generation Intel Core i7-2670QM processor clocked at 2.20 GHz (up to 3.10 GHz with Turbo Boost) and packs 8GB of very fast DDR3 memory running at a frequency of 1,600 MHz. You get a spacious 750GB hard drive rotating at 7,200 rpm, a HDD that benefits from HP’s ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection. In the GPU area it comes with the recently launched AMD Radeon HD 7690M XT with 1GB of dedicated video memory, while the 17.3-inch display has a full HD resolution. HP installed a 6-cell lithium-ion battery that is rated to last for a little over seven hours. This Envy model weighs 7.37 lbs.

All things considered, there are a lot of models to analyze when it comes down to choosing an affordable laptop that doesn’t weigh more than 7 lbs. From the research that we have conducted it seems that Acer has the most models that meet these requirements but keep in mind that the hardware specifications of these laptops are quite similar. The cheapest one is probably the Aspire AS7739Z-4804 which costs only $449 but it has a low-end Intel Pentium P6200 CPU.

Acer Aspire AS7739G-6676 (Source: static.acer.com)

The first model we want to recommend is the Acer Aspire AS7739G-6676 that will set you back $599.99. It has been configured with an Intel Core i5-480M processor clocked at 2.66 GHz (up to 2.93 GHz with Turbo Boost) and has 4GB of DDR3 memory. In the storage department it packs a 500GB SATA hard drive spinning at 5,400 rpm while the GPU is a dedicated Nvidia GeForce GT 610M with 1GB of VRAM. The 17.3-inch display has a native resolution of 1,600 x 900 pixels while the 6-cell lithium-ion battery is rated to last for up to 4 hours. This laptop has a curb weight of 7.27 lbs.

Another Acer that we want to suggest is the Aspire AS7750G-6662 that costs $100 more than the previous model. This comes with a second generation Intel Core i5-2430M processor running at 2.40 GHz and packs 4GB of DDR3 memory working at 1,066 MHz. You will be able to store your files on the spacious 640GB HDD that’s rotating at 5,400 rpm while the graphics power is provided by the AMD Radeon HD 6650M that has 2GB of memory. This one too has a 17.3-inch display that has a maximum resolution of 1,600 x 900 pixels and benefits from the company’s CineCrystal technology. Acer installed a 6-cell lithium-ion battery rated to last for up to three hours. The laptop tips the scales at 7.27 lbs.

We continue with the Dell XPS 17 (L702x) that is available at newegg.com for $899.99. At the heart of this model is a second-gen Intel Core i5-2430M CPU clocked at 2.40 GHz and 6GB of DDR3 memory working at 1,333 MHz. You get a bigger and faster 750GB hard drive spinning at 7,200 rpm, while the GPU is a dedicated Nvidia GeForce GT 550M with 1GB of memory. Dell has installed a 17.3-inch HD+ WLED 900p display and a massive 9-cell lithium-ion battery (92 WHr). This laptop weighs 7.79 lbs.

Toshiba Qosmio X775-Q7170 (Source: us.toshiba.com)

The last laptop we want to recommend in the first part of the article is the Toshiba Qosmio X775-Q7170 that carries a retail price tag of $1,049.99. It is powered by an Intel Core i5-2450M processor clocked at 2.50 GHz (up to 3.10 GHz with Turbo Boost) and has 6GB of DDR3 memory at 1,333 MHz. You get a 640GB hard drive running at 7,200 rpm and a dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 560M with 1GB of memory. Toshiba fitted this model with a 17.3-inch display that has a native resolution of 1,600 x 900 pixels and an 8-cell battery rated to last for almost 5 hours. The laptop weighs 7.5 lbs.

Dell Vostro 3750 (469-1473) (Source: images.itreviews.com)

The first one to make it in our list is the Dell Vostro 3750 (469-1473) that you can buy from various retailers for somewhere around $550. What you’ll get for your hard earned money is an Intel Core i3-2330M processor clocked at 2.20 GHz. It is equipped with 2GB of DDR3 memory running at 1,333 MHz and packs a speedy 7,200 rpm SATA hard drive that has a capacity of 250GB. In the GPU area it has been fitted with an integrated Intel HD solution while the large 17.3-inch widescreen, anti-glare display has a native resolution of 1,600 x 900 pixels. Dell installed a 6-cell lithium-ion battery in this laptop, while the curb weight of the system is 6.62 lbs.

For about $620 you could purchase the HP Pavilion dv6-6c10us that unlike the Dell is powered by an AMD A-Series A6-3420M processor working at 1.50 GHz. It is equipped with 6GB of DDR3 memory and has a bigger but slower 640GB hard drive rotating 5,400 rpm. We should mention that this hard drive benefits from the company’s ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection. Other than that, you get an integrated AMD Radeon HD 6520G video card and a smaller 15.6-inch 720p LED-backlit, widescreen display that benefits from the BrightView technology. It comes with a 6-cell lithium-ion battery rated to last for up to 6 hours and it tips the scales at 6.01 lbs.

Asus A73E (Source: bloknotik.od.ua)

Priced just about the same as the HP, the Asus A73E-NH31 is another model that you might consider. Why? Because it is powered by a decent Intel Core i3-2310M processor running at 2.10 GHz. In the memory department it packs 6GB of DDR3 RAM while for storage it is equipped with a 640GB hard drive rotating at 5,400 rpm. You get an integrated Intel HD Graphics solution and a generous 17.3-inch LED-backlit display that has a native resolution of 1,600 x 900 pixels. It has a 6-cell lithium-ion battery and weighs 6.9 lbs.

If you want a Blu-ray drive, our recommendation is for the Toshiba Satellite L775-S7240 that is priced at about $630. This one has the same second generation Intel Core i3-2310M processor as the HP and packs 4GB of DDR3 memory. Other hardware specs include a 640GB SATA hard drive running at 5,400 rpm and an integrated Intel Graphics 3000. It has a 17.3-inch display that benefits from the TruBrite technology and has the same resolution as the HP. It is equipped with a 6-cell 48Wh lithium-ion battery rated to last for five hours, and has a curb weight of 6.2 lbs.

HP Pavilion dv7-6c80us (Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com)

Another model we would like to suggest is the HP Pavilion dv7-6c80us which costs somewhere around $970. We’ve chosen this model because it has a powerful Intel Core i7-2670QM processor clocked at 2.20 GHz (up to 3.10 GHz with Turbo Boost). HP installed 8GB of DDR3 memory and a 750GB hard drive spinning at 5,400 rpm that benefits from the company’s ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection. In the GPU department we find the integrated Intel HD 3000 with shared system memory while the 17.3-inch display is LED-backlit and has a native resolution of 1,600 x 900 pixels. It comes with a large 9-cell lithium-ion battery rated to last for up nine and a half hours, a good performance given the size of the laptop and its hardware components. This model has a curb weight of 6.72 lbs.

Lenovo ThinkPad T Series T520 (424049U) (Source: laptoping.com)

If you prefer a business laptop, you might want to have a closer look at the Lenovo ThinkPad T Series T520 (424049U) which will set back a little over $1,000. It comes with a more powerful Intel Core i5-2520M CPU clocked at 2.50 GHz (up to 3.20 GHz with Turbo Boost) and 4GB of DDR3 memory at 1,333 MHz. You will be able to store your files on the 500GB Serial Ata hard drive spinning at 7,200 rpm while in the graphics department it packs an integrated Intel HD 3000 and a dedicated Nvidia NVS 4200M with 1GB of VRAM. It has a 15.6-inch LED-backlit, anti-glare, widescreen display that has a maximum resolution of 1,600 x 900 pixels. Lenovo installed a massive 9-cell lithium-ion battery rated to last for up to 14 hours. The laptop has a curb weight of 6.02 lbs.

As you can see, all of the laptops that we have recommended are Windows 7-based systems because these are considerably cheaper than Apple’s MacBooks. If you want one of those you will have to spend several hundreds of dollars. We will let you decide if it’s worth spending the difference for an Apple product. If not, hopefully you’ll be satisfied with what we’ve suggested in this article.

Lenovo G575 (43834WU) (Source: lenovo.com)

Our first laptop on the list is the Lenovo G575 (43834WU) that costs somewhere around $380, depending on the shop you buy it from. It is powered by a dual core AMD E-450 processor clocked at 1.65 GHz and has 4GB of DDR3 memory running at 1,066 MHz. Lenovo fitted this model with a 320GB SATA hard drive spinning at 5,400 rpm while the GPU is an integrated AMD Radeon HD 6320 with shared system memory. The laptop features a 15.6-inch widescreen, LED-backlit display that has a native resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels. It packs a 6-cell lithium-ion battery that should be able to last for up to 4 hours. It has a curb weight of 5.73 lbs.

If you prefer Toshiba, you might want to consider the Satellite C655-S5339 that costs about $400. Unlike the Lenovo, this has an Intel processor in the form of the B950 running at 2.10 GHz. In the memory department it has 4GB of DDR3 1,333 MHz RAM while the HDD is a 320GB unit rotating at a speed of 5,400 rpm. It has an integrated Intel HD Graphics solution while the 15.6-inch 720p display is LED backlit and benefits from the TruBrite technology. The laptop is equipped with a 6-cell lithium-ion battery that manages to last for up to five and a half hours. This Satellite has a curb weight of 5.3 lbs.

Acer Aspire AS5733Z-4469 (Source: images.highspeedbackbone.net)

For just about the same money you can place an order for the Acer Aspire AS5733Z-4469. Under its hood there’s an Intel Pentium P6200 CPU working at 2.13 GHz. It is configured with 3GB of DDR3 memory running at 1,066 MHz while the 320GB SATA HDD is spinning at 5,400 rpm. It adopts an integrated Intel HD Graphics solution and has a 15.6-inch LED-backlit, 720p display that benefits from the company’s CineCrystal technology. Acer installed a 6-cell (4400 mAh) lithium-ion battery that has a rated life of up to five hours. This Aspire model tips the scales at 5.74 lbs.

We end the first part of the article with the HP 630 (LV970UT#ABA) that costs about $10 more than the previous two models. It comes with an Intel Pentium P6200 CPU with a clock speed of 2.13 GHz, while in the memory department it comes with 4GB of DDR3 memory clocked at 1,333 MHz. You will be able to store your files on the 320GB SATA hard drive rotating at 5,400 rpm. It has a 15.6-inch 720 anti-glare display and integrated Intel HD Graphics. HP equipped this model with a 6-cell battery, while the curb weight of the laptop is 5.5 lbs.

Sony VAIO EL Series VPCEL22FX/B (Source: gadgetreview.com)

Priced roughly the same, the Sony VAIO EL Series VPCEL22FX/B that features a dual core AMD E-450 CPU running at 1.65 GHz. Under its hood there are 4GB of DDR3 memory working at 1,066 MHz while the 320GB SATA HDD is spinning at 5,400 rpm. In the GPU department we find the AMD Radeon HD 6310 with shared system memory. It comes with a 15.5-inch widescreen display that has a native resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels. Sony installed a 4000 mAh lithium-ion battery rated to last for up to 5 hours and 40 minutes. With this battery, the laptop weighs 5.97 lbs.

For approximately $500 you can get the Gateway NV57H54u that is equipped with a second generation Intel Core i3-2350M processor clocked at 2.30 GHz. You get 4GB of DDR3 memory working at 1,066 MHz, while the bigger 500GB hard drive is rotating at a speed of 5,400 rpm. It has an integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000 with shared system memory and a 15.6-inch widescreen display that benefits from the Ultrabright technology and has a native 720p resolution. It comes with a 6-cell (4400 mAh) lithium-ion battery that is rated to last for up to four hours. The laptop tips the scales at 5.7 lbs.

Samsung R Series RV520-A01 (Source: notebook-center.ru)

From Samsung we find the R Series RV520-A01 which costs somewhere around $580. What you get for this money is an Intel Core i3-2330M processor working at 2.20 GHz. It is equipped with 4GB of DDR3 memory and a 500GB hard drive spinning at 5,400 rpm. In the graphics department we find the integrated Intel HD with shared system memory while the display measures 15.6 inches and has a native 720p resolution. This model from Samsung weighs 5.29 lbs.

We end with the MSI A6400-042US that carries a retail price tag of about $600. The laptop has a more powerful Intel Core i5-2410M processor at 2.30 GHz and 4GB of DDR3. For storage it packs a 500GB hard drive while in the GPU department we notice the Intel HD 3000 integrated solution. It comes with a 15.6-inch widescreen display that has a native resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels. The laptop comes with a 6-cell lithium-ion battery and has a curb weight of 5.72 lbs.

Toshiba Satellite L745-S4126 (Source: us.toshiba.com)

We start with the Toshiba Satellite L745-S4126 that costs somewhere around $480, depending on the store where you buy it from. Under its hood is a second-gen Intel Pentium B960 processor working at 2.20 GHz with 4GB of fast DDR3 memory at 1,333 MHz. It is equipped with a 320GB SATA HDD spinning at 5,400 rpm and for graphics it has an integrated Intel HD 3000 with shared system memory. Toshiba installed a 14-inch widescreen display that has a native resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels. The laptop is fitted with a 6-cell lithium-ion battery rated to last for up to 4 hours and 45 minutes. The laptop has a curb weight of 4.98 lbs.

Those who want a more powerful processor might consider the $520 HP ProBook 4430s that is equipped with a second-gen Intel Core i3-2310M CPU clocked at 2.10 GHz. It benefits from 4GB of DDR3 1,333 MHz memory and has a faster 320GB Serial Ata hard drive rotating at 7,200 rpm. In the GPU department it has the same Intel HD 3000 solution while the 14-inch, LED-backlit, anti-glare display has a native 720p resolution. HP installed a 6-cell lithium-ion battery on this model, a laptop that tips the scales at 4.51 lbs.

If you want a smaller screen, for about $10 more than the HP you could place an order for the Dell Vostro 3350 (469-1470). At the heart of this laptop is a slightly faster Intel Core i3-2330M processor that has a clock speed of 2.20 GHz. It comes with 2GB of DDR3 memory rated at 1,333 MHz and a 250GB hard drive working at 7,200 rpm. You get the same Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics card, along with a smaller 13.3-inch LED anti-glare, widescreen display that has a native resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels. The laptop has a 4-cell lithium-ion battery and weighs 4.28 lbs.

Gateway ID47H06u (Source: techngear.com)

We end the first part of our article with the Gateway ID47H06u that costs just about the same as the Dell we’ve mentioned. This one is fitted with the same Intel Core i3-2330M processor and packs 4GB of DDR3 memory. You get a more spacious 500GB hard drive rotating at 5,400 rpm and an integrated Intel HD Graphics. Gateway installed a 14-inch LED-backlit, Ultrabright widescreen display with a native 720p resolution. It comes with a 6-cell (6000 mAh) battery that should be able to last for 8 hours. This laptop tips the scales at 4.6 lbs.

Acer Aspire AS4830T-6443 (Source: 2.bp.blogspot.com)

Priced at somewhere around $580, the Acer Aspire AS4830T-6443 is another interesting solution. It is powered by the same CPU as the ThinkPad Edge E420 we’ve mentioned and has 4GB of fast DDR3 memory. You will be able to store your files on the 500GB SATA HDD spinning at 5,400 rpm, while the graphics department is handled by the same integrated Intel HD 3000. Acer installed a 14-inch LED-backlit display that has a maximum resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels and comes with the company’s CineCrystal technology. The laptop’s 6-cell lithium-ion battery should provide enough juice for up to 9 hours, while the laptop has a curb weight of 4.88 lbs.

For about $700 you could consider the MSI FX420-050US as it is considerably more powerful than what we’ve recommended up until now. It has an Intel Core i5-2410M CPU clocked at 2.30 GHz (up to 2.90 GHz with Intel’s Turbo Boost) and packs 6GB of DDR3 memory. The laptop has a bigger 640GB hard drive and unlike the others it comes with a dedicated video card in the form of an AMD Radeon HD 6470M with 1GB of DDR3 video memory. MSI fitted this model with a 14-inch glossy, widescreen display that has a native 720p resolution. It has a 6-cell lithium-ion battery and tips the scales at 4.8 lbs.

Sony Vaio SE Series VPCSE13FX/S (Source: technology.com.bd)

We end our list of recommendations with the more expensive Sony Vaio SE Series VPCSE13FX/S that will set you back about $880. Under its hood there’s a second generation Intel Core i5-2430M processor working at 2.40 GHz with 4GB of DDR3 memory clocked at 1,333 MHz. You can store your files on the generous 640GB Serial Ata hard drive rotating at 5,400 rpm while in the GPU area it has the same AMD Radeon HD 6470M as the MSI model we’ve mentioned. The Japanese company fitted this model with a 15.5-inch widescreen display that has a native resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels (full HD). The laptop features a 4400 mAh lithium polymer battery and weighs 4.40 lbs.

MSI X Series X370-205US (Source: netbookreviews.net)

We kick things off with the MSI X Series X370-205US that is available at various retailers for approximately $580. It is equipped with a dual core AMD E-450 processor running at 1.65 GHz and 4GB of DDR3 memory. You will be storing your files on a fast 500GB hard drive spinning at 7,200 rpm. In the GPU area we notice the integrated AMD Radeon HD 6320 that comes with shared system memory. MSI fitted this model with a 13.4-inch widescreen display that has a native resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels. From the specs sheet we have to mention the HDMI port, a 1.3 megapixel webcam and the 4-in-1 card reader. This notebook weighs 3.11 lbs and comes with an 8-cell lithium-ion battery that is rated to last for up to 10 hours.

If you are on the look for a HP model, have a closer look at the dm1-4170us from the company’s Pavilion line. You’ll be able to acquire this model for about $620 and unlike the MSI model we have mentioned, this one is equipped with a significantly more powerful second-gen Intel Core i3-2367M CPU working at 1.40 GHz. It is configured with 4GB of DDR3 memory (not upgradable) and a 500GB hard drive spinning at a speed of 5,400 rpm. It is worth mentioning that this HDD benefits from the company’s ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection. The model has a smaller 11.6-inch, LED-backlit display that has a native 720p resolution and benefits from HP’s BrightView technology. This laptop is a little bit heavier, weighing 3.53 lbs. It has a 6-cell lithium-ion battery that should provide enough juice for up to ten hours.

Toshiba Portege R835-P81 (Source: us.toshiba.com)

For about $750 you could order the Toshiba Portege R835-P81 that is hiding a significantly faster Intel Core i5-2435M processor working at 2.40 GHz or up to 3.00 GHz with the Turbo Boost technology. Unlike the other two models this one packs 6GB of DDR3 memory clocked at 1,333 MHz while the hard drive is also more spacious, offering 640GB of storage. This HDD spins at 5,400 rpm and benefits from Toshiba’s Hard Drive Impact Sensor. The graphics power is provided by the integrated Intel HD 3000 solution with shared system memory. This model from Toshiba comes with a 13.3-inch 720p display that is LED-backlit and has the TruBrite technology. It is equipped with a six-cell lithium-ion battery and tips the scales at 3.2 lbs.

Join us for the second part of the article where we’ll be talking about other laptops in this segment.

Acer Aspire S3-951-6646 (Source: notebookcheck.net)

For just about the same money you might want to place an order for the Acer Aspire S3-951-6646. At the heart of this model is a mid-range Intel Core i5-2467M processor clocked at 1.60 GHz or up to 2.30 GHz with Intel’s Turbo Boost technology. You get 4GB of DDR3 memory while for storage it comes with a 320GB SATA HDD spinning at 5,400 rpm and a 20GB SSD. In the graphics department we find an integrated Intel HD 3000 with shared system memory while the 13.3-inch display has a native 720p resolution and benefits from Acer’s CineCrystal technology. It is equipped with a three-cell (3280 mAh) lithium polymer battery and weighs 3 lbs.

Fujitsu LifeBook P701 (Source: bitdynasty.com)

For a little over $900, the Fujitsu LifeBook P701 is another interesting option. Under its hood there’s a second generation Intel Core i3-2310M processor working at a frequency of 2.10 GHz. You get 2GB of DDR3 1,333 MHz memory and a 160GB SATA hard drive running at 7,200 rpm. This one too has an integrated Intel HD 3000, while the screen is smaller, measuring 12.1 inches. This anti-glare display has a maximum resolution of 1,280 x 800 pixels and is also LED-backlit. Fitted with a 6-cell, 5800 mAh battery that last for up to 8 hours, this LifeBook tips the scales at 3.42 lbs.

If you have more money to spare you might want to analyze the Dell E6320 (469-0245) that will set you back somewhere around $1,200. It carries an Intel Core i5-2520M CPU that has a speed of 2.50 GHz (up to 3.20 GHz with Turbo Boost). In the memory department we find 2GB of DDR3 memory clocked at 1,333 MHz, while the HDD is a 320GB unit rotating at a speed of 7,200 rpm. From the hardware specification list we notice the integrated Intel HD 3000 with shared system memory, while its 13.3-inch anti-glare, LED-backlit widescreen display has a native 720p resolution. The system is running on the 32 bit version of Windows 7 Professional. It comes with a six-cell lithium-ion battery and has a curb weight of 3.64 lbs.