Best Buy Introduces Next Class Laptop Line

Best Buy Introduces Next Class Laptop Line

Saturday, July 25, 2009 - by Jennifer Johnson
Wal-Mart isn’t the only retailer who is trying to sell you your next notebook. Best Buy recently introduced the second series of customized laptops that were designed as a direct result of consumer input. The new Next Class line of laptops were created to meet the needs of college students. The four-unit line was manufactured in partnership with HP, Toshiba, Sony, and Dell.

To help find the most appropriate laptops for the line, the Best Buy computing team worked with students to identify the most important features. Six characteristics emerged as key: Extended battery life; low weight and portable design; personalized, yet professional design; full virus protection; preloaded with necessary software (specifically a full version of Office Home and Student); and an affordable price point. The Best Buy team took this input to manufacturers to help the retailer create a new line that would meet the students’ expectations.

The line will be available now through the fall. More information about Next Class computers is available at www.bestbuy.com/nextclass.

Product Specifications

Toshiba Satellite M505-S4940
SKU: 9371574

HP Pavilion DV4-1465DX
SKU: 9371404

Dell Studio Chassis S1440-022B
SKU: 9358009

Sony VGN-NW125J/T
SKU: 9370049

Processor

2.0GHz Intel® Pentium®

2.1GHz Intel® Core™2 Duo

2.1GHz Intel® Core™2 Duo

2.1GHz Intel® Core™2 Duo

Display

14" LED-backlit widescreen TFT-LCD with TruBrite technology (1366 x 768)

14.1" High-definition widescreen with BrightView technology (1280 x 800)

14" WXGA TrueLife widescreen LED display with 720p resolution

15.5" WXGA widescreen LCD with XBRITE-ECO technology (1280 x 800)

System Memory (RAM)

4GB DDR2

4GB DDR2

3GB DDR3

4GB PC2-6400 DDR2

Hard Drive

320GB Serial ATA (5400 rpm)

320GB SATA (5400 rpm)

320GB Serial ATA (5400 rpm)

320GB Serial ATA (5400 rpm)

Optical Drive

Double-layer DVD±RW/CD-RW

Double-layer DVD±RW/CD-RW

Not included

Double-layer DVD±RW/CD-RW

Graphics

Mobile Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500M

Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M

Mobile Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD

Video Memory

128MB - 1759MB dynamically allocated shared

1759MB total graphics memory

Not specified

Up to 1750MB total available

Modem

56 Kbps

56 Kbps

None

None

Networking

Built-in 10/100 Ethernet

10/100Base-T Ethernet

Built-in 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet

Built-in 10Base-T/100Base-TX Fast Ethernet LAN

Wireless Networking

Wireless-B+G+N

Wireless-B+G

Wireless-B+G+N

Wireless-A+B+G+N

PCMCIA Slots

1 ExpressCard 34/54

1 ExpressCard 34/54

1 ExpressCard/34

None

Laptop Weight

Ultraportable (5.5 lbs. or less)

Ultraportable (5.5 lbs. or less)

Ultraportable (5.5 lbs. or less)

Standard (more than 5.5 lbs.)

Battery Type

6-cell lithium-ion

12-cell lithium-ion

8-cell lithium-ion

6-cell lithium-ion

Battery Life

Up to 3 hours and 20 minutes

Up to 6 hours

Up to 5 hours and 20 minutes

Up to 5 hours and 30 minutes

Operating System

Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit with SP1

Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit with SP1

Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1

Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit with SP1

Included Software

Microsoft Office Home & Student 2007 (full version), Toshiba Disc Creator, DVD Player, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Norton Antivirus (15 months)

Microsoft Office Home & Student 2007 (full version), Microsoft Works, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Cyberlink DVD Suite, Norton Internet Security 2009 (12 months) and more

Microsoft Office Home & Student 2007 (full version); Adobe Reader 9; Norton Internet Security 2009 (15 months)

Microsoft Office Home & Student 2007 (full version), Microsoft Works SE 9.0, Sony Click to Disc Editor, Sony VAIO Movie Story, Norton Internet Security 2009 (12 months) and more

Product Height

1.5"

1.6"

1.2"

1.2"

Product Width

13.5"

13.2"

13.3"

14.6"

Product Weight

5.2 lbs.

5.1 lbs.

5.4 lbs.

6 lbs.

Product Depth

9.1"

9.5"

9"

9.8"

Via: BusinessWire | News Archive | Tags: Dell, Notebook, Sony, HP, laptop, Toshiba, Best Buy, Next Class
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Comments

By mentaldisorder on Jul 25, 2009

Hard to say if BB did anything, aside from put a name to 4 notebooks. These prices seem about average. I guess it's a better value because of the software. But a knowledgeable student should know that their school probably gives you it all anyway.

By 3vi1 on Jul 26, 2009

I find it odd that they didn't delay the launch and start shipping with Win7. Maybe they're trying to some grab back-to-school business?

By gamemaniac on Jul 29, 2009

I understand that hardware and software prices are within reach for most of us but what about Alienware gaming laptops? Is anyone listening there?

Regards,
ServicedotZtronics

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