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Good article. One of my biggest bugbears is seeing people make laptop feature comparisons that miss off weight, dimensions, and battery life - three things that are critically important to me.

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I agree. But you seem to forget usability, style, safety (as opposed to security) and a few of other parameters that are actually key to the overall experience. Much more so than the inclusion of a digital fingerprint reader, for example.

Usability, style and safety do not belong in a checklist because there's no simple yes/no or appropriate numerical figure, which is why only one of the example tables in the article is even vaguely realistic. This does not mean they should not be considered in purchasing decisions, just that they're complex to evaluate and compare.

Not listing dimensions and weight is ridiculous, or would be if I'd ever seen a comparison that didn't include these basics.

I agree with you. I was pointing that out, regarding the title of the article, "Feature checklist dysfunction". Basically I'm critical of the very system of "checklists" for products or as a mean of comparing products.

I agree. I remember a few years ago getting a laptop (Lenovo x61) almost solely based on weight and size.

Why? Physical dimensions are the only thing that don't become obsolete. Small and portable is forever.

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