Find The Right Laptops

Dell Inspiron i1470-3282CRD

With an ultra-low-voltage CPU, the Dell Inspiron 1470-3282 runs longer but slower than competing laptops. We're not thrilled with the performance hit, but we still found lots to like about this well-designed, 14-inch laptop.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (1.3 GHz), 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM, 320 GB, Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Edition, 4.6 lbs, 14 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star

HP Pavilion dv4-1555dx

As a midsize entertainment laptop, the 14-inch HP Pavilion dv4-1555dx hits some right notes, but its poor battery life sours the deal.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.2 GHz), 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM, 320 GB, Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, 5.1 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix

Sony Vaio VGN-NW240F (brown)

The Sony Vaio VGN-NW240F is a well designed mainstream notebook with respectable performance and features for the money.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.2 GHz), 4 GB DDR II SDRAM, 320 GB, Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, 6.0 lbs, 15.5 in TFT active matrix

Sony Vaio VGN-NW240F (white)

The Sony Vaio VGN-NW240F is a well designed mainstream notebook with respectable performance and features for the money.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.2 GHz), 4 GB DDR II SDRAM, 320 GB, Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, 6.0 lbs, 15.5 in TFT active matrix

Sony Vaio VGN-NW240F (pink)

The Sony Vaio VGN-NW240F is a well designed mainstream notebook with respectable performance and features for the money.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.2 GHz), 4 GB DDR II SDRAM, 320 GB, Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, 6.0 lbs, 15.5 in TFT active matrix

Toshiba Satellite E105-S1802

As a general purpose productivity machine, the Toshiba Satellite E105-S1802 strikes a number of right notes. Its dreadful speakers, however, limit its entertainment value

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.13 GHz), 4 GB DDR II SDRAM, 500 GB, Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, 14.1 in TFT active matrix

Dell Inspiron 14 (Intel Core 2 Duo T6600)

Dell's middle-of-the-road Inspiron 14 offers a decent low-cost mainstream Core 2 Duo package, but we would have liked better battery life and more graphics options.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.13 GHz), 3 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 250 GB, Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English, 14.0

Toshiba Satellite U505-S2930 (Core 2 Duo T6500 2.1GHz, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD, Vista Home Premium 64-Bit)

The stylish design and high-end feel of the Toshiba U505-S2940 don't make up for mediocre ergonomics and performance that can be had for less in other laptops.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.1 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 320 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition, 4.9 lbs, 13.3 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Gold, RoHS

Lenovo IdeaPad U350 (2GB RAM, 250GB HDD)

If you're searching for a great-looking thin-and-light laptop at a good price, the Lenovo IdeaPad U350 bridges the gap between personal and professional and is worth checking out. But its design is more successful than its horsepower.

Specs: Intel Pentium (1.3 GHz), 2 GB DDR3 SDRAM, 250 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, 3.5 lbs, 13.3 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Gold, RoHS

HP TouchSmart tx2-1275dx

A fair price, an attractive design, and multitouch support may allow tablet shoppers to overlook the HP TouchSmart tx2-1275dx's middling performance and poor battery life.

Specs: AMD Turion X2 mobile processor (2.2 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 320 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition, 4.6 lbs, 12.1 in TFT active matrix

Acer Aspire Timeline 3810T-8640

The 13-inch Aspire Timeline 3810T largely lives up to its lofty battery claims, while keeping the chassis slim and the price down.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Solo (1.4 GHz), 2 GB DDR3 SDRAM, 250 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, 3.5 lbs, 13.3 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star

HP Pavilion dv2

HP's slick-looking 12-inch Pavilion dv2 carves out a niche between entry-level Netbooks and expensive ultraportables.

Specs: AMD Athlon Neo (1.6 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 320 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition, 4 lbs, 12.1 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star

Gateway P-7805u FX Edition

Our favorite budget gaming laptop returns as the Gateway P-7805u FX, and while it's still the best deal going in mobile gaming, we're bummed the screen resolution has been dumbed down to sub-HD levels.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.26 GHz), 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM, 320 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition SP1, 9 lbs, 17 in TFT active matrix

Asus Eee PC 1000 (black)

The Asus Eee PC 1000's 10-inch screen walks a fine line between Netbook and regular laptop, but the higher price may drive away value-seeking consumers.

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 40 GB, Linux, 2.9 lbs, 10 in TFT active matrix

Sony VAIO NR180E/T

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (1.5 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 200 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, 6.2 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix

Toshiba Satellite A215-S4757

Toshiba's Satellite A215 is a well-balanced budget laptop. Its ample memory and big hard drive offset the low-end AMD processor, making the A215 a good deal among 15-inch mainstream laptops.

Specs: AMD Turion 64 X2 mobile technology (1.8 GHz), 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 250 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, 6.4 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star

HP Pavilion dv6305us (Turion 64 X2 1.6GHz, 512MB RAM, 80GB HDD, Vista Home Premium)

With a bevy of entertainment features and configuration options at budget-friendly prices, the HP Pavilion dv6000 series is destined for broad appeal.

Specs: AMD Turion 64 X2 mobile technology (1.6 GHz), 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM, 80 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, 6.8 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix

HP Business nc4200 (Pentium M 750 1.86GHz, 512MB RAM, 60GB HDD, XP Pro)

The HP Compaq nc4200's balance of power and portability will appeal to business travelers, as long as they don't need an integrated optical drive.

Specs: Intel Pentium M (1.86 GHz), 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM, 60 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, 4 lbs, 12.1 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star

Toshiba Satellite M55-S141 (Celeron M 1.6 GHz, 256 MB RAM, 60 GB HDD)

The colorful Satellite M55 will satisfy your craving for a well-rounded, affordable thin-and-light.

Specs: Intel Celeron M (1.6 GHz), 256 MB DDR2 SDRAM, 60 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, 5.1 lbs, 14 in TFT active matrix

Lenovo IdeaPad U350 Laptop Computer