Find The Right Laptops

Lenovo IdeaPad Y530

Though its subdued design may strike some as square, but the midsize Lenovo IdeaPad Y530 delivers a decent media experience for less than $1,000.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 6.6 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, EPA Energy Star, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

Asus N10J A1 - Atom N270 1.6 GHz - 10.2

It may look like your standard Netbook, but the Asus N10J is unique because underneath it features discrete, switchable graphics. You'll pay a bit more for the privilege, but the end result works for gaming on the go, as long as you don't mind dialing down your game settings.

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 3.5 lbs, 10.2 in TFT active matrix, EPEAT Gold, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

Gateway MC7803u

With an HD-friendly 16-inch screen, beautiful design, and dedicated graphics, the affordably priced Gateway MC7803u makes an excellent portable entertainment center, provided your HD content is not on a Blu-ray Disc.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 7.7 lbs, 16 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

Gateway M-7818u

The reasonably priced, attractively designed Gateway M-7818u is a solid all-around 15.4-inch laptop for students and home users.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 6.4 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

Averatec Buddy

Two hours of battery life is simply not enough for the otherwise unobjectionable and basic Averatec Buddy Netbook.

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1024 MB DDR II SDRAM, 2.65 lbs, 10.2 in TFT active matrix, Windows XP Home Edition

Toshiba Satellite E105-S1402

The 14.1-inch Toshiba Satellite E105 is a solid all-around laptop that delivers on Best Buy's Blue Label promises: longer battery life, lightweight design, and lengthy warranty.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.26 GHz), 4 GB DDR II SDRAM, 5.1 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, EPA Energy Star, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

Sony Vaio AW125J/H

Sony's Vaio AW125J/H is an aesthetically pleasing multimedia machine, and those familiar with Sony's high-end laptops will be surprised to find out it's also the cheapest 18-inch Blu-ray-equipped laptop we've tested.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.26 GHz), 4 GB DDR II SDRAM, 8.2 lbs, 18.4 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

Toshiba U405D-S2874

Toshiba's thin-and-light Satellite U405 is an attractive 13-inch MacBook alternative, but its weak performance means you simply don't get enough computing power for your money.

HP Pavilion dv3510nr

Best Buy listened to its customers and then teamed up with HP to create the Pavilion dv3510nr, one of the big box store's first Blue Label laptops. This sleek-yet-loaded 13-inch laptop deserves a blue ribbon, too, for its all-around excellence and value.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 4.6 lbs, 13.3 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

HP Compaq cq50-139wm

Specs: Intel Celeron (2 GHz), 2.0 GB, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic

Asus X83VM-X1 - Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26 GHz, 14.1-inch TFT

The Asus X83VM-X1 is a well-rounded 14-inch mainstream laptop. It boasts a pleasing design (aside from the stiff, loud mouse buttons), and excellent application performance and 3D graphics performance for the money.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.26 GHz), 4 GB DDR SDRAM, 5.7 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

Dell Studio S1535-143B

The Dell Studio S1535-143B strikes a fine balance between Dell's XPS and Inspiron lines, offering good looks and decent performance for less than $1,000, even if the previous model had a slightly better processor.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.0 GHz), 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 15.4, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition

Sony VGNFW270J/W

With a sleek design, HD-friendly display, and a Blu-ray drive, the 16-inch Sony Vaio FW270 is a near-ideal portable entertainment center.

Alienware M17

Alienware is trying to have it both ways with the new M17, combining a relatively low starting price with some very pricey upgrades, including quad-core CPUs and ATI CrossFireX video cards. Our configuration wasn't very exciting, but turned in capable gaming scores.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.26 GHz), 3 GB DDR II SDRAM, 9.5 lbs, 17.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

Asus X83VB-X1

A poorly designed keyboard and stiff mouse buttons prevent a higher recommendation for the Asus X83VB-X1, which is an otherwise well-built 14-inch laptop that delivers chart-topping performance for a low price.

Gateway MC7801u

With an HD-friendly 16-inch screen and beautiful design, the affordably priced Gateway MC7801u makes an excellent portable media center, provided your HD content is not on a Blu-ray disc.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 4 GB DDR II SDRAM, 7.1 lbs, 16 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

HP dv4-1155se

This Special Edition Pavilion laptop boasts a bit of flare with some cool graphics embossed on its case, but a nearly identical Intel-based Pavilion dv4 model delivers more bang for less buck. Plus, the huge battery on the Pavilion dv4-1155se is heavy and awkward.

HP G60-125nr

If you need a 16:9 display in a small 15-inch format, there are cheaper and more powerful choices than HP's G60-125NR.

Specs: AMD Turion X2 mobile processor (2 GHz), 3 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 6 lbs, 15.6 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

Asus Eee PC S101 (brown)

Asus packs the same basic components found in other Netbooks into a stylish, slim chassis for a modest premium in price, but some unfortunate keyboard-layout compromises make the S101 harder to use than it should be.

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 2.4 lbs, 10.2 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

Asus Eee PC S101 (black)

Asus packs the same basic components found in other Netbooks into a stylish, slim chassis for a modest premium in price, but some unfortunate keyboard-layout compromises make the S101 harder to use than it should be.

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 2.4 lbs, 10.2 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition