Intel Core 2 Duo (2.5 GHz), 4 GB DDR II SDRAM, 8.4 lbs, 17 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
THE GOOD
Upscale, CE-like design; full HD-resolution screen with handy automatic display settings; Blu-ray drive and 1TB of storage; multimode touch pad; full complement of ports and connections; decent battery life.
THE BAD
Large and heavy; 32-bit OS leaves 1GB of RAM sitting dormant; midrange GPU does not offer top-notch gaming performance; doesn't ship with a Media Center remote.
THE BOTTOM LINE
You can find Blu-ray-equipped desktop replacements for less, but no other media laptop currently offers as many features for the price as the Asus M70.
EPA Energy Star, Intel Core 2 Duo (1.83 GHz), 3 GB DDR II SDRAM, 9 lbs, 18.4 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
THE GOOD
First 18-inch display we've seen; true 16:9 aspect ratio; inventive media control panel mimics a remote control.
THE BAD
Higher-end model is twice as much as lower-end version, despite minimal specification differences; minor Blu-ray control issues; we expected better bass from a system with a subwoofer.
THE BOTTOM LINE
With Blu-ray and a true 1080p display, the 18-inch Acer Aspire 8920 is a movie fan's dream, but we'd go for the cheaper of Acers' two preconfigured models.
EPA Energy Star, Intel Core 2 Duo (2.6 GHz), 4 GB DDR II SDRAM, 9 lbs, 18.4 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate
THE GOOD
First 18-inch display we've seen; true 16:9 aspect ratio; inventive media control panel mimics a remote control.
THE BAD
Higher-end model is twice as much as lower-end version, despite minimal specification differences; minor Blu-ray control issues; we expected better bass from a system with a subwoofer.
THE BOTTOM LINE
With Blu-ray and a true 1080p display, the 18-inch Acer Aspire 8920 is a movie fan's dream, but we'd go for the cheaper of Acers' two preconfigured models.
Intel Core 2 Duo (1.83 GHz), 4 GB DDR II SDRAM, 9.3 lbs, 17 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
THE GOOD
Excellent performance for the money, particularly with games; offers more memory, a larger hard drive, and slightly faster CPU for same price as the model it replaces; includes HDMI and eSATA ports.
THE BAD
Not configurable; wimpy CPU for a gaming system.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Gateway P-6860FX offers GeForce 8800 gaming muscle and plenty of memory in a midprice laptop, making it a great choice for gamers who fall just short of hard-core.
EPA Energy Star 4.0, RoHS, Intel Core 2 Duo (1.6 GHz), 2 GB DDR II SDRAM, 2.4 lbs, 11.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
THE GOOD
Gorgeous design; lightweight, yet solid construction; sharp screen resolution; comfortable keyboard; ships with two batteries.
THE BAD
Lacks a built-in optical drive; glossy screen finish sometimes produces annoying reflections; piano finish on keyboard is prone to smudges; fixed configuration can't be customized; no WWAN option.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The 11.1-inch Lenovo IdeaPad U110 is the most beautiful laptop we've seen in years, and behind those good looks is a well-appointed, fairly priced ultraportable. Despite a few minor nitpicks, we recommend the IdeaPad U110 to those who want a lightweight, eye-catching laptop for frequent travel.
EPA Energy Star 4.0, RoHS, Intel Core 2 Duo (1.6 GHz), 2 GB DDR II SDRAM, 2.4 lbs, 11.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
THE GOOD
Gorgeous design; lightweight, yet solid construction; sharp screen resolution; comfortable keyboard; ships with two batteries.
THE BAD
Lacks a built-in optical drive; glossy screen finish sometimes produces annoying reflections; piano finish on keyboard is prone to smudges; fixed configuration can't be customized; no WWAN option.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The 11.1-inch Lenovo IdeaPad U110 is the most beautiful laptop we've seen in years, and behind those good looks is a well-appointed, fairly priced ultraportable. Despite a few minor nitpicks, we recommend the IdeaPad U110 to those who want a lightweight, eye-catching laptop for frequent travel.
Attractive design; bright, crisp display; Blu-ray drive; thorough set of audiovisual controls, ports, and connections; long battery life; touch pad power button; fingerprint reader.
THE BAD
Mediocre gaming performance; HDMI port takes the place of one USB port; decent, but not great, speakers.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The HP Pavilion dv9700t doesn't have enough graphics power to satisfy gaming enthusiasts, but it is a great choice for home users who don't want to spend a fortune on a Blu-ray equipped entertainment notebook.
Intel Atom, 1 GB DDR II SDRAM, 2.4 lbs, 8.9 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
THE GOOD
Much-improved battery life; new mouse and quick-launch buttons; still highly portable and reasonably priced.
THE BAD
New Atom CPU is slower than previous Celeron Eee PC, slightly bigger than the Eee 900; price is creeping up to the full-size laptop range.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The long-awaited Asus Eee PC 901 is the best version of this inexpensive Netbook yet, but it's facing increased competition from the likes of HP, Dell, and MSI.
Intel Core 2 Duo (2.2 GHz), 2 GB DDR II SDRAM, 6.4 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
THE GOOD
Magnesium alloy case feels rock solid; light price and lightweight compared with the ruggedized competition; Smart Card and SIM card slots; well-rounded configuration delivers ample performance.
THE BAD
Not configurable; Draft N Wi-Fi is absent; online support is more miss than hit for this model.
THE BOTTOM LINE
As perhaps the most affordable ruggedized laptop, the Averatec Voya 6494 is a tempting choice, even if you don't work in the field under harsh conditions.
Intel, 1 GB DDR II SDRAM, 2.2 lbs, 8.9 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
THE GOOD
Bigger screen in same small package; new touch pad gesture controls; long battery life.
THE BAD
Not as much storage space as the Linux version; same old Celeron CPU as original Eee PC; keyboard just as cramped.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The 9-inch Asus Eee PC 900 adds a bigger screen and a larger capacity solid-state hard drive than its 7-inch precursor, but the new price has passed the point of an impulse purchase.
Intel Core 2 Duo (1.67 GHz), 2 GB DDR II SDRAM, 5.3 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
THE GOOD
Attractive new "special edition" bronze theme; includes a media remote control and an HDMI port; available dedicated graphics.
THE BAD
Heavier than it should be; tinny speakers, unimpressive battery life.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The 14-inch HP Pavilion dv2700t Special Edition packs plenty of extra features and a cool new paint job into a slightly too-heavy package with an uninspiring battery.
Intel Core 2 Duo (2.1 GHz), 2.0 GB DDR II SDRAM, 6 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Premium Edition
THE GOOD
Borrows some of the best design features of the more expensive XPS line; built-in media remote control.
THE BAD
Bulkier than the 15-inch XPS model; just under the wire for new Centrino 2 chips.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Dell's first release from its new Studio line, the Studio 15, sits between the Inspiron and XPS lines and offers a good mix of features for the price, but we'd be tempted to save up a few extra dollars for a thinner, lighter XPS.
Kind of slow for a laptop named after a race car; expensive; poor battery life.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Asus Lamborghini VX3 is the laptop recast as status symbol. It looks and feels like a luxury item; we just wish it had a bit more power under the hood.
Kind of slow for a laptop named after a race car; expensive; poor battery life.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Asus Lamborghini VX3 is the laptop recast as status symbol. It looks and feels like a luxury item; we just wish it had a bit more power under the hood.
AMD processor can't match the performance of Core 2 Duo-based competition; disappointing battery life; heavy for its size; glossy screen finish results in reflections.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Though its performance is merely adequate, the ultraportable Averatec 2575 offers an attractive design and a decent feature set at a reasonable price.
Intel Core 2 Duo (1.83 GHz), 3 GB DDR II SDRAM, 5.5 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
THE GOOD
Inexpensive; attractive, sturdily constructed case; beautiful display that's great for video without being too reflective; performance mostly matches that of more expensive models; respectable battery life; lengthy warranty.
THE BAD
Red color isn't for everyone; case finish easily picks up fingerprints and smudges; stiff keyboard; lousy speakers.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The 14.1-inch Gateway T-6828 offers the same performance and features as similar models from Dell and Toshiba, at a lower price. However, we recommend you try the T-6828's keyboard before making a buying decision.
RoHS, Intel Core 2 Duo (1.83 GHz), 3 GB DDR II SDRAM, 7.7 lbs, 17.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
THE GOOD
Stylish new design; charges USB devices, even when off; inexpensive desktop replacement.
THE BAD
Glossy finish attracts fingerprints; way too much bloatware; sleep-and-charge feature is turned off by default.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Toshiba's new 17-inch Satellite P305 is a well-made, inexpensive desktop replacement, but much more powerful laptops are available for just a little more money.
RoHS, Intel Core 2 Duo (2.1 GHz), 3 GB DDR II SDRAM, 5.3 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
THE GOOD
Stylish new design; charges USB devices, even when off.
THE BAD
Glossy finish attracts fingerprints; way too much bloatware; Sleep-and-Charge feature is turned off by default.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Toshiba's new Satellites, including the 14-inch M305, offer a reasonable mix of performance and price, but are weighed down by excessive out-of-the-box advertising links.
If you can look past the terrible battery life, the low-cost Gateway M-1626 is a decent midsize pick for a student laptop or for use as a secondary computer.
Slimmer than Dell's 14-inch Inspiron; includes HDMI and touch-sensitive media control buttons; Core 2 Duo chip and 3GB of RAM lead to decent performance.
THE BAD
Shorter battery life than the competition.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Adding some features missing form its 14-inch cousin, the Dell Inspiron 1525 is the textbook example of a midsize, mainstream laptop--a basic workhorse with few surprises. It may be a bit large for daily campus travel, but it should last you the full four years.
Mediocre performance on benchmarks; speakers produce treble sound.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The well-designed HP Pavilion dv6915nr incorporates most of the features you'll need for school, but other 15.4-inch laptops offer better performance for the same price.
Fourteen-inch size offers best mix of usability and portability; decent performance among its midsize competition; excellent battery life.
THE BAD
Dell has updated its 15-inch Inspiron models recently, making this model look a little dated.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The basic 14-inch Inspiron 1420 is a reasonable choice for budget buyers who want something a little smaller than the standard 15-inch chassis, but this laptop has missed out on recent updates other Inspiron models have received.
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