Shop for laptops

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 38 reviews

The Bottom Line: Dell's entry into the Netbook market means it's time to take these low-cost, low-power PCs seriously. The Inspiron Mini 9 is an excellent example of the form, if not radically different from the competition. Read review

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1.6 GHz, 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM, 8.9, Ubuntu Linux version 8.04.1

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 24 reviews

The Bottom Line: HP may have arrived late to the consumer Netbook game, but by lifting the generous keyboard from last year's business-oriented model, the Mini 1000 easily joins the category's top tier. Read review

Specs: 512 MB

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.2 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 47 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Acer Aspire One is easily the best of the current under-$400 Netbooks, but its meager allotment of memory and tiny battery limit its appeal. Read review

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1.6 GHz, 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 2.2 lbs, 8.9 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 66 reviews

The Bottom Line: Apple has been content to issue minor periodic hardware updates to the 13-inch MacBook, but the modest performance gains and new Leopard OS keep it in our top tier of laptop recommendations. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.2 GHz), 2.2 GHz, 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.1 lbs, 13.3 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, Apple MacOS X 10.5

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.5 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 47 reviews

The Bottom Line: The ThinkPad X300 breaks new ground by packing a broad display, full-size keyboard, and nearly every feature a mobile user needs into a sleek, lightweight case. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (1.2 GHz), 1.2 GHz, 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 3.2 lbs, 13.3 in TFT active matrix, EPEAT Gold, RoHS, Microsoft Windows Vista Business

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 8 reviews

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. Read review

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1.6 GHz, 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 2.4 lbs, 8.9 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.5 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 189 reviews

The Bottom Line: Apple's redesigned 13-inch MacBook is essentially a shrunken version of the more expensive 15-inch Pro line. With its new aluminum body, new trackpad, and Nvidia graphics, it's an even more attractive choice for mainstream laptop buyers than was the plastic model it replaces. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.4 GHz), 2.4 GHz, 2 GB DDR3 SDRAM, 2 mg, 13.3 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Gold, Apple Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: 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. Read review

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

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.4 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 8 reviews

The Bottom Line: 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. Read review

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

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 6 reviews

The Bottom Line: Lenovo's "me, too!" entry in the Netbook sweepstakes, the IdeaPad S10, gets the price and features right, but falls behind on battery life. Read review

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1.6 GHz, 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM, 2.6 lbs, 10.2 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, RoHS, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.4 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: If you want a thin-and-light 14-inch laptop or just love the distinctive look, the Samsung X460 is an impressive piece of hardware, but you'll find better value elsewhere. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.26 GHz), 2.26 GHz, 3 GB DDR3 SDRAM, 4 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Business

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.1 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 17 reviews

The Bottom Line: A standout among budget midsize laptops, the 14.1-inch Gateway T-6836 marries strong performance and battery life with a compact, well-designed case. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 2 GHz, 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.7 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 16 reviews

The Bottom Line: The HP Pavilion dv6985se is a well-stocked mainstream machine with a long-living (though heavy) 12-cell battery. We recommend it, provided you like the unique copper-colored case and are willing to schlep around 6.6 pounds of laptop. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 2 GHz, 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 6.8 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, EPEAT Silver, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.4 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 9 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Samsung NC10 is a completely average Netbook in every way, but we like its keyboard and love its long-running battery. Read review

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1.6 GHz, 1 GB, 2.8 lbs, 10.2 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 2 reviews

The Bottom Line: 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. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.26 GHz), 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

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.5 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 64 reviews

The Bottom Line: For less than $400, the Asus Eee PC 4G offers an impressive package for portable Web surfing and basic productivity, as long as you keep expectations tempered. The incredibly approachable price outweighs any shortcomings; it's a near perfect choice for a highly portable second or backup laptop. Read review

Specs: Intel Celeron M (630 MHz), 630, 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM, 2 lbs, 7 in TFT active matrix, Linux

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 83 reviews

The Bottom Line: Dell's turn toward a "design-first" philosophy continues to pay off with the XPS M1530, easily the best-looking 15-inch laptop in recent memory. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.2 GHz), 2.2 GHz, 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.7 lbs, 15.4 TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.6 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: 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. Read review