Dual-core CULV processor; Windows 7 preinstalled; very good battery life

Weak speakers; uncomfortable touch pad

Toshiba's slick entry into the thin-and-light laptop world is timed for Windows 7, but if you're going to get one, make sure it's the dual-core T135-S1310, and not its single-core cousin.

Sleek unibody design; LED display; big multitouch trackpad; long battery life

Loses FireWire; no SD card slot; nonremovable battery

Apple's latest version of the popular $999 white MacBook gets an upscale makeover, while keeping the price the same. It's a strong alternative to the more expensive Pro line, if you can live without extras such as an SD card slot.

Top-of-the-line components, including Intel Core i7 ; second solid-state hard drive ; massive 18-inch 1080p display

Expensive ; tiny touch pad ; surprisingly cramped keyboard ; mute button beeps loudly when pressed

Toshiba revives its Qosmio gaming line with the high-end X505. It has everything from Blu-ray to an Intel Core i7 CPU, but it also carries a premium price.

Solid construction ; matte 16x9 screen ; flexible configurations and pricing

Bland, boxy design ; somewhat bulky frame

Lenovo's Windows 7 upgrade to the ThinkPad SL500 keeps the price affordable, and features a consumer-friendly 16:9 display.

Lightweight body, Windows 7 preinstalled, very good battery life

Underperforming single-core CPU, weak speakers

Toshiba's slick entry into the thin-and-light laptop world is timed for Windows 7, but the Satellite T135-S1300 isn't as multimedia-savvy as it seems to be at first glance.

Powerful desktop gaming performance ; excellent service, support, and pricing policies

Poor speaker performance ; fingerprint magnet ; small keyboard and touch pad for a gigantic notebook

If you're ready to give up your gaming desktop once and for all, consider replacing it with the Malibal Veda series laptop.

Strong battery life ; reasonable price ; slim design

Some keyboard flex ; touchy touch pad ; feels a bit cheap

If you're in the market for an affordable thin-and-light, the Asus UL30A-A1 provides great value and a solid Core 2 Duo CULV processor in an attractive package.

Slick, modern design ; big touch pad ; bright display ; premium support services

Very expensive ; heavier than it looks ; no backlit keyboard ; limited ports and connections

HP's upscale Envy 13 looks and feels like an expensive status symbol, with performance and features that impress us--but its high price makes it a tough sell over the similar-looking MacBook Pro.

Touch screen plus full keyboard ; excellent battery life

Mediocre CPU performance ; too many keyboard and touchpad compromises ; high price tag compared with other Atom-powered devices

The Viliv S7's small size and Netbook/tablet hybrid design are appealing, but its high price is illogical in a world of inexpensive portables.

Solid mainstream value ; decent keyboard and touchpad ; 15 months antivirus subscription included

Not as many configuration options as some other Dell laptops ; weak battery

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.