Sharp design ; solid build ; good-size touch screen

Software keyboard is no stand-in for physical one ; media playback a mixed bag ; high price

The Viliv X70EX is an improvement on its older UMPC-like sibling, the S5, but compared with other Intel Atom-powered products, it's not exactly a bargain.

Excellent quality and construction ; thoughtful keyboard layout ; inventive touch-screen features

Expensive ; touch-screen features have limited real-world usefulness for most

A revamped version of Lenovo's slim ThinkPad T400s adds an innovative touch-screen package to the first Windows 7 laptop we've reviewed.

Affordable ; good gaming performance for the price

Bland design ; poor battery life ; display not 1080p

While its aesthetics leave something to be desired, the iBuyPower Battalion M865TU gaming laptop is a decent cocktail of no-frills performance and price.

Bluetooth ; 802.11n Wi-Fi ; comfortable keyboard and touch pad ; rare matte screen

Thicker than many Netbooks ; undistinguished design

The Hannspree Hannsnote doesn't set the Netbook world on fire, but it's a surprisingly usable and well-featured mini-laptop at a competitive price from a new manufacturer.

Bluetooth ; 802.11n Wi-Fi ; comfortable keyboard and touch pad ; rare matte screen

Thicker than many Netbooks ; undistinguished design

The Hannspree Hannsnote doesn't set the Netbook world on fire, but it's a surprisingly usable and well-featured mini-laptop at a competitive price from a new manufacturer.

High-res display ; cool color combos ; typical high-quality Sony construction and design

Poor battery life ; better display adds a $100 premium ; smallish keyboard ; loud fan

Attempting to create a premium-priced version of a Netbook, Sony has added an HD display to the Vaio W. It's an attractive step-up package, but the internal components are the same as are in cheaper models.

Attractive look ; loud speakers ; long battery life

Uncomfortable keyboard ; more expensive than comparable laptops

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.

Very stylish design, loud speakers, lightweight and affordable

Underpowered ULV processor, mediocre battery life

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.

Extremely customizable ; good keyboard ; solid construction

Add-ons can get expensive ; lack of extra ports

As a highly configurable budget-range black box, Dell's Inspiron 1545 laptop line can be a good value--as long as you don't pile on the upgrades.

HD video looks great on big 15.5-inch, 16:9 display ; keyboard is comfortable and spacious ; relatively thin and lightweight

Disappointing battery life ; extra-wide chassis may require a new laptop bag ; no media control buttons

With just about the biggest display you'd be willing to lug around on a daily basis, the Sony Vaio VGN-NW125J/T attempts to be both a low-end entertainment laptop and versatile everyday productivity machine. But for the battery life, it pulls it off.