As I worked my way down the list of parts, everything about the HP Envy 15 ($1,800 direct) seemed as if it were a dream come true. An Intel Mobile Core i7 processor, 6GB of DDR3 memory, and midrange ATI graphics card are parts that you would find in ...

Aluminum metals are a sight to behold. Lightweight. Dreamy parts like an Intel Core i7 processor and 6GB of memory. Excellent graphics card. Awesome resolution. Fast hard drive. Excellent audio system

Heat can be felt throughout the laptop. No backlit keyboard option. Six-cell battery alone doesn't deliver enough juice. Expensive

Every component that powers the Envy 15 is what performance dreams are made of, but heat, unfortunately, is an aggravating side effect.

The sleek black HP Pavilion dv7-2270us ($1,130 direct) is as much fun to look at as it is to use. The striking 17.3-inch, 16:9, HD screen screams: I'm here to entertain. But that statement is tempered a bit by the fact that like its predecessor, the ...

Elegant design. Large HD (720p) screen

No Blu-ray player. Lots of HP bloatware

This capable, large-screen laptop can double as an entertainment system for watching movies (not Blu-ray) or streaming media, but you need a blazing fast gaming system you might want to look elsewhere.

As we've seen more and more lately, buying a 'budget' laptop doesn't mean you have to sacrifice tons of performance or features. Don't expect what you would get for $1K, but for $600 you should get smooth processing, decent hard drive sizes, and ...

Price

Not many ports. No Blu-ray. Poor performance

At $580, the Toshiba Satellite L505D-S5996 laptop may seem like a steal, but its weak performance and feature set still disappoint.

If you're looking for a cheap laptop for checking e-mail, surfing the Web, and running your basic home productivity apps, consider the Acer Aspire 5517-1643 ($449.98 list). This no-frills notebook is well built and features a nice 15.6-inch display ...

Affordable. Sturdy construction. Nice 15.6-inch display

Sluggish performance. Short on features. Bloatware

The Acer Aspire 5517-1643 is a cheap 15 inch notebook, and not surprisingly, it performs like one. Still, it's a good deal for cash-strapped students or anyone looking for a solidly built mainstream portable that'll handle the basics.

When you first see the Acer Aspire 7736Z-4809's large chassis and attractive 17-inch screen you expect it to be a multimedia and gaming monster. That is until you catch its $550 price tag. Unlike ultra-powerful media and gaming laptops equipped with ...

Unbeatable price. Large and bright 17-inch display. Comfortable keyboard

Integrated Intel GPU results in shoddy graphics. Stiff touchpad

The Acer Aspire 7736Z-4809 is a 17-inch media center for those looking to save, but not for those looking for strong performance or graphics prowess.

We're the first to admit we've been spoiled. Not all that long ago, any well-equipped laptop for $649.99 was sure to earn a thumbs-up. Back in July, we said that Costco's HP G60-443CL gave you a lot for your money. The equivalent of that system today ...

Good keyboard with numeric keypad. HDMI port. Two-year warranty

Low-resolution screen. Integrated graphics

The 15.6-inch HP G60-533cl offers few frills but appealing features, though the laptop's $650 price isn't the bargain it was a few months ago.

Quite frankly, we were surprised to find a Dell Studio laptop on the shelves at Staples. We would have guessed that as Dell's upscale, entertainment-focused laptop line, the Studio would have ceded shelf space to Dell's mainstream Inspiron line. Both ...

Outstanding battery life. Roomy hard drive. Competitive application performance. Exceedingly comfortable keyboard, touchpad, and mouse buttons. Useful collection of ports. Slot-loading DVD drive is a nice touch

Hot spot on wrist rest. Tiny rubber feet on bottom of battery dig into thighs when engaged in true laptop computing. Boxy design won't turn heads. No Blu-ray support

With its long-lasting battery, useful feature set, and functional design, the Dell Studio 1555 is still the 15.6-inch laptop to beat.

Big screen media center laptops are a dying a breed. Mobile users would rather take on the lightest laptop than have something that's confined to their desks, permanently. But for a select group of 3D gamers, video editors, photographers, and home ...

Affordable Media Center. Edge-to-edge glass screen. Gorgeous 18.4-inch widescreen. 1080p resolution. DisplayPort and HDMI. Core i7 processor delivers. Very good gaming scores. Backlit keyboard. Blu-ray included

Ugly on the outside. Small battery

The Acer Aspire AS8940-6865 has the performance and feature goods, delivered to you at an affordable price.

Sony has always placed an emphasis on design, so it's no surprise that the Sony VAIO VGN-NW270F/S ($799 from Staples) stands out from the mainstream laptop crowd with its unique, textured plastic chassis. The VAIO NW270F/S features an extra-wide 15.5 ...

Blu-ray player in an $800 system. Big, wide display. Unique design. Comfortable Keyboard and touchpad

Merely average battery life. Display falls short of 1080p resolution. Lid and screen are a bit too flexible. Low-resolution Webcam

With its unique yet functional design and Blu-ray player, the Sony VAIO VFN-NW270F/S is an affordable entertainment laptop that pulls double duty as a workhorse machine.

Once you take their price tags off, you can't tell the HP G60-530us from the G60-533cl without a screwdriver, or at least not without hitting the Start menu, right-clicking on Computer, and clicking Properties. (The 530us has 3GB of memory while the ...

Affordable. Attractive display and keyboard. HDMI port

Middling performance. No multimedia controls

This 15.6-inch laptop offers a bright screen and likable keyboard, and adequate performance and battery life.