Think of the Toshiba Satellite U405 as a really inexpensive ultraportable or an incredibly svelte all-purpose laptop. It's both.

Huge hard drive ; Great value

Lacking wired Internet connectivity ; High-gloss finish might put off some

The biggest concessions you might miss: gigabit ethernet and a modem port, two wired-communications options that most laptops still offer. The U405-S2854 is fully equipped for wireless communications, though, with both Bluetooth and 802.11g Wi-Fi ...

On paper, the Area 51 has the heart of a champion. It sports a speedy Intel Q9550 quad-core processor running at its stock-clock frequency of 2.83 GHz. Four gigabytes of DDR3-1066 memory further beef up its specs, while 800GB of storage comes courtesy ...

Well-constructed

Tired case design

We can't bear to shoot Alienware's Area 51, but there's no question that this thoroughbred PC has outlived its days at the top of the system charts. At $3219 (as of December 3, 2008; $380 extra with a bundled Samsung 2253BW monitor), it's far too ...

This updated version of an old favorite remains competitive, but we wouldn't place bets on it winning races.

Well-constructed

Tired case design

We can't bear to shoot Alienware's Area 51, but there's no question that this thoroughbred PC has outlived its days at the top of the system charts. At $3219 (as of December 3, 2008; $380 extra with a bundled Samsung 2253BW monitor), it's far too ...

Everyone talks about the Apple tax - the premium you're paying for an Apple product. The same could technically be said for some of Sony's more uniquely designed notebooks, like the Sony VAIO VGN-Z598U. This ultraportable class starts at $1,499, but ...

Beautiful backlit widescreen display Two GPUs to toggle between

The two SSDs jack up the price Less-than-stellar sound

Preloaded software includes Microsoft Works, a video content exporter, a basic video-editing program, and the VAIO Control Center (which quickly breaks down all of the vital chores you're likely to need instant access to on your computer

Sony's high-powered multimedia business machine is compelling; but when fully loaded, it costs as much as a used car.

Beautiful backlit widescreen display ; Two GPUs to toggle between

The two SSDs jack up the price ; Less-than-stellar sound

Preloaded software includes Microsoft Works, a video content exporter, a basic video-editing program, and the VAIO Control Center (which quickly breaks down all of the vital chores you're likely to need instant access to on your computer

Can't decide between a desktop PC and a laptop? How about a workstation and a laptop? Lenovo's ThinkPad W700 desktop replacement (and desktop-size) laptop incorporates many of the latest mobile workstation features while also packing in a few unusual- ...

Lightweight, for such a large notebook Excellent drawing tablet

Angle of view on LCD is pretty narrow Enormous power brick

The ThinkPad W700 may look understated--and it's a bit of a kitchen-sink approach to computing--but it's a top-flight notebook. For on-the-go graphics artists, or those looking for the ultimate mobile workstation, it's hard to beat

With a workstation's power (and price) in an understated package, this laptop is built for road-ready digital graphics artists.

Lightweight, for such a large notebook ; Excellent drawing tablet

Angle of view on LCD is pretty narrow ; Enormous power brick

The ThinkPad W700 may look understated--and it's a bit of a kitchen-sink approach to computing--but it's a top-flight notebook. For on-the-go graphics artists, or those looking for the ultimate mobile workstation, it's hard to beat

Apple's second stab at the Air adds a better GPU but keeps the same shape--and the problems that come with it.

Light and sleek ; Greatly improved graphics power over original Air

Unswappable battery ; Single USB port

Today, though, the MacBook is a better buy for all but the most extreme devotees of thinness and lightness. It's not that the MacBook Air is a bad laptop. It's just that Apple has made a faster, cheaper, and almost equally attractive model that costs ...

Admit it: You've said to your boss that you need an ultraportable laptop because it would give you easy and instant access to your work data. But the truth is, the main reason anyone buys a sleek, slim ultraportable is to turn heads. The HP Voodoo ...

Fantastic feel, sleek minimalism Linux shell with handy apps

Today's prices for yesterday's hardware The mouse is love or hate -- I hate it

The speakers' sound quality was a pleasant surprise. You get some surprisingly clear and crisp audio from this ultraportable. Of course, you won't hear much in the way of bass out of the two tiny side-mounted speakers (there's no subwoofer to be found ...

Welcome back, Samsung. You've been laying low in the U.S. market when it comes to notebooks, but after kicking the tires on the X460, I can honestly say you were missed. I mean, you manage to craft a 14.1-inch thin-and-light all-purpose notebook that ...

Many great features in a slim package Bright, easily-viewable screen

Could've used a better discrete GPU

I'm pretty impressed with the Samsung X460. Oh, sure, I have a couple quibbles about choices like the discrete but low-end GPU (obviously a cost-cutting measure), but that doesn't stop me from recommending this machine. It's a little outside the range ...