Dell offers a suitable competitor to the 13-inch Apple MacBook in its XPS 1330, but we wish this retail version had some more recent components.

Inexpensive ; unique lid design ; amazing stereo sound ; decent performance ; light-touch media controls ; HDMI and eSATA ports ; charges USB devices, even when off

Bulky ; relatively low screen resolution ; fixed configuration lacks Bluetooth and Blu-ray ; lousy battery life

We appreciate the 17-inch Qosmio X305-Q701's cool looks, low price, and great stereo sound, but just a little bit more cash can buy a laptop that's better for watching movies or gaming.

Sharp new design ; tons of business-friendly features ; highly configurable ; excellent battery

Merely average performance ; somewhat heavy

A total revamp of Dell's ubiquitous business laptop line, the Latitude E6400 offers Intel's latest Centrino 2 mobile platform and introduces a brushed-metal design that works at home or office, but the real highlight here is the long battery life.