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 of...

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 pricey a...

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 hund...

Samsung's latest ultraportable laptop provides solid competition for Lenovo's X200, highlighted by slicker looks and a crisper display.

Fantastic battery life Bright, easily viewable screen

Pretty, but pricey

Samsung's X360 certainly doesn't come cheap. But with the 128GB SSD drive on board, you wouldn't expect it to be a huge bargain. Overall it's a solid machine for indoor and outdoor use. Lenovo's X200 now finds itself facing much stiffer competition

Gateway brings out a bargain, full-fledged gaming notebook packed with more ports and options than you'll know what to do with.

High-end perks like HDMI, eSATA ports A good value for mobile gamers

Tinny, two-bit speakers

That tangential issue aside, the P-7811FX offers a healthy balance of good gaming and low cost for those on a tight budget. Gateway's got a good gaming notebook line on its hands. Next time, though, I'd really like to see better onboard audio

Asus's fashionable ultraportable gives you good performance--and a second battery--without breaking the bank.

Second battery bundled Soilid performer in WorldBench

Poor sound Trackpad is awkward to use

All in all, the Asus U6V-A1 is not a bad notebook. For media, its weak speakers prevent it from being a great choice, but if you want a compact notebook that can handle everyday tasks and maybe some light gaming, the U6V makes for a fairly attractive pack...

As a desktop replacement, the HDX18 not only performs well, it makes your desk itself look snazzier, with great multimedia features.

Big, beautiful 18.4-inch display Good speakers

Screen is a little too glossy Slightly redundant multimedia software

What kind of price can you put on this kind of entertainment PC? Quite a bit, actually. Our machine, as configured, will run you upwards of $2300. If that's a little too rich for your blood, scale back features, and you can get a baseline model for about...

Gateway's MC7803u laptop promises entertainment features--but while the price is right, some aspects of its performance aren't.

Nice, backlit keyboard Slick casing with glass and leather

Glass literally pops from display Images get a little washed out

Would you mind lugging this laptop around? Measuring 15.2 by 10.5 by 1.9 inches, and weighing 7.7 pounds (8.8 pounds with the power brick), it's a little hefty for toting. But considering again that this portable manages to hit the $1000 price point, it's...

Prepare to do a double-take with HP's HDX16. The short version: It is a trimmed-down take on HP's HDX18. The HDX16 offers desktop replacement performance and features in an all-purpose notebook--and looks pretty slick in the process. Sure, its screen may...

DTR features in an all-purpose package Good Speakers

Screen is a little too glossy Slightly redundant multimedia software

The question quickly becomes what you're comfortable carrying around with you. HP's HDX16 goes a long way toward bringing a good multimedia experience with you on the road, but it lacks the juice to last for the long haul (and, as a larger laptop, could b...

A good performer, the semiruggedized D15TS laptop is a reasonable choice for secure indoor and outdoor use.

Good battery life Rugged build but cushy mouse buttons

Distractingly bright LEDs Intel integrated video

If performance wrapped in extra durability sounds good to you, take a look at the semiruggedized but fully functional--and fairly attractive--D15TS