The Good: portable; affordable; stylish and modern exterior; solid structure; elegant, minimalist look; comfortable, full-sized keyboard; DVD burner; fast internet surfing; battery life comparable with other mid-size models and adequate for movie watching; LCD with high native resolution; wireless connectivity; use of Xbrite technology for readable display with antireflective coating; adequate multitasking performance; with three USB 2.0 ports and a mini FireWire port.

The Bad: bulky; available only in white and brown colors; noisy mouse buttons; a little bit heavy for traveling; no quick-launch buttons; insufficient for 3D gaming; lack of PC Card slot; low speaker sound.

The Bottom Line: suitable for budget-conscious individuals with discriminating style; usable for basic productivity; not for the more demanding buyer.

The Good: features the Intel Core Duo processor; portable and light weight for travel; with swivel web camera and built-in microphone; EVDO and an nVidia Go 7400 graphics card; attractive casing; suitable for 3D gaming; glossy screen finish; good audio with two headphone jacks; wireless and Bluetooth connectivity with added broadband cellular communication; capable of automatic search for Wi-Fi networks even if turned off; full-sized keyboard; pleasantly tactile touchpad; adequate mouse buttons; four USB ports; features MediaDirect software for managing digital media without booting Windows first.

The Bad: slightly thicker than comparable laptops of the same size; poor vertical viewing angle; keyboard feels mushy, not suitable for aggressive typing; can heat up during prolonged use or gaming; a bit undersized mouse and touchpad.

The Bottom Line: A laptop for buyers focused on portability with strong entertainment and productivity features.

The Good: Innovative design; unique touchpad; touch screen doesn’t require stylus; not expensive.

The Bad: Slightly thicker than it should be; glossy screen can be hard to read.

The Bottom Line: HP’s first Vista-based laptop, the Pavilion tx1000us, is an unusual but largely successful hybrid, combining a tablet design with an entertainment-focused laptop.

The Good: Sophisticated, eye-catching, and sleek look with faux leather exterior and system handle; solid structure; Intel Core Duo processor; with detachable Bluetooth keyboard and mouse; notable sound system with 8 built-in speakers; clear audio; videoconferencing capabilities with integrated microphone and webcam; adjustable wide screen with bright display, suitable for games and DVD movies, with optional discrete graphics; remote-controlled Media Center that also functions as gyroscopic mouse; extensive multimedia features; long battery life; large storage with 2GB system memory; inclusion of internet and video chat software; see-through DVD burner; equipped with slot-loading Blu-ray drive

The Bad: Expensive; large compared to other laptop model; unwieldy and bulky to move; does not come with built-in TV tuner; small trackpad; wireless keypad and mouse does not automatically connect after being idle; takes a little longer to boot up

The Bottom Line: Suitable for people looking to splurge on a high performance laptop with expansive multimedia capabilities who doesn’t need to carry the laptop around.

The Good: cost-efficient; dual-core power for running multiple applications; long battery
Life with optional 9-cell battery; 24x CD-RW/DVD combo drive; improved management of digital media; speedy start-up time with “Media Direct” software; wide screen LCD; excellent speaker performance, loud with no distortion; nice keyboards; provided with air vents on both sides so it doesn’t heat up with long use; availability of FireWire and USB ports; large touchpad; placement of multimedia buttons on front edge for ease in controlling music and movie applications

The Bad: A little heavy; Poor game play, lacks capability for 3D gaming applications; small systems storage; limited expandability, inclusion of unnecessary software; light leakage on screen; not for high-end graphics; does not come with integrated TV tuner or remote options; lack of PC Card slot cost-efficient; dual-core power for running multiple applications; long batteryLife with optional 9-cell battery; 24x CD-RW/DVD combo drive; improved management of digital media; speedy start-up time with “Media Direct” software; (read more)

The Good: Great battery life; built-in mobile broadband antenna; typically impressive Sony industrial design; LED-backlit display provides bright screen and aids battery life; compact and light; still includes optical drive.

The Bad: Slow Core Solo processor; small and slow hard drive; expensive warranty extensions.

The Bottom Line: Sony adds Windows Vista to its ultraportable VAIO TXN17, which doesn’t change much otherwise from its XP-based precursor. With a gorgeous design, excellent battery life, and wireless broadband, it remains one of the best ultraportables on the market for business travelers.

The Good: Beautiful design; bright, crisp display; complete set of AV controls, ports, and connections, including an HD DVD drive; long battery life; touch pad on/off button; excellent software.

The Bad: Display resolution could be higher; media controls provide audible feedback when pressed.

The Bottom Line: The HD-friendly, feature-laden HP Pavilion dv9000z offers a high-end entertainment experience without the high-end price tag of competitive models.