aka notebook

The most highly evolved species of computer, the laptop (aka notebook) computer allows you to work without being tethered to an office. Portability and good performance make notebook PCs an essential part of the daily lives of millions of people, from college students to business travelers. Even the least-expensive of today's laptops are better equipped than they have ever been, and may be all you need for everyday work.

HP Pavilion dv6500tThe good: Includes HD DVD drive and HDMI port; touch-sensitive media controls; 802.11n Wi-Fi; good component mix for the price. The bad: Some options (including HD DVD drive) not available yet; disappointing battery life. The bottom line: HP's attractive Pavilion dv6500t is a well-designed 15-inch multimedia laptop that stands out from the mainstream crowd with touch-sensitive media controls and an HDMI output, but the standard battery could be better. More with video

Dell inspiration 1420

The good: Newly redesigned Inspiron line adds Centrino Duo CPUs and color choices; highly configurable with plenty of networking options; discrete graphics option; excellent battery life. The bad: Not as radically reengineered as Dell's new XPS laptop; low starting price, but everything from the Webcam to Bluetooth costs extra. The bottom line: Dell's retooled Inspiron line introduces the new 14-inch Inspiron 1420 laptop

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