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• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 11 reviews

The Bottom Line: Dell's entry into the Netbook market means it's time to take these low-cost, low-power PCs seriously. The Inspiron Mini 9 is an excellent example of the form, if not radically different from the competition. Read review

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM, 8.9, Ubuntu Linux version 8.0.4

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 17 reviews

The Bottom Line: We don't know how Gateway makes money selling these things, but the combination of high-end components and low price makes the 17-inch Gateway P-7811FX the best mobile gaming deal going right now. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.26 GHz), 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM, 9.3 lbs, 17 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 41 reviews

The Bottom Line: The ThinkPad X300 breaks new ground by packing a broad display, full-size keyboard, and nearly every feature a mobile user needs into a sleek, lightweight case. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (1.2 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 3.2 lbs, 13.3 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Business

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: The long-awaited Asus Eee PC 901 is the best version of this inexpensive Netbook yet, but it's facing increased competition from the likes of HP, Dell, and MSI. Read review

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 2.4 lbs, 8.9 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 61 reviews

The Bottom Line: Apple has been content to issue minor periodic hardware updates to the 13-inch MacBook, but the modest performance gains and new Leopard OS keep it in our top tier of laptop recommendations. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.2 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.1 lbs, 13.3 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, Apple MacOS X 10.5

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: Lenovo's "me, too!" entry in the Netbook sweepstakes, the IdeaPad S10, gets the price and features right, but falls behind on battery life. Read review

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM, 2.6 lbs, 10.2 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, EPA Energy Star, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 60 reviews

The Bottom Line: For less than $400, the Asus Eee PC 4G offers an impressive package for portable Web surfing and basic productivity, as long as you keep expectations tempered. The incredibly approachable price outweighs any shortcomings; it's a near perfect choice for a highly portable second or backup laptop. Read review

Specs: Intel Celeron M (630 MHz), 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM, 2 lbs, 7 in TFT active matrix, Linux

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 2 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Asus Eee PC 1000's 10-inch screen walks a fine line between Netbook and regular laptop, but the higher price may drive away value-seeking consumers. Read review

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 2.9 lbs, 10 in TFT active matrix, Linux

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 6 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Acer Aspire One is easily the best of the current under-$400 Netbooks, but its meager allotment of memory and tiny battery limit its appeal. Read review

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM, 2.2 lbs, 8.9 in TFT active matrix, Linux Linpus Lite

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 1.0 stars out of 6 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Dell Studio S1535-125B impresses us with its leading performance in the sub-$1,000 category, thanks in large part to a speedy Intel CPU and generous memory allotment. Striking a fine balance between Dell's XPS and Inspiron lines, we recommend this well-rounded 15-inch laptop for students and home users alike. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.1 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 6 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 10 reviews

The Bottom Line: A standout among budget midsize laptops, the 14.1-inch Gateway T-6836 marries strong performance and battery life with a compact, well-designed case. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.7 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 10 reviews

The Bottom Line: The HP Pavilion dv6985se is a well-stocked mainstream machine with a long-living (though heavy) 12-cell battery. We recommend it, provided you like the unique copper-colored case and are willing to schlep around 6.6 pounds of laptop. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 6.8 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 19 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Acer Aspire One is easily the best of the current under-$400 Netbooks, but its meager allotment of memory and tiny battery limit its appeal. Read review

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 2.2 lbs, 8.9 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  2.5 stars Average
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 13 reviews

The Bottom Line: Despite an underpowered CPU, the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC offers the best balance of small size, comfort, and functionality we've seen in a mininotebook, making it fast a favorite for on-the-go use. Read review

Specs: VIA C7-M (1.6 GHz), 2.0 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 2.6 lbs, 8.9 in TFT active matrix, Vista Business

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 15 reviews

The Bottom Line: Dell's first release from its new Studio line, the Studio 15, sits between the Inspiron and XPS lines and offers a good mix of features for the price, but we'd be tempted to save up a few extra dollars for a thinner, lighter XPS. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.1 GHz), 2.0 GB DDR II SDRAM, 6 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Premium Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 6 reviews

The Bottom Line: The entry-level Sony Vaio NR430 strikes all the right notes--decent performance, pleasing design, great keyboard and display--to form an excellent 15-inch laptop for students (and home users in general) on tight budgets. Read review

Specs: Intel Pentium Dual Core (1.86 GHz), 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 6.3 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 reviews

The Bottom Line: 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. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.26 GHz), 2.0 GB DDR2 SDRAM, Microsoft Windows Vista Business Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 62 reviews

The Bottom Line: Dell's turn toward a "design-first" philosophy continues to pay off with the XPS M1530, easily the best-looking 15-inch laptop in recent memory. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.6 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.7 lbs, 15.4 TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 10 reviews

The Bottom Line: Sony's smart design, long battery life, and a big 16-inch screen, make the Vaio FW140--the first Centrino 2 laptop we've seen--an excellent, but still portable, media hub. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.26 GHz), 3 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 6.4 lbs, 16.4 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, EPA Energy Star, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium