Dell Alienware M11x

Then: The size and power of the diminutive 11.6-inch Alienware M11x gaming laptop blew us away, and seemed like one of the truly original laptop concepts at CES 2010.

Now: We gave four-star reviews to both Alienware M11x configurations we tested in 2010, and still recommend them highly for anyone looking for a unique mix of higher-end graphics and a low-voltage CPU in a tiny, highly portable frame. Plus, these tiny laptops boast surprisingly powerful speakers. In the 11.6-inch laptop landscape, there's nothing like them.

Bottom line:"With its fusion of a low-voltage processor and high-end graphics, the 11.6-inch Alienware M11x is a unique and extremely compact hybrid gaming laptop with a few compromises for its size."

Read our review of the Alienware M11x.