Dell Inspiron 1150

System configurations:

Dell Inspiron 1150
Windows XP Home; 2.8GHz Intel Pentium 4; 256MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; Intel Extreme Graphics 2 for Mobile (up to 64MB); IBM Travelstar 40GN 40GB 4,200rpm

Sony VAIO PCG-K15
Windows XP Home; 2.8GHz Intel Pentium 4; 512MB DDR SDRAM 333MHz; ATI Radeon IGP 345M 64MB; Toshiba MK6021GAS 60GB 4,200rpm

Toshiba Satellite A75-S206
Windows XP Home; 2.8GHz Intel Mobile Pentium 4 518; 512MB DDR SDRAM 333MHz; ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 IGP 64MB; Hitachi Travelstar 80GN 60GB 4,200rpm

Dell continues to provide excellent service, but the one-year warranty that comes with the entry-level Inspiron 1150 may not be long enough for everyone. You can add two more years of coverage for $124, and some of the more expensive configurations include three years of coverage. Dell provides 24-hour phone and e-mail tech support for as long as you own your laptop; when we called, a helpful live technician delivered exactly what we needed in just less than two minutes. The company's Web site is a wealth of information for keeping your laptop running smoothly, including troubleshooting help, a multitude of downloads, plus lists of available accessories and upgrades. There's even a new performance and security page with tips, such as how to avoid spyware.