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Best mainstream laptops
Mainstream used to mean the standard, 15.4-inch laptops everyone lugged around in backbreaking shoulder bags before ultraportable systems became popular. This year, we've seen a major shift toward redefining mainstream as the slightly smaller 14.1-inch size. For a small trade-off in screen size, you get a system that's usually significantly smaller, a bit lighter, and just plain better designed, as standard-size laptop keyboards seem to fit 14-inch systems much better, with less wasted space. But for general household computing, both 15- and 14-inch laptops will work fine.
Gateway T-6836
8.1 Excellent (reviewed 7/7/08)
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 of the Gateway T-6836
Dell XPS M1530
7.8 Very good (reviewed 12/16/07)
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 of the Dell XPS M1530
Averatec Voya 6494
7.7 Very good (reviewed 5/23/08)
As perhaps the most affordable ruggedized laptop, the Averatec Voya 6494 is a tempting choice, even if you don't work in the field under harsh conditions.
Read review of the Averatec Voya 6494
Dell Inspiron 1525
7.3 Very good (reviewed 2/5/08)
Taking consumer complaints to heart, Dell updates its mainstream 15-inch laptop with the Inspiron 1525. It's thinner, lighter, and less expensive than its predecessor.
Read review of the Dell Inspiron 1525
Lenovo IdeaPad Y510
7.2 Very good (reviewed 3/31/08)
Lenovo's entry into the consumer laptop market with the 15-inch IdeaPad Y510 provides ThinkPad-like quality but the design still comes off as a little buttoned-up.
Read review of the Lenovo IdeaPad Y510
