(Jun 10, 2009)
Dan Ackerman
Senior Editor
Perfect for globe-trotting business types or campus-trotting students, thin-and-light laptops hit the sweet spot of portability, performance, and features. Be prepared to pay a bit of a premium for performance, but if you ask us, 13 inches is the new mainstream.
Apple MacBook Pro Summer 2009 (Core 2 Duo 2.26GHz, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD, Nvidia GeForce 9400M, 13-inch)
Previously known as the MacBook, Apple's basic 13-inch aluminum unibody laptop has been promoted to the "Pro" series, all while adding features and cutting the base price.
Price: $1,159.00 - $1,199.99 (check prices)
Review date: Jun 10, 2009
Excellent
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Apple MacBook Summer 2009 (Core 2 Duo 2.13GHz, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M)
For $999, it's hard to beat this MacBook's nearly MacBook-Pro-level specs if you're in the market for a budget Apple laptop.
Price: $988.99 - $999.99 (check prices)
Review date: Jun 10, 2009
Excellent
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MSI X340 (black)
MSI's superslim X340 offers the slick look of a MacBook Air or Dell Adamo, but cast in plastic for about half the price.
Price: $799.99 - $884.99 (check prices)
Review date: May 29, 2009
Very good
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HP Pavilion dv3510nr
Best Buy listened to its customers and then teamed up with HP to create the Pavilion dv3510nr, one of the big box store's first Blue Label laptops. This sleek-yet-loaded 13-inch laptop deserves a blue ribbon, too, for its all-around excellence and value.
Price: Sorry, pricing not available
Review date: Nov 11, 2008
Excellent
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