MSI Computer Corp. Laptops

The Bottom Line: For a price below that of ultra hard-core machines, the MSI GT725-212us provides considerable gaming power, a 1080p 17-inch screen, and Blu-ray in a package that's relatively portable.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Quad (2.00 GHz), 4096 MB DDR II SDRAM, 320 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, 7.3 lbs, 17 in TFT widescreen

The Bottom Line: MSI's superslim X340 offers the slick look of a MacBook Air or Dell Adamo, but cast in plastic for about half the price.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Solo (1.4 GHz), 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 320 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, 2.9 lbs, 13.4 in TFT active matrix

The Bottom Line: MSI's superslim X340 offers the slick look of a MacBook Air or Dell Adamo, but cast in plastic for about half the price.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Solo (1.4 GHz), 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 320 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, 2.9 lbs, 13.4 in TFT active matrix

The Bottom Line: The colorful, 12.1-inch MSI PR210 offers a decent feature set and great battery life, but at least one similar laptop costs less.

Specs: AMD Athlon 64 X2 (1.7 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 120 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, 4.9 lbs, 12 in TFT active matrix

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 2 GB, 320 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, 2.9 lbs, 13.4 in TFT active matrix

Specs: Intel Celeron (1.8 GHz), 3 GB DDR II SDRAM, 250 GB, Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, 5.5 lbs, 15.6 in TFT active matrix

Specs: AMD Athlon Neo (1.6 GHz), 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 250 GB, Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, 3.2 lbs, 12.1 in TFT active matrix

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.2 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 320 GB, Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, 5.5 lbs, 16 in TFT active matrix

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 160 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, 2.3 lbs, 10 in TFT active matrix

Specs: AMD Athlon Neo (1.6 GHz), 2 GB, 250 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, 3.3 lbs, 12.1 in TFT active matrix