EPEAT Silver Laptops

The Bottom Line: Although it's expensive for a 15-inch multimedia laptop, the Blu-ray and game-playing capabilities of the attractive 15.4-inch Sony Vaio NW160J make it a worthy portable entertainment system.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.1 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 320 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition, 6 lbs, 15.5 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Silver

The Bottom Line: As an above-average Blu-ray-playing laptop with impressive looks and good under-the-hood power, Sony's Vaio FW480J/T is a solid portable multimedia machine.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 6 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 400 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition, 6.8 lbs, 16.4 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Silver, RoHS

The Bottom Line: Asus reinvents its iconic Netbook with the slim, attractive Eee PC 1008HA, a bold experiment that largely works.

Specs: Intel Atom (1.66 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 160 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, 2.4 lbs, 10.1 in TFT active matrix, EPEAT silver, EPEAT Silver

The Bottom Line: Online media consumers who want a portable laptop with high style and plenty of screen real estate should give the Y650 a look.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.53 GHz), 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM, 320 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition, 5.5 lbs, 16 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Silver, RoHS

The Bottom Line: The 12-inch Samsung NC20 holds its own in the first Netbook showdown between Via's new Nano CPU and Intel's popular Atom.

Specs: VIA Nano (1.3 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 160 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, 3.3 lbs, 12.1 in TFT active matrix, EPEAT Silver, EPEAT silver

The Bottom Line: Asus practically invented the Netbook market, and the Eee PC 1000HE is an overdue overhaul that offers a new CPU and great battery life, but misses some of the competition's bells and whistles.

Specs: Intel Atom (1.66 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 160 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, 3.2 lbs, 10 in TFT active matrix, EPEAT silver, EPEAT Silver

The Bottom Line: Sony's upscale Atom-powered Lifestyle PC has the components of a cheaper machine but the design of a more expensive one. The end result will be a useful travel PC for some and a conversation piece for others.

Specs: Intel (1.33 GHz), 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 64 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, 1.4 lbs, 8 in TFT active matrix, EPEAT Silver, RoHS, EPA Energy Star

The Bottom Line: Thanks to its low-cost, solid construction, roomy and comfortable keyboard, and current Intel platform, the Sony Vaio VGN-NS140E is a 15-inch mainstream laptop worthy of your consideration.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 3 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 250 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, 6.6 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, RoHS, EPEAT Silver

The Bottom Line: The well-designed HP Pavilion dv6915nr incorporates most of the features you'll need for school, but other 15.4-inch laptops offer better performance for the same price.

Specs: AMD Turion 64 X2 mobile technology (2 GHz), 3 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 200 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, 6 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, EPEAT Silver, EPEAT silver

The Bottom Line: Toshiba's new Satellites, including the 14-inch M305, offer a reasonable mix of performance and price, but are weighed down by excessive out-of-the-box advertising links.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.1 GHz), 3 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 250 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, 5.3 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, EPEAT Silver, EPA Energy Star