HP Pavilion dv6-2150us

Available at Staples for $779.98, the HP Pavilion dv6-2150us is a good choice for budget-savvy users who want the power of Intel's latest Core i3 CPU to process their multimedia and productivity workload. However, it's not the best choice, as there are other similarly priced 15-inch notebooks that give you more bang for your buck.

Hewlett-Packard Company

http://www.hp.com

• Price as Tested: $779.98 List
• Type: General Purpose, Media, Value
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
• Processor Name: Intel Core i3 330M
• Processor Speed: 2.13 GHz
• RAM: 4 GB
• Weight: 5.9 lb
• Screen Size: 15.6 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: Intel GMA HD
• Storage Capacity: 320 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11n
• Primary Optical Drive: Dual-Layer DVD+/-RW

Acer Aspire AS7740-5691

Available from Staples, the Acer Aspire AS7740-5691 ($649.98 list) offers a spacious 17.3-inch HD display, a dual-core CPU, and a few nice entertainment features. However, as is the case with most budget notebooks, there are trade-offs. While the integrated graphics helps keep the price down, the laptop has limited 3D capabilities. Additionally, the screen is only capable of displaying high-definition content at 720p rather than the full 1080p resolution. And of course, you have to put up with the inevitable barrage of bloatware that seems to accompany every affordable multimedia notebook these days. That said, the Aspire AS7740-5691 is still a good choice for budget-conscious consumers seeking a big-screen desktop replacement system.

Acer Inc.

http://www.acer.com

• Price as Tested: $649.98 List
• Type: General Purpose, Media, Value
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
• Processor Name: Intel Core i3 330M
• Processor Speed: 2.13 GHz
• RAM: 4 GB
• Weight: 6.7 lb
• Screen Size: 17.3 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: Intel GMA HD
• Storage Capacity: 320 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11n
• Primary Optical Drive: Dual-Layer DVD+/-RW

HP Pavilion dm3-1130us

Don't let the HP Pavilion dm3-1130us ($649.98 list) fool you; despite its sleek brushed aluminum case, discrete graphics, and bright 13.3 inch display, it is still a budget notebook. Available at Staples, this slick looking ultraportable is solidly built and comes with a comfortable keyboard and all the features you'd expect in a 13-inch notebook. Its productivity performance is right up there with the competition too. Too bad its battery life comes up short.

Hewlett-Packard Company

http://www.hp.com

• Price as Tested: $649.99 List
• Type: Media, Ultraportable, Value
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
• Processor Name: AMD Athlon Neo X2 L335
• Processor Speed: 1.6 GHz
• RAM: 4 GB
• Weight: 4.2 lb
• Screen Size: 13.3 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: ATI Radeon HD 3200
• Storage Capacity: 320 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11n
• Primary Optical Drive: External

Dell Inspiron 1764-5955IBU

There's life in colossal media centers after all, as consumers aren't ready to give up precious screen real estate, even as they are ready to toss away their clunky desktops. The Dell Inspiron 1764-5595IBU has all the components that'll ease your transition from a desktop to a laptop, except if you're a gamer. At $799.98, Staples is only willing to give you integrated graphics in this particular configuration.

Dell, Inc.

http://www.dell.com

• Price as Tested: $799.99 List
• Type: General Purpose, Media, Value
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
• Processor Name: Intel Core i5 M430
• Processor Speed: 2.27 GHz
• RAM: 4 GB
• Weight: 6.2 lb
• Screen Size: 17.3 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: Intel GMA HD
• Storage Capacity: 320 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11n
• Primary Optical Drive: External

HP Pavilion dv6-2173cl

For users who require desktop power in a manageable 6-pound chassis, there's the HP Pavilion dv6-2173cl ($799.99 list). This reasonably priced 15-inch multimedia notebook, available at Costco, is chock-full of features and makes use of Intel's latest mobile dual core processor, the Core i3. And, while its discrete Nvidia GeForce graphics engine is a relatively low-end solution, it can handle light gaming duties, as long as you dial back the special effects. A high resolution display would be nice, but at just under $800, the dv6-2173cl is a very good deal.

Hewlett-Packard Company

http://www.hp.com

• Price as Tested: $799.99 List
• Type: Media, Value, Netbook
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
• Processor Name: Intel Core i3 M350
• Processor Speed: 2.27 GHz
• RAM: 4 GB
• Weight: 6.1 lb
• Screen Size: 15.6 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: nVidia GeForce G105M
• Storage Capacity: 500 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11n
• Primary Optical Drive: Dual-Layer DVD+/-RW

Toshiba Mini NB305-N410

When the Toshiba mini NB205 was awarded the Editors' Choice in the netbook category, who knew its reign would last this long? The mini NB305-N410 is it's successor and will continue to thrive because it knows what netbook users want: A great user experience, a bargain price, and outstanding battery life. There are netbooks that come very close to these feats, namely the HP Mini 5102 and ASUS EeePC 1201N, but the NB305 still sits alone at the top. It inherits the Editors' Choice in the netbook category.

Toshiba America Inc

http://www.toshiba.com

• Price as Tested: $400.00 Direct
• Type: General Purpose, Ultraportable, Value, Netbook
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Starter Edition
• Processor Name: Intel Atom N450
• Processor Speed: 1.66 GHz
• RAM: 1 GB
• Weight: 2.9 lb
• Screen Size: 10.1 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: Intel GMA 3150
• Storage Capacity: 250 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11n
• Primary Optical Drive: External

Asus EeePC 1201N

Nvidia's ION platform, which promises 1080p video playback and light 3D gaming, is finally showing signs of life. First, HP launched with its Mini 311 and then Lenovo and Samsung followed with their own Ion netbooks. Hot on their heels is ASUS, with yet another Ion netbook. Like its predecessors, the ASUS EeePC 1201N ($484 street) uses a variant of the Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics chipset, but it's slightly different in that it's the first netbook that bundles a dual-core Atom processor—the 1.66GHz Intel Atom N330. Netbook snobs and HD enthusiasts will appreciate that it's the fastest netbook in the market, though the 4 hours of battery life is its one tradeoff.

AsusTek Computer Inc.

http://www.asus.com

• Price as Tested: $484.00 Street
• Type: General Purpose, Ultraportable, Value, Netbook
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
• Processor Name: Intel Atom N330
• Processor Speed: 1.66 GHz
• RAM: 2 GB
• Weight: 3.2 lb
• Screen Size: 12 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: nVidia ION
• Storage Capacity: 250 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11a/g
• Primary Optical Drive: External