Laptops

Asus W7J
The 13.3-inch Asus W7J could have been the PC alternative to the MacBook if poor battery life didn't kneecap this otherwise solid laptop.
Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (1.66 GHz), 1 GB DDR II SDRAM, 4.3 lbs, 13.3 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Lenovo ThinkPad T60 (wide-screen)
With passable performance and decent battery life in a sleek, lightweight case, the wide-screen ThinkPad T60 covers the basics for typical business travelers--but there are lower-priced options available.
Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (1.66 GHz), 512 MB DDR II SDRAM, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, Windows XP Home Edition

Lenovo ThinkPad Z61m
The attractive Lenovo ThinkPad Z61m won't win any speed races, but this relatively affordable midsize laptop serves up a great set of features and strong battery life in a well-designed case.
Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (1.66 GHz), 1 GB DDR II SDRAM, 6.4 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Apple MacBook (Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz)
The new MacBook, updated to Intel's Core 2 Duo CPU, compares very favorably with Apple's high-end MacBook Pro line, offering premium performance at a reasonable price.
Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 1 GB DDR II SDRAM, 5.3 lbs, 13.3 in TFT active matrix, Apple MacOS X 10.4

Fujitsu LifeBook A6010 Notebook
Inexpensive but not cheap, the Fujitsu LifeBook A6010 offers a gorgeous screen and enough performance for basic home use--just plan on buying an extra battery.
Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (1.66 GHz), 2 GB DDR II SDRAM, 6 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition

Gateway M285-E
Gateway's M285-E convertible tablet can easily serve double duty as your main PC, but its size and weight makes it hard to use as a full-time tablet.
Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (1.66 GHz), 512 MB DDR II SDRAM, 6.8 lbs, 14 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005

Dell Latitude D420
Dell's smallest business laptop, the Latitude D420 manages to combine decent specs with a convenient form factor, even if it's not all that configurable.
Specs: Intel Core Duo (1.2 GHz), 1 GB DDR II SDRAM, 3.1 lbs, 12.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

Toshiba Satellite R25-S3503
The bulky Satellite R25 offers a beautiful display and plenty of features at a low price, but if you don't need the tablet functionality, there are better wide-screen notebooks on the market.
Specs: Intel Core Duo (1.6 GHz), 1 GB DDR II SDRAM, 6 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005

HP Compaq nc6400 (1.83GHz Core Duo, 1GB RAM, 60GB HDD)
Though it's not a performance powerhouse, the HP Compaq nc6400 comes with enough speed, battery life, features, and design perks for the typical employee--at a lower price than some competitors.
Specs: Intel Core Duo (1.83 GHz), 1 GB DDR II SDRAM, 5.1 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Professional

HP Compaq nc6400 (1.83GHz Core Duo, 512MB RAM, 60GB HDD)
Though it's not a performance powerhouse, the HP Compaq nc6400 comes with enough speed, battery life, features, and design perks for the typical employee--at a lower price than some competitors.
Specs: Intel Core Duo (1.83 GHz), 512 MB DDR II SDRAM, 5.1 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Professional