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• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.4 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 11 reviews

The Bottom Line: 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. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 2 GHz, 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 4.6 lbs, 13.3 in TFT active matrix, EPEAT Silver, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 59 reviews

The Bottom Line: Taking consumer complaints to heart, Dell updates its mainstream 15-inch laptop with the Inspiron 1525. It's thinner, lighter, and less expensive than its predecessor. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.1 GHz), 2.1 GHz, 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 6 lbs, 15.4 TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 6 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Asus X83VM-X1 is a well-rounded 14-inch mainstream laptop. It boasts a pleasing design (aside from the stiff, loud mouse buttons), and excellent application performance and 3D graphics performance for the money. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.26 GHz), 2.26 GHz, 4 GB DDR SDRAM, 5.7 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 91 reviews

The Bottom Line: Dell's turn toward a "design-first" philosophy continues to pay off with the XPS M1530, easily the best-looking 15-inch laptop in recent memory. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.2 GHz), 2.2 GHz, 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.7 lbs, 15.4 TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 9 reviews

The Bottom Line: The 14.1-inch Toshiba Satellite E105 is a solid all-around laptop that delivers on Best Buy's Blue Label promises: longer battery life, lightweight design, and lengthy warranty. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.26 GHz), 2.26 GHz, 4 GB DDR II SDRAM, 5.1 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, EPEAT Silver, EPA Energy Star, EPA energy star, EPEAT silver, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.2 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 49 reviews

The Bottom Line: Corporate users can't go wrong with the Dell Latitude D630, which integrates Intel's latest mobile platform with a business-friendly feature set and lengthy extended battery. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.00 GHz), 2.00 GHz, 1.0 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.1 lbs, 14.1 TFT active matrix, EPA energy star, EPA Energy Star, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic Service Pack 1, With media

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.6 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 101 reviews

The Bottom Line: Lenovo's 14-inch ThinkPad T61 shaves a few millimeters off the company's more mainstream R-series laptops, but still boasts the same, solid ThinkPad DNA along with IT-friendly features by way of Intel's new Centrino Pro platform. Read review

Specs: Intel No CPU (2 GHz), 2 GHz, 0 MB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.4 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Silver, EPA energy star, EPEAT silver, Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows Vista Business

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 67 reviews

The Bottom Line: Apple has been content to issue minor periodic hardware updates to the 13-inch MacBook, but the modest performance gains and new Leopard OS keep it in our top tier of laptop recommendations. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.2 GHz), 2.2 GHz, 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.1 lbs, 13.3 in TFT active matrix, EPA energy star, EPA Energy Star, Apple MacOS X 10.5

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.2 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 43 reviews

The Bottom Line: A solid, if predictable, upgrade to the MacBook Pro line, but noteworthy for stealing the MacBook Air's best feature--expanded gesture controls for the touch pad. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.5 GHz), 2.5 GHz, 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.5 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Silver, Apple MacOS X 10.5

• CNET Editor rating:
  2.0 stars Mediocre

  Overall score: 4.8 (2.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 12 reviews

The Bottom Line: If you need a 16:9 display in a small 15-inch format, there are cheaper and more powerful choices than HP's G60-125NR. Read review

Specs: AMD Turion X2 mobile processor (2 GHz), 2 GHz, 3 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 6 lbs, 15.6 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.0 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: There is nothing inherently wrong with the entry-level Toshiba Satellite L305, but both Dell and Sony have 15-inch budget laptops that offer more for less. Read review

Specs: Intel Pentium Dual Core (1.86 GHz), 1.86 GHz, 3 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.7 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 17 reviews

The Bottom Line: Apple's MacBook ditches its plastic shell and Intel chipset for a solid aluminum chassis with an Nvidia chipset, and serves up a multitouch glass trackpad, LED-backlit display, and mini DisplayPort. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 2 GHz, 2 GB DDR3 SDRAM, 4.4 lbs, 13.3 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Gold, Apple MacOS X 10.5

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: Small-business owners who would otherwise buy a consumer laptop should consider the full-featured, 13.3-inch Dell Vostro 1310. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.0 GHz), 2.0 GHz, 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 4.6 lbs, 13.3 TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Business Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.9 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 40 reviews

The Bottom Line: Dell's retooled Inspiron line introduces the new 14-inch Inspiron 1420 laptop, which benefits from an internal and external makeover. The wide-ranging configuration options mean that virtually any mainstream user can find a system to fit their budget. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.4 GHz), 2.4 GHz, 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.5 lbs, 14.1 TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 5 reviews

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 2 GHz, 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.7 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.4 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 88 reviews

The Bottom Line: The thin-and-light IBM ThinkPad T40 series offers an innovative design, top-notch performance, and tons of features. Read review

Specs: Intel Pentium M (1.6 GHz), 1.6 GHz, 512 MB DDR SDRAM, 4.9 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Professional

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 90 reviews

The Bottom Line: The fast, reliable, and easy-to-manage ThinkPad T41 series is a traveler's delight, as well as one of the best thin-and-lights on the market. Read review

Specs: Intel Pentium M (1.6 GHz), 1.6 GHz, 256 MB DDR SDRAM, 4.9 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Professional

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 2 reviews

Specs: AMD Turion X2 Ultra mobile technology (2.1 GHz), 2.1 GHz, 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.1 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.1 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 17 reviews

The Bottom Line: A standout among budget midsize laptops, the 14.1-inch Gateway T-6836 marries strong performance and battery life with a compact, well-designed case. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 2 GHz, 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.7 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.6 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 13 reviews

The Bottom Line: The IBM blueprint is still evident in the Lenovo ThinkPad R61, but the addition of a wide-screen display and all the latest Centrino Duo tricks make this a ThinkPad that could woo home users along with its legion of fans among business travelers. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 2 GHz, 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.5 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, EPA energy star, EPEAT silver, RoHS, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Silver, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Business

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.6 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 85 reviews

The Bottom Line: The ThinkPad T42 is a good choice for business professionals looking for a top-notch laptop at a reasonable price. Read review

Specs: Intel Pentium M (1.7 GHz), 1.7 GHz, 512 MB DDR SDRAM, 5.7 lbs, 15 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Professional

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: Intel Pentium Dual Core (2.16 GHz), 2.16 GHz, 3 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.5 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

• CNET Editor rating:
  2.5 stars Average

  Overall score: 5.6 (2.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 12 reviews

The Bottom Line: At its current discounted price, we'd be willing to overlook the HP Pavilion dv5-1004nr's below-average performance if the battery life wasn't so bad. Read review

Specs: AMD Turion X2 Ultra mobile technology (2.1 GHz), 2.1 GHz, 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.7 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 7 reviews

Specs: AMD Turion X2 Ultra mobile technology (2.1 GHz), 2.1 GHz, 3 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 4.6 lbs, 12.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 2 GHz, 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.7 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, EPA Energy Star, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition