Dell Inspiron 14z

The good: A clean, slim design, a backlit keyboard, very good battery life, strong performance, and an affordable price make the Dell Inspiron 14z more useful than most thinned-down laptops.

The bad: Limited upgrade options and no dedicated graphics might turn off some who need more flexibility, and flip-down port doors are a minor annoyance.

The bottom line: The Dell Inspiron 14z thins down the bulky look of the average Inspiron laptop while sacrificing none of the performance or battery life, adding up to an affordable mainstream notebook that's an excellent late consideration for back-to-school shopping.

Toshiba Qosmio F755-3D290 Glasses-Free 3D laptop

The good: The Toshiba Qosmio F755-3D290 offers surprisingly good glasses-free 3D video playback, built into a decent high-end midsize laptop, with eye-tracking software to adjust the image on the fly.

The bad: The 3D effect works best for a single viewer, and can still be finicky at times. Games and online 3D video don't work yet, although future updates are promised. Playback of 3D content is at a lower resolution than 2D content.

The bottom line: More of a proof-of-concept than anything else, the glasses-free 15-inch 3D display on the Toshiba Qosmio F755 can be impressive when paired with the right content.

HP Envy 14 (Summer 2011)

The good: The HP Envy 14 gets updated with newer Intel processors and a new multitouch touch pad.

The bad: Despite the improvements, the touch pad gestures still can't match what you get from Apple's trackpad.

The bottom line: A much-needed update to its internal components makes HP's Envy 14 one of the best high-end laptops for those looking for a PC with the flair of a MacBook.

Best 5 laptops

Here's a list of what I consider as the top 5 laptops

reviewed here at 

best laptop ever

Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, Summer 2011)

The latest version of the 13-inch MacBook Air vastly outperforms its predecessor, and can finally be called suitable for mainstream use, instead of relegated as a niche product.

Apple MacBook Air (15-inch, fall 2010)

 It's a hefty investment, but the combination of new high-end Intel processor options and AMD graphics makes the 15-inch MacBook Pro an all-around powerhouse, with the new Thunderbolt I/O port as an added bonus.

Alienware M11x (spring 2011)

Don't be fooled by its unchanged looks: the 2011 Alienware M11x makes big leaps forward in performance, graphics, and battery life, while keeping a reasonable price. Anyone looking for a portable gaming-ready laptop will have a hard time resisting the urge to pick one of these up.

  

Apple MacBook Air (11-inch, Summer 2011)

The good: The new 11-inch Apple MacBook Air is dramatically faster than last year's version, has a backlit keyboard, and comes with a high-speed Thunderbolt I/O port.

 

The bad: The $999 entry-level Air still has the same limited fixed flash storage and RAM as last year's version, which most people will want to upgrade from--and there's still no SD card slot, Ethernet port, or 3G wireless option.

The bottom line: This year's 11-inch MacBook Air improves on last year's model in several significant ways and is by far the fastest ultraportable you're likely to find, though some users will consider the limited flash storage space to be a hindrance.

Toshiba Qosmio X775-3DV78 3D Laptop

The good: The Toshiba Qosmio X775-3DV78 is a stereoscopic 3D laptop with excellent CPU performance and high-end graphics. The Nvidia 3D Vision system works as advertised. Tons of RAM and hard-drive space and a Blu-ray-RW drive are part of a big feature list.

 

The bad: Bulky and heavy, this isn't a laptop that's ever likely to leave a desk--especially with its unsurprisingly poor battery life.

The bottom line: Those in the market to spend more than $1,000 and get a 3D-enabled, Blu-ray-equipped laptop with plenty of horsepower for games should strongly consider Toshiba's latest high-end Qosmio. It's not cheap or portable by any means, but it's certainly powerful.

Dell XPS 17 3D

The good: The Dell XPS 17 3D is a sharp-looking desktop replacement that can handle 3D content, as well as output 3D movies and games to a compatible 3DTV. Highly configurable, the more-expensive options are powerful indeed.

The bad: Some wonky stereoscopic 3D issues make this less plug-and-play than a 3DTV, and the 17-inch version of the XPS has not gotten the same slim makeover the 15-inch version has.

The bottom line: Dell's XPS 17 3D is for those who want a powerful media and gaming 17-inch laptop, but in a more aesthetically upscale package than offered by Dell's Alienware brand. The stereoscopic 3D is gimmicky, but a certain breed of PC gamer will love it.

Sony Vaio EB Series VPC-EB44FX/WI

The good: Sony makes some of the best-looking and best-feeling hardware in the industry, which is especially welcome in a budget-minded system such as the Sony Vaio EB44FX. Intel's Wireless Display is included, and optional keyboard skins add a bit of flair.
The bad: Why, halfway into 2011, is Sony still selling laptops with 2010 versions of Intel's Core i-series CPU?
The bottom line: Sony's Vaio line of laptops, including the midpriced EB series, look great and include some high-end features--we just wish the CPU had been updated for the sake of better battery life.

Alienware M14x Review

The good: The Alienware M14x, Dell's latest Alienware laptop, manages to pack amazing performance into a smaller-than-expected body with plenty of configuration options.

The bad: High-end configurations can be insanely expensive, and Alienware's laptop design is overdue for a refresh.

The bottom line: It's tough to find mobile PC gaming in a package that's neither too big nor too small. The Alienware M14x comes very close, with plenty of component options and a size that's hefty, but not backbreaking.

Alienware M11x Review

The good: Solid gaming performance in a very compact form; improves on the original Core 2 Duo version; automatic Nvidia Optimus graphics switching; impressive built-in audio.

The bad: The Core i7 ULV processor is still slower than normal Core i7 processors; higher-end configs get too expensive; no optical drive for installing games.

The bottom line: Equipped with Nvidia Optimus technology and new Core i5 and i7 processors, the updated 11.6-inch Alienware M11x has improved performance, but it takes a small step forward, not a quantum leap.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Review

The good: Thin and sturdy with a rock-solid feel and clean design, the ThinkPad X1 stands out from other ThinkPads. Its backlit keyboard, fast Core i5 CPU, fast-charging battery, and low-light Webcam are also pluses.
The bad: The integrated battery doesn't last as long as we would expect, and the Gorilla Glass-covered screen produces a lot of glare. For a thin laptop, the X1 isn't as lightweight as it could be, thanks to its dense construction.
The bottom line: The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 is the thinnest ThinkPad ever made, and it's a slim, cleanly designed 13-incher worth a look for business travelers--but it's not as thin as a MacBook Air, and its battery life isn't as good, either.

Asus U31JG A1 Review

The good: The 13-inch Asus U31JG-A1 has a good combination of performance and portability, along with strong graphics performance and a solid battery life.

The bad: The design of the U31JG isn't anything to write home about; the plastic keyboard isn't very comfortable; and the laptop uses a last-gen Intel Core i3 processor, so it's already out-of-date.

The bottom line: For $829, the 13-inch Asus U31JG-A1 is a rock-solid compact laptop with a good combination of CPU, graphics, and battery life. However, at this point, we'd hold off on buying one until it gets upgraded with a second-gen Intel Core i-series CPU.

Dell Latitude 2120 Review

The good: The Dell Latitude 2120 packs a standard set of Netbook components into a rugged body with a rubberized finish. Welcome options include an HD display and a touch screen.

The bad: With more powerful ultraportables available for less, any Netbook over $400 is a tough call.

The bottom line: The standard Netbook platform is feeling pretty stale these days, and this too-expensive Dell Latitude 2120, while capable, doesn't do much to stand out.

Dell Latitude 2120 Laptop Computer (Intel Intel Atom Dual Core N550 250GB/2GB)

 

Toshiba Satellite E305-S1990 Review

The good: A standout keyboard and touch pad, solid specs, Blu-ray drive, and Intel Wireless Display make the Toshiba Satellite E305-S1990X stand out from the pack--and as a bonus, the retail bundle includes the necessary Netgear box for Wi-Di.

The bad: The E305 lacks dedicated graphics, and its Webcam isn't HD.

The bottom line: The Best Buy-exclusive Toshiba Satellite E305-S1990X is a heck of a 14-inch laptop, offering a rock-solid combination of specs and design for a reasonable price.

Alienware M14x Review

The good: The Alienware M14x, Dell's latest Alienware laptop, manages to pack amazing performance into a smaller-than-expected body with plenty of configuration options.

The bad: High-end configurations can be insanely expensive, and Alienware's laptop design is overdue for a refresh.

The bottom line: It's tough to find mobile PC gaming in a package that's neither too big nor too small. The Alienware M14x comes very close, with plenty of component options and a size that's hefty, but not backbreaking.

Toshiba Satellite L655-S5161 Review

The good: The 15-inch Toshiba Satellite L655-S5161 is a good entry point for midsize laptops with Intel's second-gen Core i-series processors, and we've always liked the company's sleep-and-charge USB ports.

The bad: The design is strictly no-frills, and there are no high-speed data ports, such as USB 3.0 or eSATA. Plus, we hate the shortened spacebar on the keyboard.

The bottom line: Though not particularly inspiring, the basic 15-inch Toshiba Satellite L655 has a current-gen CPU and can be found for around $600, making it a worthwhile budget choice.

HP Pavilion dm1 Review

The good: Nearly mainstream performance at premium Netbook prices; excellent battery life; capable graphics.

The bad: Plastic look and feel; thick and chunky compared with some 11-inch laptops.

The bottom line: The first laptop to offer AMD's power-efficient Fusion platform delivers on much of its promise, combining great battery life, decent performance, and basic graphics for less than $500.