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• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 29 reviews

The Bottom Line: Dell's entry into the Netbook market means it's time to take these low-cost, low-power PCs seriously. The Inspiron Mini 9 is an excellent example of the form, if not radically different from the competition. Read review

Specs: Intel ATOM (1.6 GHz), 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM, 8.9, Ubuntu Linux version 8.04.1

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 141 reviews

The Bottom Line: Apple's redesigned 13-inch MacBook is essentially a shrunken version of the more expensive 15-inch Pro line. With its new aluminum body, new trackpad, and Nvidia graphics, it's an even more attractive choice for mainstream laptop buyers than was the plastic model it replaces. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.4 GHz), 2 GB DDR3 SDRAM, 2 mg, 13.3 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Gold, Apple Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 1 review

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), 3 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 4.6 lbs, 13.3 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 7 reviews

The Bottom Line: HP may have arrived late to the consumer Netbook game, but by lifting the generous keyboard from last year's business-oriented model, the Mini 1000 easily joins the category's top tier. Read review

Specs: 512 MB

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 44 reviews

The Bottom Line: The ThinkPad X300 breaks new ground by packing a broad display, full-size keyboard, and nearly every feature a mobile user needs into a sleek, lightweight case. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (1.2 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 3.2 lbs, 13.3 in TFT active matrix, EPEAT Gold, RoHS, Microsoft Windows Vista Business

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 7 reviews

The Bottom Line: The long-awaited Asus Eee PC 901 is the best version of this inexpensive Netbook yet, but it's facing increased competition from the likes of HP, Dell, and MSI. Read review

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 2.4 lbs, 8.9 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 63 reviews

The Bottom Line: For less than $400, the Asus Eee PC 4G offers an impressive package for portable Web surfing and basic productivity, as long as you keep expectations tempered. The incredibly approachable price outweighs any shortcomings; it's a near perfect choice for a highly portable second or backup laptop. Read review

Specs: Intel Celeron M (630 MHz), 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM, 2 lbs, 7 in TFT active matrix, Linux

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: If you can get past its poor battery life, you'll find a lot to like about the 14-inch, feature-packed HP Pavilion dv4-1125nr. Read review

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 65 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), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.1 lbs, 13.3 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, Apple MacOS X 10.5

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 14 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), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.7 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 26 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Acer Aspire One is easily the best of the current under-$400 Netbooks, but its meager allotment of memory and tiny battery limit its appeal. Read review

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 2.2 lbs, 8.9 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: Lenovo's "me, too!" entry in the Netbook sweepstakes, the IdeaPad S10, gets the price and features right, but falls behind on battery life. Read review

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM, 2.6 lbs, 10.2 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, RoHS, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 11 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Dell Studio S1535-125B impresses us with its leading performance in the sub-$1,000 category, thanks in large part to a speedy Intel CPU and generous memory allotment. Striking a fine balance between Dell's XPS and Inspiron lines, we recommend this well-rounded 15-inch laptop for students and home users alike. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.1 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 6 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 11 reviews

The Bottom Line: The HP Pavilion dv6985se is a well-stocked mainstream machine with a long-living (though heavy) 12-cell battery. We recommend it, provided you like the unique copper-colored case and are willing to schlep around 6.6 pounds of laptop. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 6.8 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, EPEAT Silver, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 27 reviews

The Bottom Line: Apple's redesigned 15-inch MacBook Pro boasts a redesigned aluminum body that's stunning, thin, and sturdy; a new trackpad with expanded functionality; and a dual graphics setup for either longer battery life or better performance, but there's now less incentive to spend extra for it because its 13-inch mainstream cousin received a greater overhaul. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.53 GHz), 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM, 2.5 kg, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, Apple Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 10 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Acer Aspire One is easily the best of the current under-$400 Netbooks, but its meager allotment of memory and tiny battery limit its appeal. Read review

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM, 2.2 lbs, 8.9 in TFT active matrix, Linux Linpus Lite

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Asus Eee PC 1000's 10-inch screen walks a fine line between Netbook and regular laptop, but the higher price may drive away value-seeking consumers. Read review

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 2.9 lbs, 10 in TFT active matrix, Linux

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 19 reviews

The Bottom Line: Dell's first release from its new Studio line, the Studio 15, sits between the Inspiron and XPS lines and offers a good mix of features for the price, but we'd be tempted to save up a few extra dollars for a thinner, lighter XPS. Read review

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.1 GHz), 2.0 GB DDR II SDRAM, 6 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Premium Edition

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 36 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 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:
  3.5 stars Very good
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 71 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 (2.1 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 5.7 lbs, 15.4 TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition