Best 5 laptops

Dan Ackerman

Senior Editor

Michelle Thatcher

Senior Associate Editor

(Oct 03, 2008) The most common question we get around here is simple: "What laptop should I buy?" Being a generally difficult person by nature, I usually respond with my own series of questions: "What size screen do you want? How much do you want to spend?" and so on. But sometimes people just want a simple suggestion, based on what I actually like. So, here is a jargon-free list of the current crop of laptops that I'm digging, either because they give you good bang for your buck, they excel in their specific category, or because they just plain rock.

Gateway P-7811FX

We don't know how Gateway makes money selling these things, but the combination of high-end components and low price makes the 17-inch Gateway P-7811FX the best mobile gaming deal going right now.
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Price: $1,279.99 - $1,279.99 (check prices)

Filed in: Best 5 laptops, Best desktop replacement laptops

Lenovo ThinkPad X300

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.
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Price: $1,889.00 - $1,889.00 (check prices)

Filed in: Best 5 laptops, Best thin and light laptops

Apple MacBook

If you're not afraid to take the Mac OS plunge, it's hard to find a laptop designed with more care and precision than the 13-inch MacBook.
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Price: $1,185.73 - $1,776.60 (check prices)

Filed in: Best 5 laptops, Best thin and light laptops

Alienware Area-51 m17x

If you're looking to drop some major change on a show-off gaming laptop, it's hard to do better than the Alienware Area-51 m17x, a mean-looking, high-performance black slab.
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Price: Sorry, pricing not available

Filed in: Best 5 laptops, Best desktop replacement laptops

Dell Inspiron Mini 9

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.
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Price: $349.00 - $349.00 (check prices)

Filed in: Best 5 laptops, Best ultraportable laptops