All Laptops

The Bottom Line: Though its subdued design may strike some as square, but the midsize Lenovo IdeaPad Y530 delivers a decent media experience for less than $1,000.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 6.6 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, EPA Energy Star, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

The Bottom Line: It may look like your standard Netbook, but the Asus N10J is unique because underneath it features discrete, switchable graphics. You'll pay a bit more for the privilege, but the end result works for gaming on the go, as long as you don't mind dialing down your game settings.

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 3.5 lbs, 10.2 in TFT active matrix, EPEAT Gold, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

The Bottom Line: With an HD-friendly 16-inch screen, beautiful design, and dedicated graphics, the affordably priced Gateway MC7803u makes an excellent portable entertainment center, provided your HD content is not on a Blu-ray Disc.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 7.7 lbs, 16 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

The Bottom Line: The reasonably priced, attractively designed Gateway M-7818u is a solid all-around 15.4-inch laptop for students and home users.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 6.4 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

The Bottom Line: Two hours of battery life is simply not enough for the otherwise unobjectionable and basic Averatec Buddy Netbook.

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1024 MB DDR II SDRAM, 2.65 lbs, 10.2 in TFT active matrix, Windows XP Home Edition

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.

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

The Bottom Line: Sony's Vaio AW125J/H is an aesthetically pleasing multimedia machine, and those familiar with Sony's high-end laptops will be surprised to find out it's also the cheapest 18-inch Blu-ray-equipped laptop we've tested.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.26 GHz), 4 GB DDR II SDRAM, 8.2 lbs, 18.4 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

The Bottom Line: Toshiba's thin-and-light Satellite U405 is an attractive 13-inch MacBook alternative, but its weak performance means you simply don't get enough computing power for your money.

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.

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

Specs: Intel Celeron (2 GHz), 2.0 GB, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic