Alienware builds powerful, high-performance computers. And for under $1000, you're not going to find a more gamer-oriented laptop than Alienware's 11.6-inch M11x. However, the M11x is a bit...flashy. Alienware is a brand that enjoys a futuristic, cutting-edge reputation, and their M11x certainly looks the part. However, if size is not a concern and the Alienware style works for you, then you're in luck. This is a great machine for gamers, a designers, and anyone who favors portability and performance.

Apple owners love their computers. Why? Because they're simple, powerful, reliable, and good looking. The biggest downside is price: Macs tend to be a bit expensive. But Apple's MacBook MC516LL is the exception to this rule. The biggest upside of this 13.3-inch laptop (which gets approximately 10 hours of battery life, the best on this list) is the fact that it's an Apple. This is a dependable machine with a simple user interface, which is perfect for casual users and people who are sick of the glitches and complexity that are commonly associated with Windows-based machines.

Of all four computers on this list, HP's is the most unique. Their TouchSmart laptop features a 12.1-inch touch-sensitive screen that can capture hand-written notes. This laptop was designed with the business traveler in mind. It's a highly portable laptop that gets great battery life, and its swiveling, touch-sensitive screen will provide users with a variety of ways to easily record and present information. The TouchSmart also features a brushed aluminum finish, giving it perhaps the most professional look of all the computers on this list.

The Toshiba Satellite P505 features an 18.4-inch, high-definition monitor. That's the biggest monitor you're going to find on a laptop at any price range. But this laptop also packs a wallop. In fact, it contains the most powerful processor on this list (a Core i5). This is a fantastic desktop replacement laptop and is ideal for people who are interested in watching movies, working, and playing games -- a little bit of everything. However, Toshiba's Satellite isn't very portable. This laptop gets about two hours of battery life, so all that power and size comes at a price. If you're not concerned with portability, however, this could be the device for you.