The Best Laptop

Last Modified: 08/12/2010

What constitutes the best laptop is different for everybody. Some people want a simple laptop that will handle the basics: word processing, email and Internet access, and other productivity tasks. Others are interested in a multimedia machine that can handle all the video, music, and movies they can throw at it. We've made an effort to find the best laptops for every kind of user, no matter what you want to do with it. Laptops are so versatile and varied, that there's a model for all types of consumers, it can just be difficult wading through them all to find that needle in the haystack. We've done the wading, and we've found the needles. Just look below and see which category leader suits you the best.

Dell Inspiron i1545 15.6" Laptop
Dell Inspiron i545
from $580.00
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The 'Just The Basics' User

If you're looking for a laptop that has a fairly large screen and just works like it should, you should try a Dell Inspiron notebook. These affordable laptops are perfect for simple computing, like web-surfing, emailing, uploading and organizing digital photos, and video chatting (some models, including the one to the left, come with built-in webcams). Most models also come with reasonably powerful dual-core processors, so they can handle some gaming and multimedia. 

Inspiron notebooks are marketed as mainstream computers for the everyman, and they serve that purpose well. They're available in configurations as small as 11 inches, but we think you'll get the most bang for your buck around 14 or 15 inches. Try the popular i1545 model seen here.

ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005PR-PU17 10.1" Netbook
ASUS 1005PR
from $399.00
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The Mobile, On-The-Go User

If you're always on the go, or just don't want a big laptop cluttering up your desk, you should consider buying a netbook. Many users use netbooks as a cheap, ultra-portable complement to their larger, more powerful desktop or conventional notebook. Those who only use their computers for web surfing, email, a bit of streaming video, and easy computing tasks like word processing might find that a netbook is the only computer they need.

If you do decide to go with a netbook, the ASUS Eee PC is always a great buy. ASUS, one of the pioneers of the netbook, still makes some of the best in the market. One such model, the 1005PR, features HD video and a stellar 11 hours of battery life for $399.

Apple MacBook
Apple Computer MacBook
from $918.99
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The Cool, Creative User

Apple MacBooks are ubiquitous in college classrooms and coffee shops and urban centers around the country. This 13-inch, polycarbonate-encased beauty can handle both productivity tasks like word processing, blogging, and web-surfing; multimedia tasks like listening to music or watching video; and a bit of heavier computing, like basic photo and video editing. It's light enough to haul around but the 13-inch screen is much more comfortable to look at. Throw in the easy-to-use, virus-resistant OS X, and it's no wonder why this stylish computer is such a hit at $999.
Samsung R540-11 15.6" Notebook
Samsung R540
from $907.99
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For the Home-Theater User

Your computer is your home theater, basically. If you need a bright screen, good speakers, and a Blu-ray drive, you might want to check out the Samsung R540-11. This "desktop replacement" laptop offers a ton of bang for your buck, including Blu-ray, a comfy LED-backlit 15.6" screen, a roomy 500 gig hard drive, and a powerful Intel i5 processor. The R540-11 is also a great buy if you're interested in hooking your laptop up to your living room television -- it's a stylish device with a beautiful glass-like finish that will look great in your living room.

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