(Oct 03, 2008)
Dan Ackerman
Senior Editor
Michelle Thatcher
Senior Associate Editor
Mainstream used to mean the standard, 15.4-inch laptops everyone lugged around in backbreaking shoulder bags before ultraportable systems became popular. This year, we've seen a major shift toward redefining mainstream as the slightly smaller 14.1-inch size. For a small trade-off in screen size, you get a system that's usually significantly smaller, a bit lighter, and just plain better designed, as standard-size laptop keyboards seem to fit 14-inch systems much better, with less wasted space. But for general household computing, both 15- and 14-inch laptops will work fine.
Dell Studio S1535-125B
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.
Price: Sorry, pricing not available
Review date: Aug 14, 2008
Excellent
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Gateway T-6836
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.
Price: $599.99 - $729.00 (check prices)
Review date: Jul 7, 2008
Excellent
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HP Pavilion dv6985se
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.
Price: $729.00 - $799.00 (check prices)
Review date: Jul 31, 2008
Excellent
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Sony Vaio NR430E/L
The entry-level Sony Vaio NR430 strikes all the right notes--decent performance, pleasing design, great keyboard and display--to form an excellent 15-inch laptop for students (and home users in general) on tight budgets.
Price: $899.89 (check prices)
Review date: Jul 14, 2008
Very good
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Averatec Voya 6494
As perhaps the most affordable ruggedized laptop, the Averatec Voya 6494 is a tempting choice, even if you don't work in the field under harsh conditions.
Price: Sorry, pricing not available
Review date: May 23, 2008
Very good
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