Toshiba Satellite L745-S4130

Pros: Good performance and graphics for budget laptop; Attractive design; Bright vivid display; Runs cool

Cons: A little thick; Tinny audio

The Verdict:The Toshiba Satellite L745-S4130 delivers good performance and a bright 14-inch display in a fun design.

The Toshiba Satellite L745-S4130 shows that Toshiba has the budget notebook down to a science. This $569 laptop offers a host of attractive features, including a second-gen Intel Core i3 processor, large 640GB hard drive, a bright 14-inch display and a snazzy design. But with so many sub-$500 notebooks on the market, can the Satellite L745-S4130 prove its worth?

Design

The Satellite P745-S4130 has an all-plastic chassis, but it doesn't look cheap. The silver lid uses Toshiba's Fusion Finish with Matrix pattern: Scores of tiny white dots form intricate diamond patterns across the silver background. The dark gray Toshiba logo emblazoned across the center makes for a good contrast. The best thing about the chassis is that it's resistant to fingerprints and smudges, despite its glossy finish.
The interior features the same motif as the lid. However, the top of the deck, where the speakers and power button are located, is black with dark gray dots. The black keyboard sits in a recessed well surrounded by a thick black band. A glossy black button to disable the touchpad rests directly below the spacebar.
At 13.3 x 9.1 x 1.3-1.5 inches, the Satellite P745-S4130 is smaller but slightly thicker than the HP Pavilion g4 (13.6 x 9.7 x 0.9-inch) but weighs the same--4.4 pounds. The aluminum-clad 13.4 x 9.1-inch Dell Inspiron 14z rivals the L745-S4130's thickness at 1.2-1.4 inches, but is a tad heavier at 4.6 pounds.

Lenovo IdeaPad U400

Pros: Stylish understated design; Fast wake from sleep; Good graphics performance; Nifty four-finger touchpad shortcuts

Cons: Finicky touchpad; No SD card slot; Shallow keyboard; AMD graphics-switching not automatic

The Verdict:The 14-inch IdeaPad U400 has a sleek design and discrete graphics, but an over-sensitive touchpad and the lack of an SD card slot dampen our enthusiasm.

Consider it the Ultrabook's bigger brother. The Lenovo IdeaPad U400 has the same design as the slim U300s, but expands it slightly to fit in a larger 14-inch screen and a slot-loading DVD drive. At the same time, Lenovo shrunk the price to $899 and still crammed a Core i5 processor, discrete AMD graphics, 750GB hard drive, and 8GB of RAM in a sleek all-aluminum chassis. However, this thin-and-light notebook is not without its faults. Read on to find out what we liked and what we didn't.

Design

Essentially a larger version of the U300s Ultrabook, the Lenovo IdeaPad U400 has the same subdued but sophisticated design. The top and bottom edges protrude out slightly, like the cover of a book. The notebook is made from a single piece of aluminum with a sandblasted finish. The result is an exterior that not only looks and feels great, but resists fingerprints, too. The bottom, like the top, is completely sealed, creating a unified look. Four rubber pads keep it from sliding around on the desk.
While there's no ridged patterns as on the ASUS U46SV, or speaker grilles as on the Dell XPS 14z, the U400 is elegantly understated. However, we wish it were also offered in Clementine Orange, like the U300s, or in other colors.
Measuring 13.4 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches, the U400 isn't as svelte as the 0.6-inch thick U300s, but it still slid comfortably into our messenger bag. At 4.4 pounds, it weighs the same as the XPS 14z, and is 0.6 pounds lighter than the ASUS U46SV.

Pros: Attractive design; Crisp vibrant display; Good performance for a budget laptop; Decent frame rates for low-end games

Cons: A bit hefty; Washed-out colors on webcam; Loud mouse buttons

The Verdict:The Toshiba Satellite L755-S5166 is a 15-inch laptop that delivers good performance and stylish looks for less than $600.

Toshiba's Satellite L Series promises "style and power" on a budget, and the L755-S5166 does its best to back up that marketing tagline. For $599, you get a stylish brushed aluminum lid and a good mix of components, including a Core i3 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 640GB hard drive and vivid 15.6-inch display. However, in an age when most budget laptops are creeping closer to $500, does the $599 Toshiba Satellite L755-S5166 justify the bump in price?

 

Design

While it may be a budget laptop, the Toshiba Satellite L755-S5166 doesn't look cheap. The system sports a dark blue brushed lid that's fingerprint-resistant and pleasing to the eye. The rest of the design is plastic. The chrome mouse buttons and trim around the edges of the speakers contrast nicely with the darker hues of the lid and palm rests. A glossy black bezel surrounds the 15.6-inch screen, and the deck sports the same solid dark blue color as the lid.
At 15 x 9.8 x 1.5 inches, the Satellite L755-S5166 is comparable in size to the Gateway NV55C54u, HP Pavilion g6 and Acer Aspire 5755-6647, although with a weight of 5.3 pounds it's a bit heftier than both the Gateway and HP (4.8 pounds). Only the Aspire 5755-6647 is heavier at 5.6 pounds.

Samsung Series 9 15 inch

Pros: Very thin and light; Bright crisp 1600 x 900 display; Long battery life; Fast SSD; Very quick boot time

Cons: Finicky touchpad ; Shallow key travel; Mediocre speakers

The Verdict:The thinnest and lightest 15-inch laptop, the Samsung Series 9 is a premium Ultrabook with a great display and about 7 hours of battery life.

A year ago, if someone had told us that a 15-inch notebook would be lighter and thinner than most 13-inch ultraportables, we would have called them crazy. Yet, Samsung has done just that with its new Series 9 15-inch. This $1,499 system weighs less than 4 pounds and is just a hair over half an inch thick. But thinness isn't everything: Inside that svelte chassis is a super bright display, Core i5 processor, 128GB SSD, and 8GB of RAM. Are we looking at the future of mainstream notebooks? Quite possibly.

 

Design

It's as if Samsung put the 13-inch Series 9 on a medieval torture rack, and gave it a good stretch. The 15-inch Series 9 looks essentially the same as its smaller brother, albeit with a larger footprint. The entire chassis is a bluish-gray aluminum unibody that looks as sleek as any Ultrabook we've seen, and resists fingerprints well. We also like the shiny edges, which adds just the right amount of pizzaz, and widens gracefully toward the hinges to accommodate the ports.
At 14 x 9.3 inches, the Series 9 will take up more desk space than the HP Envy 14 Spectre (12.9 x 8.7 inches), but less than the Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M3 (14.75 x 10 inches). Regardless, there will be no room left on the airplane seat tray.
We can't get over how light the 3.8-pound Series 9 15-inch is. It's also amazingly thin -- at 0.58 inches, it's just a hair thicker than its 13-inch sibling (0.4 inches), and manages to make other Ultrabooks, such as the Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M3 (0.78 inches, 4.5 pounds) and HP Envy 14 Spectre (0.8 inches, 4 pounds) seem portly by comparison.

ASUS EeePC 1025C Flare

Pros: Affordably priced; Compact and lightweight; Long battery life

Cons: Cramped keyboard and touchpad; Low-res display; Slower than regular laptops

The Verdict:The ASUS Eee PC 1025C Flare lasts more than 9 hours on a charge, weighs 2.4 pounds, and costs just $299, but it's only good enough for basic computing.

n an age when every laptop manufacturer is in a race to create the thinnest, sexiest Ultrabook on the market, it's a surprise to see a new netbook hit the scene. The $299 Eee PC 1025C Flare, the company's latest 10-incher is out to prove that maybe--just maybe--the age of the netbook hasn't ended. Can the Eee PC 1025C carve a niche for itself, or will it be relegated to obsolesence by devices like the iPad? Read on to find out.

Design

ASUS hasn't changed the design of the Eee PC much since we reviewed the Eee PC 1015B in June 2011. The 1025C Flare netbook still features plain -- if not unattractive -- matte black plastic on the lid and palm rests, accentuated by a chrome finish on the sides and on the single long mouse button. The 1025C also comes in other colors, including white and pink.
Although pleasant to feel, the soft-touch plastic on the lid easily picked up fingerprint smudges, giving the laptop a slightly greasy look after a few hours of handling it. The screen's bezel sports a slightly texturized black plastic finish.
Aside from its price, the Eee PC 1025C's light weight and compact size are clearly its main selling points. At just 10.3 x 7.0 x 0.8-1.3 inches and 2.4 pounds (the same weight as the Toshiba Portege Z835 Ultrabook), the netbook is small and light enough to easily fit inside a messenger bag, backpack or even a large purse. It's lighter than its predecessor, the Eee PC 1015B (10.3 x 7.1 x 0.9-1.4 inches, 2.8 pounds), as well as the HP Mini 1103 (10.6 x 7.5 x 0.9 inches, 2.8 pounds), and on a par with the Samsung NC110 (10.4 x 7.4 x 0.97 inches, 2.6 pounds).

HP Envy 14 Spectre

Pros: Beautiful modern design; Solid performance; Comfy backlit keyboard; Sharp and bright display; Good audio

Cons: Serious fingerprint magnet; Mediocre graphics; Runs a bit warm on bottom; Relatively expensive

The Verdict:With its sexy glass design, sharp display and Beats Audio, the HP Envy 14 Spectre is a compelling Ultrabook.

 Each new Ultrabook seems to bring with it a new innovation, and the HP Envy 14 Spectre is no different. This stunning 14-incher is the first laptop to feature a glass lid and palm rest, making it one of the sleekest machines we've seen. However, the Spectre is much more than a pretty face. It packs a Core i5 processor, 128GB SSD, a bright 1600 x 900 display and Beats Audio for your multimedia pleasure. In another first, the Spectre comes with a built-in NFC chip that can be used with an NFC-capable smartphone. But is all this worth the $1,399 price tag?

 

Design

Where the Envy 15 and 17 use a matte black aluminum on the outside, HP went a different route with the Envy 14 Spectre. The lid is made of a beautiful, high gloss midnight black glass. (Don't worry, it's scratch-resistant.) We were immediately taken with the Spectre's clean lines and soft rounded corners; a chrome backlit HP logo in the lower right corner is the lid's only flourish. Unfortunately, as with most glass surfaces, the Envy 14 Spectre picks up fingerprints very easily.
Opening the lid was a bit of hassle, forcing us to slip a fingernail between the lid and the deck to slide it open. Inside, the edge-to-edge glass display and silver deck are nearly a dead ringer for the MacBook Pro, but there are some key differences. The palm rest is made of scratch-resistant glass. While it also picked up fingerprints quickly, they were less noticeable, thanks to the silver aluminum deck that shows through.
Another unique touch is the cheerful red backit Beats logo underneath the keyboard on the right side, which points to the analog volume dial on the notebook's right. Instead of the long prominent speaker bar found along the top of the Envy 15 and 17, there are two medium-size speakers on the notebook's bottom lip.
The Envy 14 Spectre has a solid feel, helped by the soft-touch finish on the underside of the chassis. However, the design is relatively heavy and somewhat thick for a notebook without an optical drive. At 4 pounds, the 12.8 x 8.7 x 0.8-inch Envy 14 Spectre weighs the same as the 14-inch Samsung Series 5 (13.1 x 9.0 x 0.82 inches), which has a tray-loading DVD drive. The Dell XPS 14z (13.2 x 9.2 x 0.9 inches; 4.4 pounds) and the Lenovo IdeaPad U400 (13.4 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches; 4.4 pounds) are heavier but use slot-loading optical drives.
The upcoming Samsung Series 9 14-inch weighs only 3.5 pounds, but it lacks the flair of the Envy Spectre.

ASUS K53SV-B1

Pros: Slick brushed-metal deck; Quad-core Core i7 power; Strong graphics performance; Runs cool

Cons: Below-average battery life; Sluggish hard drive; No USB 3.0 port

The Verdict:The ASUS K53SV-B1 offers quad-core muscle and fast frame rates in a handsome design that keeps its cool.

 The ASUS K53SV-B1 is a handsome machine well suited for mainstream users. It offers plenty of power for day-to-day use, and when put to the test with video and games, its Intel Core i7 and Nvidia GT 540M graphics processor ensure that this system can handle itself. But at $969, is the K53SV a stud or a dud?

Design

Understated yet handsome, the lid on the K53SV features a subtly textured horizontal pinstripe pattern that makes the silver ASUS logo pop and helps minimize--but not eliminate--fingerprint smudges. The mocha color continues onto the ASUS' sturdy, scratch-resistant brushed-aluminum deck, where it blends nicely with the unit's black full-size keyboard. Such a liberal use of dark colors would be overwhelming if not for the silver treatment on the system's power and touchpad buttons.
At 15.1 x 10.1 x 1.4 inches and 6 pounds, the K53SV certainly is light enough to move from room to room but not for travel. This machine is a bit more portable than Dell's XPS 15 L502X (Sandy Bridge), which measures in at 15 x 10.4 x 1.5 inches and 6.6 pounds with its nine-cell battery. However, the HP Pavilion dv6t weighs just 5.8 pounds, and it has a brushed-aluminum lid and sleeker lines.

Acer Aspire 5755-6647

Pros: Solid performance; Vibrant display; Decent battery life; Runs cool

Cons: Narrow mouse bar; Mediocre graphics performance

The Verdict:The 15.6-inch Acer Aspire 5755-6647 laptop offers solid performance and a vivid display at an affordable price

The $599 Acer Aspire 5755-6647 is out to prove that you don't need to fork over a bundle for a good multimedia experience. With its rich 15.6-inch LED display, Core i5 processor and 6GB of RAM, this has the power to handle everyday tasks as well as entertain. But does this Aspire have what it takes to win your hard-earned dollar?

Design

The Aspire 5755-6647 has a low-key, but handsome, look. The glossy black plastic lid reveals a subtle striped pattern that shimmers in the light along with a chrome Acer insignia logo. The interior uses has a slate gray deck with a long black speaker grille that runs above the keyboard. A brushed metal power button sits in the upper left corner. Black strips run along each side of the deck, giving the Aspire 5755 a nice two-tone look.
Although the 15 x 10 x 1.3 inch Aspire 5755-6647 is slightly wider than the 15 x 9.9 x 0.9-1.3-inch Gateway NV55S05u, they both weigh in at 5.6 pounds. The 5.2-pound HP Pavilion g6-1c77nr is slightly smaller than both notebooks at 14.7 x 9.7 x 1.4 inches, but it lacks a dedicated number pad.

Acer Aspire S3

Pros: Thin and light; Less expensive than competition; Good performance

Cons: Very short battery life; Cheap plastic chassis; Slow hard drive; Stiff keyboard; Limited viewing angles; Poor audio

The Verdict:The Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook costs a lot less than the 13-inch MacBook Air but cuts too many corners to make it worthwhile.

Ever since the MacBook Air came out, consumers--and other notebook makers--have been lusting after that ultra-slim design. The 13-inch Acer Aspire S3 parrots this sexy aesthetic with a brushed aluminum lid, 3-pound weight, and half-inch thick chassis. And, at $899, it's $200 to $300 less expensive than competing systems such as the upcoming ASUS Zenbook UX31 and the Air, making it all the more appealing to those looking to save a few pennies. But are the trade-offs worth it?

Design

It's pretty clear that every Ultrabook maker is gunning for the MacBook Air, and the Aspire S3 is no exception. However, Acer had to make some sacrifices to keep its price low--no duralumin or unibody designs here. The lid of the S3 is a brushed aluminum, but the underside and deck are made of a silver-colored plastic, and it's made to look like a unibody design even though it is not. The black hinge area at the rear accommodates the S3's ports as well as an air vent. Four rubber pads on the bottom also keep the S3 from sliding around on a desk.

At just 0.51-0.6 inches thick, the S3 is a shade thicker than the 13-inch MacBook Air, which tapers from 0.11 to 0.68 inches. Weighing 3 pounds even, the S3 is also on a par with Apple's ultraportable. This system easily slipped into a small messenger bag and was barely noticeable as we rode home on the subway.

Acer TravelMate TimelineX 8481T-6440

Pros: Slim brushed-metal chassis; Solid Core i5 performance; Deep security features; Comfortable keyboard with accurate touchpad; Very long battery life

Cons: Weak graphics performance; Lid picks up fingerprints; Battery bulges out the bottom

The Verdict:The Acer TravelMate TimelineX 8481T offers impressive portability, long battery life, and solid performance for workers on the move.

Combining the svelteness of an ultraportable with the screen size of a larger laptop, the Acer TravelMate TimelineX 8481T attempts to deliver the best of both worlds for business users. This sleek system crams a 14-inch display into a 13.3-inch chassis, offers seriously long battery life, and weighs just 4 pounds. Small-business users will also appreciate this Core i5 notebook's solid performance and host of security features. Read on to find out if Acer has what it takes to take on the best small-business notebooks.

Design

The Acer TravelMate 8481T-6440 has a modern, minimalist design. Aside from the gray brushed-metal Acer logo, the black matte metallic lid is bare, unless you count the scores of fingerprint smudges it gathered as soon as we touched it. The only other accents are the chrome-plated hinges.
The TravelMate's interior has the same black metallic motif as the exterior. A chiclet-style keyboard sits in a slightly recessed keyboard deck, while the display is surrounded by an impressively slim bezel. A row of buttons for the Launch Manager, InstantView Manager, Acer Backup Manager, Microphone audio control, and power sit above the keyboard in the top right-hand corner.

As with Acer's other TimelineX notebooks, the TravelMate 8481T is defined by its slim profile. At 4 pounds, it's lighter than competitors such as the 4.6-pound pound Toshiba Tecra R840 and the 4.4-pound Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E420s. The 8481T's petite 13 x 9.4 x 0.9-inch frame is only slightly smaller than the Tecra R840 (13.4 x 9.4 x 0.8-1.1 inches) as well as the E420s (13.7 x 9.3 x 1.2 inches).
The only thing that mars the 8481T's slimness is its battery, which protrudes about an inch out the back of the notebook. However, it tilts the keyboard toward the user, which some may find more comfortable for typing.

Acer Aspire TimelineX AS5830TG-6402

Pros: Powerful Dolby audio; Attractive premium-looking design; Good overall performance and graphics; Long battery life

Cons: Jumpy cursor when using touchpad; Small touchpad buttons; Reflective display

The Verdict:Excellent audio and strong performance make the 15-inch Acer Aspire TimelineX 5830TG-6402 a winner.

Acer's Timeline series has always been a premier sub-brand in terms of design, and the Aspire TimelineX AS5830TG-6402 is no different. This 15-inch laptop features an Intel Core i5 processor, Nvidia graphics, and excellent Dolby speakers, all inside a metallic blue chassis that's stylish and feels sturdy. Priced at $799, the 5830T is a bit more expensive than budget notebooks, but it's worth the extra dough.

Design

The Acer Aspire TimelineX 5830T shares the same aesthetics as its smaller sibling, the 13-inch Aspire TimelineX 3830T. The smooth blue brushed aluminum on the lid picked up few fingerprints. Unlike the MacBook Pro, the brushed aluminum doesn't extend to the bottom of the machine; instead, Acer opted for a more budget-friendly basic black plastic.
Opening the 5830T's lid reveals an attractive combination of brushed silver and a slightly more muted brushed blue. The silver surrounds the black chicklet keys and extends to the Dolby Home Theater speakers above the keyboard. The blue finishes off the palm rest and touchpad before wrapping around the front edge. Measuring 14.9 x 9.8 x 1.2 inches and weighing 5.4 pounds, the 5830T is not really travel-friendly, but it can be easily moved from room to room.

Acer Aspire Ethos 8951G

Pros: Strong performance; Quality HD webcam; Touchpad doubles as remote; Long battery life

Cons: Touchpadremote has limited range requires learning curve; Slow hard drive; Limited viewing angles

The Verdict:The Acer Aspire Ethos 8951G pairs strong multimedia playback with a unique removable touchpad that works as a remote.

 What good is a mammoth 18.4-inch screen on a laptop if you have to sit right in front of it to fire up a slideshow or control movie playback? Acer thinks it has the answer with the Aspire Ethos 8951G, a notebook with a removable touchpad that doubles as a remote control. With a full HD display, Dolby speakers, and Blu-ray drive, the Ethos 8951G packs a veritable home theater into an 8.8-pound chassis. But with a price of $1,599, this system faces hefty competition for your hard-earned cash. Read on to find out if the Ethos is awesome or overkill.

Design

The Acer Aspire Ethos 8951G's subdued all-black chassis won't clash with anything in your living room, but it won't stand out either. The lightly brushed aluminum-magnesium lid resists fingerprints. Inside, an all-black deck with a chiclet-style keyboard, glossy touchpad, and a few status lights completes the plain but functional aesthetic.
At 17.3 x 11.3 x 1.4 inches and 8.8 pounds, the Aspire Ethos 8951G is significantly heavier than such 17-inch competitors as the ASUS G73SW (16.6 x 12.8 x 2.3 inches, 8 pounds) and the HP Pavilion dv7 Quad (16.3 x 10.8 x 1.2-1.4 inches, 7 pounds). We wouldn't recommend toting the notebook with you to school or work, but you can easily move it around the house or put it in a large backpack and haul it across town to a LAN party.

Acer Aspire One 722

Pros: Sleek slim design; Large friction-free touchpad; Long battery life; Good webcam

Cons: Sub-par keyboard; Mediocre performance; Display isn't as bright as we'd like

The Verdict:The Acer Aspire One 722 offers more power and a bigger screen than a netbook for a very affordable price.

Ever since AMD's Fusion processor made their first appearance in January, the affordable ultraportable category has seen some seriously sweet entrants at enticing prices. Now that Acer has joined the party, along with HP, Sony, and Lenovo, we're seeing a more netbook-like price, undercutting them all with the $379 Aspire One 722. To offer that low price, Acer uses AMD's C Series APU instead of the more powerful E Series. However, this streamlined design (with eye-catching lid) offers more pep than Atom-powered netbooks along with long battery life. Is this bargain machine right for you?

 

Design

The Aspire One line has a look that's now becoming classic, but we're not complaining. The 722 looks sleek, thanks to the tapered edges and clean lines. The ripple effect on the lid, which evokes a pool of water disturbed by a single stone, is a nice touch. It helps the 722 to stand out without being gaudy. Given this effect, we prefer the aquamarine version of the model, especially as the color extends from the lid to the deck. For those who aren't a fan of blue, the Aspire One 722 also comes in black.
Unfortunately, the glossy lid picks up smudges easily (it doesn't help that we were drawn to touch the ripple all the time). This problem doesn't extend to the deck, where the plastic is matte. Even with the eye-catching color, the overall impression of the notebook under the hood is clean, not busy. Aside from the keyboard and touchpad, there's just the power button on the upper left and the status lights on the lower left.
Measuring 11.2 x 7.9 x 1.0 inches and weighing 3 pounds, the Aspire One 722 is relatively light and portable. At almost half a pound heavier than most netbooks, we did notice the weight in our bag, but we had no problem carrying this ultraportable around all day.

Acer Aspire TimelineX 3830TG-6431

Pros: Bold lightweight design; Fast performance; Strong graphics; Long battery life; Dolby audio

Cons: Small touchpad; Runs warm; Heavy power adapter

The Verdict:The metallic-blue Aspire TimelineX 3830TG offers impressive graphics power, portability, and a head-turning design.

You don't find many 13-inch laptops with discrete graphics for less than $800, nevermind one that looks like this. Acer's new $779 Aspire TimelineX 3830TG-6431 (price as reviewed) weighs just 4.2 pounds, yet it packs both a second-gen Intel Core i5 processor and Nvidia GeForce GT 540M graphics. Like blue? Then you'll definitely want to take a look at this vibrant metallic chassis. Read on to find out if this Timeline has what it takes to win you over.

Design

One of the most intriguing designs from Acer yet, the Aspire TimelineX 3830TG sports a very unique cobalt-blue metallic lid and matching palm rest. The thin chassis is chiseled in flat planes and blunt edges, held together by a solid cylindrical hinge. Framed in silver, the recessed keyboard has black keys, which match the display's hinge and glossy frame.
This retro-futuristic look isn't for everyone, but we're glad to see someone adding a splash of color to laptops. Like an increasing number of 13-inch notebooks, this one lacks a DVD drive.

Above the keyboard sits a long speaker bar prominently bearing the Dolby Home Theater moniker. A power button glows blue next to the speaker, while the status lights gleam in blue and orange on the notebook's front lip. The undercarriage is a plain black plastic punctuated with slotted vents.
Measuring 12.6 x 9 x 0.9 inches and weighing 4.2 pounds, the TimelineX 3830TG is slim enough to slip into laptop bags and carry around without any trouble. That's the same weight as the ASUS U31JG and lighter than other 13-incher, the Samsung SF310 (4.6 pounds). The 13-inch Toshiba Portege R835 is much lighter (3.2 pounds), but it doesn't offer discrete graphics.
Unfortunately, Acer saddles the TimelineX 3830TG with a big and heavy (1.2-pound) power brick and a three-prong adapter. A small two-prong power adapter would make much more sense for a system this svelte.

Acer Iconia 6120

Pros: Innovative touch software; Easy-to-use virtual keyboard; Strong overall performance; Quality webcam

Cons: Short battery life; Touch apps slow to load; No SD Card slot; Heavy

The Verdict:Sporting dual 14-inch touchscreens and innovative software, the Acer Iconia 6120 makes Windows more touch-friendly, but its bulk and short battery life are turn-offs.

The Acer Iconia 6120 isn't the first dual-screen Windows 7 tablet on the block. The Toshiba Libretto W105 had two 7-inch displays and was about the size and weight of a paperback, but its short battery life and lackluster software doomed that device to collectible status. The Iconia is different. It's more like a coffee table book, a book that features two large 14-inch displays and innovative touch-enabled software, plus a Core i5 processor. But does this $1,199 tablet-book represent the future of laptops, or is it just a pricey experiment destined to appeal only to early adopters?

Design

The Acer Iconia 6120 has a fairly sophisticated look. The lid and bottom are both a champagne-colored metal. The bottom, one solid panel, has two rows of small square cutouts for ventilation and speakers, and can be removed easily with two sliding latches. There are only two physical buttons on the Iconia: The right hinge has a power button, and the left hinge activates the virtual keyboard. The Iconia's two touchscreens are each 14 inches, surrounded by a glossy black bezel.
While the Iconia's dimensions--13.5 x 9.7 x 1.2 inches--are typical for a 14-inch system, the notebook is on the heavy side: 6 pounds. We definitely noticed it carrying it home in a messenger bag. That's the price you pay for two displays.

Acer Aspire AS5253-BZ480

Pros: Long battery life ; Comfortable keyboard; Good webcam; Relatively light

Cons: Mediocre benchmark performance; Lackluster speakers; Low wireless scores

The Verdict:Powered by AMD's Fusion processor, the budget-friendly Acer Aspire AS5253 offers long battery life and enough power for everyday computing.

 For most budget-minded notebook shoppers, the sweet spot hovers right around $500 with a screen size of about 15 inches. The trick is to find a laptop that will deliver the performance, comfort, and endurance you deserve. Powered by a 1.6-GHz AMD dual-core Fusion processor, the $499 Acer Aspire 5253 (as low as $379 at Staples right now) does its best to please. Find out if this inexpensive portable strikes the right balance.

Design

Clad in all-black plastic, the Aspire 5253 would never be mistaken for a luxury machine. However, we like the textured crosshatch pattern on the lid, which makes the notebook easy to grip and helps resist fingerprints. A modest speaker grille and a few colored status lights are the Acer's only design flourishes. The overall look is plain but functional.
Measuring 15 x 10 x 1.3 inches and weighing in at 5 pounds, the Aspire 5253 is pretty portable for a 15-inch notebook. Still, it's clear this machine wasn't meant to leave the house much; slipping the laptop into our standard-sized laptop bag proved a tight fit.

Acer Aspire TimelineX 4820TG-6847

Pros: Strong graphics; Accurate multitouch touchpad; Fast overall performance; Dolby Home Theater audio

Cons: Graphics switching not seamless; Below-average Wi-Fi throughput; Washed out display

The Verdict:With its switchable AMD graphics, trendy design, and solid battery life, the TimelineX AS4820TG is one impressive thin-and-light notebook.

How much power can a 4.6-pound notebook really offer? More than you might think. Thanks to a second-generation Intel Core i5 CPU and AMD Radeon HD graphics, the Acer Aspire TimelineX AS4820TG-6847 ($729) outperforms most of the competition and looks good doing it. Perks such as Dolby Surround Sound really sweeten the deal, too. Read on to find out how this thin-and-light speedster compares to the competition.

Design

Understated but elegant. That's how we'd describe the chassis of the TimelineX AS4820TG. The lid has a black brushed aluminum finish, while the palm rest has a lighter brushed metal treatment. Glossy black plastic surrounds the display and keyboard, which adds a nice accent but picks up fingerprints.
Above the keyboard on the left side of the deck is a grooved circular power button, next to which are LED activity lights. Two speakers separated by a Dolby Home Theater Virtual Surround Sound label sit in the center, and two thin black buttons--one to launch the Power Smart Manager and an eject button for the tray-loading DVD drive--are on the right side of the deck.

Acer Aspire One D260 (1270) (Dual-Core)

Pros: Lightweight and slim; 2GB of RAM; Good performance; Windows 7 Home Premium instead of Windows 7 Starter

Cons: Loud color may put off some; Area near vent gets quite warm; Tinny speakers

The Verdict:Acer's newest dual-core netbook has style and beefed-up specs to run Windows 7 Premium.

Acer was among the first companies to bring a dual-core Atom netbook to market for a price meant to trounce the competition. Though the Aspire One D255 offered an impressive design, pretty good performance, and a low $329 price, a wonky touchpad and other drawbacks outweighed the benefits. This time, Acer is determined to get it right with the Aspire One D260, offering a slick dual-core system that fixes the flaws of its predecessor and provides features you normally don't find in a netbook--such as 2GB of RAM and Windows Home Premium. These perks come with a higher price tag of $399 (though you can find it for about $40 less online). Is the D260 worth more than its predecessor and competing $299 netbooks?

Design

This slim 10.2 x 7.3 x 0.95-inch netbook definitely has the wow factor when it comes to looks. Between the blade-like taper on the front and the in-your-face aquamarine color, the D260 will stand out wherever owners whip it out. The netbook also comes in black, charcoal, pink, and purple, all with a flake pattern.

Unlike the lower-cost Toshiba mini NB505, the blue color on the D260 isn't just for the lid; it extends to the deck, surrounding the black keyboard. The blue of the backlit power button on the upper left doesn't match the color palette very well, but that's a minor nitpick.

Though it weighs a bit less than most other netbooks--2.6 pounds instead of 2.8--the Aspire One D260 feels even lighter, perhaps because of its streamlined and compact chassis. We like that the bottom panel is smooth and comes off in one piece, similar to what we've seen on recent HP netbooks and small ultraportables. This makes upgrading components easy.