When shopping for a laptop computer you will find that there are many, many different choices and prices.  You can now find laptops for under $500 up over $2,000 each.  The big difference will be the computing power of the processors, hard drive, memory and other add ons.  Some of the things you will want to ask yourself, how big a screen do I want?  How much do I want to spend?  Is is lightweight?  There are many other questions to ask before you hit the laptop search trail.

Finding the best value for your money is also very important to most of us.  Not all of us are gamers, so, we do not need the real high speed deluxe models.  Then again, some of us are gamers and we need more power than we will ever be happy with.  Go figure.  Some of us just want to check emails, surf the internet, play with spreadsheets, photos and other day to day business.  A few of us work really hard and pound the heck out of our laptops and need real durability, power, memory and speed.  Helping you find the information to pick the right laptop is what why we are providing this website.

Some of what users and companies say about their products is provided below.  Take what you want and leave the rest.  Remember, everyone is trying to sell you a laptop, except us.  You will find sites that rank laptops and they usually get a fee or generate money from you buying thru their site.  We do not sell computers, nor do we buy computers.  We do own quite a few laptops and desktops.   We do have Adsense ads on some or all of our pages and we do not encourage anybody to clink on those ads.  If you do, you will leave this site and we cannot be responsible for any content on any third party website you visit. 

Thanks to the fine people at CNET for their product reviews below.  Please visit them for more details and specifications regarding any of these products.  These people are experts and know their products.

Apple MacBook (Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M)

Product Summary

The good:

New aluminum construction looks good, feels solid; giant touch pad; attractive edge-to-edge glass on display; improved integrated graphics; backlit keyboard on some models; thinner than previous version.

The bad:

Still no ExpressCard or SD-card slot; loses FireWire port; all-clicking touch pad is a bit awkward, at least initially; $1,299 now gets you a slower CPU than it did before; no matte-screen option.

The bottom line:

Apple's redesigned 13-inch MacBook is essentially a shrunken version of the more expensive 15-inch Pro line. With its new aluminum body, new trackpad, and Nvidia graphics, it's an even more attractive choice for mainstream laptop buyers than was the plastic model it replaces.

Specifications:

Environmental & energy standards compliance: EPEAT Gold , EPA Energy Star ; Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.4 GHz) ; RAM installed: 2 GB DDR3 SDRAM ;

Price range: $1,455.00 - $1,599.99

There are two ways to look at Apple's newly reimagined MacBook laptops. They can be seen as more advanced, and in some ways more expensive, versions of the classic 13-inch MacBook, but we prefer to think of them as slightly stripped down, and less expensive, versions of the 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro line. Some Internet commentators have even referred to the new models as the "MacBook Pro Mini."

Internally, the big news is an Nvidia chipset with improved integrated graphics, while the "unibody" aluminum chassis, the buttonless (or more accurately, all-button) touch pad, and edge-to-edge glass on the LED-backlit display are the major physical changes on the outside.

While the base model keeps the same $1,299 price (our review unit was the upgraded $1,599 version with a faster processor, a bigger hard drive, and backlit keyboard), you lose the FireWire port in the transition. And the $1,299 model gets you a 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo, rather than the 2.4GHz CPU. The higher-end model keeps the same 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, but also costs $100 more. Both new MacBook models operate on a faster front-side bus, (from 800MHz to 1066MHz) and move from DDR2 memory to DDR3.

Even with the slower base model CPU and missing FireWire, the new MacBook represents both an impressive value and an impressive feat of engineering--although it's hard to expect anything else from Apple's flagship computer product, which has been a consistent favorite for several years.

Price as reviewed / Starting price $1,599 / $1,299
Processor 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory 2GB, 1066MHz DDR3
Hard drive 250GB 5,400rpm
Chipset Nvidia GeForce 9400M
Graphics Nvidia GeForce 9400M (integrated)
Operating system Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
Dimensions (WD) 12.8 x 8.94 inches
Height .95 inches
Screen size (diagonal) 13.3 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter 4.5/5.2 pounds
Category Thin and light

The most obvious changes are physical. The familiar white-and-black bodies have been replaced with an aluminum chassis that looks nearly identical to the new MacBook Pro, only smaller. The actual construction for both the new MacBook and MacBook Pro now follows the MacBook Air model, with a solid block of aluminum carved down, rather than a thin outer shell that has had support struts added to it. The result is a lighter and thinner, yet stronger, chassis that feels more solid and substantial--a notable feat, as the previous MacBook models were already extremely sturdy.

Another notable new feature is a radically redesigned touch pad. This larger touch pad uses multitouch gestures similar to those found on the iPhone, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro, and offers a much larger surface area than previous 13-inch MacBooks--thanks to the elimination of a separate mouse button. In fact, the entire touch pad depresses like a button, although a simple tapping (as on a PC laptop) will also work once you turn that option on in the settings menu.

The all-button touch pad concept is actually a bit difficult to get used to, and feels slightly clunky at first compared with a traditional fixed-position touch pad. On the other hand, there are some useful new gestures: you can hide all your apps by sweeping four fingers up on the pad, and you can also designate one corner of the touch pad as a "right-click" zone. Most useful, perhaps, is sweeping four fingers left or right, which brings up the application switcher. Once you get used to that, going back to a regular touch pad would be difficult.

The 13.3-inch wide-screen LCD display offers a 1,280x800 native resolution, which is standard for screens between 13 and 15 inches in size. It provides for text and icons that are highly readable, but we'd love to see Apple move into the 16:9 display universe, as in the case with new systems from Sony, Hewlett-Packard, and others.

Apple has also added LED-backlit displays (previously available on the Pro models), which means a thinner lid and some battery life benefits, plus the edge-to-edge glass we're seeing more often on multimedia systems, such as the HP HDX18. The glass, however, also grabs stray light rays with ease, making the glossy screen seem that much glossier--a problem if you prefer matte screen finishes.

Apple MacBook (Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, Nvidia GeForce 9400M) Average for category
Video Mini DisplayPort VGA-out, S-Video
Audio Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Data 2 USB 2.0 3 USB 2.0, mini-FireWire, SD card reader
Expansion None ExpressCard/54
Networking Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Modem, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional WWAN
Optical drive DVD burner DVD burner

With only two USB 2.0 ports and no more FireWire, the new MacBook isn't exactly brimming with connections. Our two fondest MacBook wishes--an ExpressCard slot and an SD-card reader--have yet to come true, so photographers (especially those who use equipment with FireWire connections) may be disappointed--or encouraged to spring for a MacBook Pro. Apple is making a firm move to the DisplayPort camp by including a mini DisplayPort connection instead of mini-DVI or VGA, but a variety of external dongles (sold separately) will give you any video output you need.

In our benchmark tests, the new MacBook and its 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU performed comparably to its predecessor, which is to say that basic multitasking and productivity are a breeze, as is streaming and viewing HD-video content--much as we'd expect from any current Intel Core 2 Duo laptop. While the hardware is largely similar, MacBooks score better on our Multitasking test than similarly configured Windows laptops (such as the Dell Studio 15), thanks in part to the efficiency of the Mac operating system.

HP Mini 2140

Product summary

The good:

Solid metal construction; full ExpressCard/54 slot; big keyboard.

The bad:

Odd resolution loses a few pixels; no mobile-broadband options (yet); awkward mouse button placement.

The bottom line:

HP offers a premium version of its plastic Mini 1000 while keeping the price down, making the Mini 2140 the Netbook to beat.

Even though the HP Mini 1000 is only a few months old, Hewlett-Packard was actually an early player in the Netbook field. The company's business system side came up with the Mini-Note 2133 in spring 2008, with a solid, brushed-metal chassis and a nearly full-size keyboard. Unfortunately, this predated Intel's Atom CPU, and rather than using the Celeron processor that came with the very first Netbooks, HP went with an underpowered Via C7-M, which pretty much killed any chance it had of becoming a mainstream product.

Now that the plastic-clad, Atom-powered consumer version has become a hit, HP's business side is taking another crack at the Netbook market with a radically updated version, the $499 HP Mini 2140.

It keeps the aluminum construction and big keyboard, but updates the components to an Intel Atom CPU, and adds an accelerometer for the hard drive, and a full ExpressCard/54 slot--a Netbook first (Lenovo's S10 has a smaller Express Card/34 slot).

Thanks to those added features--and some concerns about the added weight aside--the 2140 is currently our favorite Netbook less than $500.

Price as reviewed / Starting price $499
Processor 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270
Memory 1GB, 800MHz DDR2
Hard drive 160GB 5,400rpm
Chipset Mobile Intel 945GSE
Graphics Intel GMA 950 (integrated)
Operating system Windows XP Home Edition SP2
Dimensions 10.3 inches wide by 6.5 inches deep
Height 1.1 inches
Screen size (diagonal) 10.1 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter 3.0/3.8 pounds
Category Netbook

The HP Mini 2140 shares the same basic silhouette as the earlier Mini 1000 and Mini-Note 2133 systems from HP. Because it has an aluminum case, like the 2133, it's a half-pound heavier than the plastic Mini 1000; it's a trade-off that may be worth it, however, as the metallic Mini 2140 feels as if it'll stand up to the rigors of the road better than a plastic Netbook.

The biggest selling point for HP's Netbooks has always been the fantastic keyboard, which HP claims is 92-percent of the size of a full-size laptop keyboard. Other Netbooks have been plagued by tiny Chiclet-like keys, which make typing a pain and typos plentiful. By expanding the keyboard right to the edges of the system, HP is able to fit bigger keys into the tray than other Netbooks (and even ultraportable laptops). The result is a comfortable typing experience that takes a tiny bit of adjustment (as the keys are very close together), but one that is, thus far, our favorite on a sub-12-inch notebook.

The touch pad has an unusual shape, stretched into a letterbox-like wide rectangle and the mouse buttons have been moved to the left and right sides of the touch pad. This permits the system to have a minimal amount of wasted wrist-rest space, but it's a somewhat awkward compromise, especially if you do a lot of vertical scrolling or right-clicking.

The 10.1-inch wide-screen LED display has an unusual 1,024x576 native resolution, which is a few pixels shy of the 1,024x600 we typically see in Netbooks. The end result is largely unnoticeable, but a Windows XP pop-up window expressed concern that we weren't running at a standard resolution.

HP Mini 2140 Average for category [netbook]

Video VGA VGA
Audio headphone/microphone jacks, stereo speakers headphone/microphone jacks, stereo speakers
Data 2 USB 2.0, SD card reader 2 USB 2.0, SD card reader
Expansion ExpressCard/54 None
Networking Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Optical drive None None

Besides its big keyboard, the Mini 2140 has one major selling point that no other Netbook currently offers: a full ExpressCard/54 slot. Lenovo's S10 has a half-size ExpressCard/34 slot, but there are fewer options for add-on peripherals in that size. We rarely find that we actually need an ExpressCard slot for anything, but some rely on them for mobile broadband modems, memory-card readers, or even TV tuners.

HP offers a handful of fixed-configuration versions of the 2140, but we're perfectly happy with the basic $499 model, which has an Intel Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM, and a 160GB hard drive. For $50 more, a smart upgrade might be an identical version with 2GB of RAM, but that comes with Windows Vista Basic. Adding an XP "downgrade" to that model adds another $80 onto that (but also includes a faster 7,200rpm hard drive).

Gateway FX P-7805u

Product summary

The good:

Good gaming scores, thanks to the Nvidia GeForce 9800 graphics; very inexpensive for a gaming laptop.

The bad:

Lower screen resolution than its predecessor; lacks a few basic amenities, such as Bluetooth.

The bottom line:

Our favorite budget gaming laptop returns as the Gateway P-7805u FX, and while it's still the best deal going in mobile gaming, we're bummed the screen resolution has been dumbed down to sub-HD levels.

Specifications:
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.26 GHz) ; RAM installed: 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM ; Weight: 9 lbs ; See full specs

Price range: $1,149.99 check prices

CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: Dan Ackerman
Reviewed on: 02/20/2009
Released on: 02/01/2009
Editors' note: This review is part of our Winter 2009 Retail Roundup, covering specific configurations of popular laptops that can be found in retail stores.

Gateway's budget-minded 17-inch gaming laptops have impressed, offering a mix of decent components and high-end video cards for around $1,200. The most recent version, the P-7811 FX, was the best of the bunch, bumping the screen resolution up to 1,900x1,200 while only marginally raising the price. Sadly discontinued (but still hunted for on message boards and eBay), Gateway now has a mostly worthy replacement, the P-7805u FX.

This new system is a Best Buy exclusive that has a list price of $1,299, but is usually available for $1,149 or less, depending on promotions. We're sorry to say that despite the Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 CPU and Nvidia GeForce 9800 graphics card, it's a step backwards for the line, pulling the 17-inch display's resolution back to a more pedestrian 1,440x900.

You'll still probably have to play most games at that lower resolution to crank up the details, so it's not a deal-killer, but the cost-cutting is still a disappointment (and bad for watching HD video). Of the high-resolution P-7811 model, we once said that we didn't see how Gateway could make money selling these things, and it turns out we were probably more right than we knew.

Price as reviewed $1,299
Processor 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8400
Memory 4GB, 1066MHz DDR2
Hard drive 320GB 7,200rpm
Chipset Mobile Intel PM45 Express Chipset
Graphics Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTS
Operating System Windows Vista Premium (64-bit)
Dimensions 15.8 inches wide by 11.8 inches deep
Height 1.3 -1.7 inches
Screen size (diagonal) 17.0 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter 9.1/10.5 pounds
Category Desktop Replacement

Physically, this new model is virtually identical to earlier Gateway FX laptops, such as the P-7811FX. It features a glossy, black, plastic chassis, with brushed-metal detailing and copper accents around the keyboard. It's a subtle look, unlike over-the-top gaming rigs from Toshiba or Alienware.

The full-size keyboard and separate number pad have roomy, comfortable keys. Above the keyboard is a row of media controls, with buttons cut right into the brushed-metal border, along with one touch-sensitive control--a volume slider--which adjusts the volume a little too slowly for our tastes.

The first budget Gateway FX gaming laptops from early 2008 had a native resolution of 1,440x900, which was one of the biggest concessions to cost. As we said, we were pleased to see the Fall '08 model, the P-7811, move up to a 1,920x1,200 display, while keeping the price down.

Unfortunately, the new P-7805u slips back to 1,440x900, perhaps a victim of shrinking profit margins. In real-world terms, you'll probably play most games at the lower resolution in order to keep detail levels turned up high anyway, but downloading and playing 1,080p HD video content loses some of its appeal with the lower resolution.

Gateway FX P-7805u Average for category [desktop replacement]
Video VGA-out, HDMI VGA-out, HDMI
Audio Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks Stereo speakers with subwoofer, headphone/microphone jacks.
Data 3 USB 2.0, mini FireWire, SD card reader, eSATA 4 USB 2.0, mini-FireWire, SD card reader
Expansion ExpressCard/54 ExpressCard/54
Networking Modem, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Optical drive DVD burner DVD burner or Blu-ray player

We liked the eSATA port for hooking up an external hard drive, as well as the full ExpressCard/54 slot, and FireWire connection (something of a rarity these days). This is a fixed-configuration system, so you're stuck with what it ships with (or what it ships without, in the case of Bluetooth).

The 7805u sticks with the same 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 CPU from the P-7811, which is a strong performer, especially when combined with 4GB of RAM and a fast 7,200rpm hard drive. In the mainstream category of our Winter 2009 Retail Laptop Review Roundup, the Gateway easily beat out the Asus G50VT, which had a slightly slower Core 2 Duo P7450, but both are fast performers suitable for serious multitasking, video editing, and, of course, gaming.

The high-end Nvidia GeForce 9800 GTS graphics card is this laptop's main selling point. We were able to get 120.8 frames per second in Unreal Tournament 3 at 1,280x800 resolution. Crank it up to the max possible resolution of 1,440x900, and it's still a very playable 101.4 frames per second. In an anecdotal test, we loaded up the most recent PC game in our pile, FEAR 2, and had a smooth gaming experience at 1,440x900, with graphics options set to medium.

These are just a few samples of the laptops that are available and we will be offering quite a bit of information so click on the category links and enjoy your time.