Laptops

HP Pavilion dv6915nr
The well-designed HP Pavilion dv6915nr incorporates most of the features you'll need for school, but other 15.4-inch laptops offer better performance for the same price.
Specs: AMD Turion X2 Dual Core (2.0 GHz), 3 GB DDR II SDRAM, 6.1 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP 1

Dell 1525-122B
Adding some features missing form its 14-inch cousin, the Dell Inspiron 1525 is the textbook example of a midsize, mainstream laptop--a basic workhorse with few surprises. It may be a bit large for daily campus travel, but it should last you the full four years.

Dell 1420-123B
The basic 14-inch Inspiron 1420 is a reasonable choice for budget buyers who want something a little smaller than the standard 15-inch chassis, but this laptop has missed out on recent updates other Inspiron models have received.

Asus Eee PC 901 (Windows XP)
The long-awaited Asus Eee PC 901 is the best version of this inexpensive Netbook yet, but it's facing increased competition from the likes of HP, Dell, and MSI.
Specs: Intel Atom, 1 GB DDR II SDRAM, 2.4 lbs, 8.9 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

Dell Studio 15
Dell's first release from its new Studio line, the Studio 15, sits between the Inspiron and XPS lines and offers a good mix of features for the price, but we'd be tempted to save up a few extra dollars for a thinner, lighter XPS.
Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.1 GHz), 2.0 GB DDR II SDRAM, 6 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Premium Edition

Asus M70SA-X2
You can find Blu-ray-equipped desktop replacements for less, but no other media laptop currently offers as many features for the price as the Asus M70.
Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.5 GHz), 4 GB DDR II SDRAM, 8.4 lbs, 17 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

Gateway T-6828
The 14.1-inch Gateway T-6828 offers the same performance and features as similar models from Dell and Toshiba, at a lower price. However, we recommend you try the T-6828's keyboard before making a buying decision.
Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (1.83 GHz), 3 GB DDR II SDRAM, 5.5 lbs, 14.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

Toshiba Satellite P305-S8825
Toshiba's new 17-inch Satellite P305 is a well-made, inexpensive desktop replacement, but much more powerful laptops are available for just a little more money.
Specs: RoHS, Intel Core 2 Duo (1.83 GHz), 3 GB DDR II SDRAM, 7.7 lbs, 17.1 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

Gateway M-1626
If you can look past the terrible battery life, the low-cost Gateway M-1626 is a decent midsize pick for a student laptop or for use as a secondary computer.
Specs: AMD Turion 64 X2 mobile technology (2 GHz), 4 GB DDR II SDRAM, 6.4 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

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.
Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.2 GHz), 2 GB DDR II SDRAM, 6.4 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium