Top Ten Notebooks You Couldn't Do Without

Mobile computing has conquered both the high-end and the mainstream markets and analysts claim that the number of sold notebooks will outpace desktop systems by 2010. Mobile gaming is still a niche market, dominated by bulky notebooks with significant price tags, but most of the general-purpose laptops deliver optimal performance at a reasonable price tag.

The first entry in the mainstream notebook line-up is the Acer Aspire 5920 model, that comes rigged with an Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 chip running at 1.6 GHz. The system also packs 2 GB of DDR2 memory and runs Windows Vista Home Premium. The 15.4-inch LCD display sports anti-glare technology that boosts the video output and offers a comfortable computer experience. The system sells for about $910 via the company's retail outlets.

Lenovo's IdeaPad Y510 notebook is a consumer-oriented model, especially suitable for the fashion-concerned users. The device is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 at 1.67 GHz, packs 2 GB of system RAM and a beefy, 250 GB hard-disk drive. The Y510 is a close competitor of Acer's Aspire 5920, yet it comes with a lower price tag of $749.00.

The HP Pavilion dv2660se model may not be as bold as the previous models, but its aesthetics, battery lifespan and a more-than-decent price tag make it the ideal candidate for general-purpose mobile users. The 14.1-incher is especially designed for multimedia users and comes with an AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual Core TL-62 Processor, 3 GB of system RAM and 250 GB of storage space. According to the manufacturer, it offers a battery autonomy of 6.3 hours. The unit is available on retail for an estimative price of $999.

Dell's Inspiron 1525 is one of the all-time favorite notebook models when it comes to general purpose computing. The sleek device comes with a 15.1-inch WXWGA display, an Intel Core 2 Duo T7250 processor running at 2 GHz, 2 GB of DDR2 memory and 120 GB of storage space. Dell's champ is available in a wide range of colors and can be purchased for about $649.

Lenovo strikes back on the chart with its ThinkPad R61 office notebook, a general-purpose model equipped with a 2.2-GHz Core 2 Duo T7500 processor from Intel, 2GB of 667MHz DDR2 memory and 100GB of storage space on a 7,200rpm HDD. The notebook is available for purchasing at a starting price of $1,299.

Fujitsu's LifeBook A6120 notebook is a multimedia-oriented machine that does not quite manage to stand out of the crowd. The 15.4-incher is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 chip, clocked at 2.1 GHz, but a 2.4 GHz T8300 CPU is also available. The notebook also packs built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam, fingerprint reader, Bluetooth, Intel 4965AGN wireless and sells for about $1299.

Toshiba enters the general-purpose top with its Satellite Pro A210-EZ2201 notebook model, a system powered by an AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-55 Dual-Core processor. The laptop comes with basic options and hardware configuration, but sells for an incredibly low price, starting at $699.

Sony's VAIO VGN-SZ791N notebook takes general computing to another dimension, thanks to its Intel 2.5-GHz Core 2 Duo T9300 CPU and its nVidia 8400GS graphics card. Its solid hardware configuration is completed by a sleek case and a plethora of additional functions, such as multiple monitors and brightness adjustments.

Another interesting notebook model from Sony is the VAIO VGN-FZ180E/B, with its large and bright LCD display. The slender notebook is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 running at 2.5 GHz, 4 GB of DDR2 memory and a 250 GB hard-disk drive. However, it comes with a price tag of $2,250 which might be a little discouraging.

Last, but not least, Toshiba's Tecra M9-S5514 laptop is aimed mostly at business users. It features a 2.2-GHz Core 2 Duo T7500 processor, paired with only a single gigabyte of system RAM. The system is available for about $1,650.