August 16, 2008 4:00 AM PDT
5. Dell Studio S1535-125B
Editors' rating: 8.0
The good: Faster performance than other laptops in the same price range; 4GB of RAM; big 320GB hard drive; HDMI output, touch-sensitive media controls.
The bad: Bulkier than Dell's 15-inch XPS and Inspiron models; merely average battery life.
The bottom line: 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.
Read CNET's full review
Price: $979.99
Photo by CNET Networks
