f your head’s spinning trying to choose a new laptop from the myriad offerings currently on the market, then look no further. In an effort to relieve you of the tedious and often madding task of technology research, we’ve done the grunt work for you and compiled a list of the newest and best notebook computers. Rather than numb your mind with a listing of features and specifications, we’ve nailed down the essentials—who makes it, why you need it, what it offers and how much it’s going to cost you. You can thank us later.


For aspiring directors and film buffs, Sony’s newest addition to the VAIO family, the NS series, is an obvious choice. Equipped with a 15.4-inch widescreen LCD display with XBRITE-ECO technology and an integrated camera and microphone, this system is fit for a movie-maker. The real kicker? It comes in a variety of colors and the option for a Blu-ray drive (be forewarned, though, this ups the cost by $350).