Best Thin and Light Laptop PCs

MSI's FX420 has been out for some time now but this has helped it with a couple of price drops such that it can be found for around $750. Feature wise, it isn't that much different from many laptops that came out in the past couple of months. It uses the Intel Core i5-2410M dual core processor with 4GB of memory to work well for most tasks. Storage features are a bit lower now but still decent with 500GB hard drive, dual layer DVD burner and USB 3.0 ports. Since it uses a 14-inch display, it is also a bit more compact than many systems that rely on 15-inch LCD panels. The downside is that the keyboard is a bit more cramped. A good alternative for those looking at better storage features is the Toshiba Satellite P755D-S5266 which is based on the AMD Fusion platform and comes with a Blu-ray drive for around the same price of $750.

While HP's Envy line offers a bit nicer exterior, HP's Pavilion dv6-6180us offers just as nice features in a slightly less expensive or fancy exterior. For just around $1000, this laptop packs in a surprising amount of performance and some decent battery life. It comes equipped with the new Intel Core i7-2670QM quad core mobile processor and 8GB of memory for excellent multitasking support. A large 750GB hard drive provides plenty of storage space and the AMD Radeon HD 6570 graphics even allows it to handle gaming. About the only downside to this is that HP installs too much software which bogs down the user and system and the lack of a Blu-ray drive. For those that have a bit more to spend, there is little that can match Apple's MacBook Pro 15 in terms of quality but it does cost more with a $1799 price tag.

For those looking at a solid gaming experience without breaking the bank, Digital Storm's xm15 seems to do a superb job of balancing cost and features. For around $1300, you can get this 15.6-inch laptop to feature a quad core Intel Core i7-2630M processor, 6GB of DDR3 memory, NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M graphics and an outstanding display with 1920x1080 resolution. This allows it to provide some outstanding performance in games without costing too much. Sure, it doesn't feature a Blu-ray drive and doesn't have a backlit keyboard but those aren't critical to gaming. If you are on an even tighter budget, than the iBUYPOWER Battallion 101 CZ-12 scales back on a number of items but can be found for under $1000.

Dell took their already compact 15z laptop design and shrunk it down even further to produce the 14z. This laptop comes in a case that isn't much bigger than many 13-inch laptops but manages to place a 14-inch display thanks to the extremely thin bezel edge. The result is a compact and affordable laptop. It features an Intel Core i5-2430M dual core processor and 8GB of memory for solid performance. In addition, it comes with a large 750GB hard drive and a dual layer DVD burner. The big downside to this though is the lack of a dedicated graphics option which is available in the more expensive XPS 14z. Dell also loads it with some unnecessary software compared to the XPS models. Still, with prices as low as $800, it is very affordable. Of course, if you want a more full features yet thin laptop, there is also the Apple MacBook Pro 15 that offers a stylish high performance laptop but at a much higher $1799. Samsung's Series 7 also looks promising with a more affordable $1300 price.

There are lots of companies claiming long battery life for their laptops, but their numbers of often inflated compared to real world usage. The latest version of the Apple MacBook Pro 15 may not have as high of running times as past models but running times of over seven hours are still quite common. This is especially amazing considering that it comes with some fairly high performance parts inside of it. There is a stipulation here though that this running time is achieved while running Mac OS X. Those running Windows via Boot Camp will have roughly half the running time on the same battery. For those looking for a more affordable Windows based systems, the Samsung Series 7 shows the potential of matching Apple's long running times but it is not yet available. The Dell Inspiron 14z does offer some solid running times but does lack a number of features.

For anyone that does professional graphics for a living, the display is going to be a major factor in your laptop selection. It has to have excellent color representation and resolution. Lenovo's ThinkPad W520 may not be one of the more affordable on the market but its high resolution 15.6-inch display with IPS panel offers some superb color. Add to this an optional built-in calibrator and your will be getting the most accurate color you can get. Performance is not too bad either with options for the new Core i5 and even Core i7 extreme processors. Prices vary by a large amount from as low as $1500 to over $3000 depending upon the selected configuration.