Dell Studio XPS 16

The Dell Studio XPS 16 gets a host of recommendations from reviewers, who say this multimedia laptop combines excellent performance at a good price. Both Laptop Magazine and PCMag.com give it their Editors' Choice awards. The Dell Studio XPS 16 starts at an affordable $1,000 with a 2.0 GHz processor, 3 GB RAM and 250 GB hard drive, but most reviewers test an upgraded model that retails from $1,400 to $1,800. If you watch movies regularly, the upgraded version is probably worth it, thanks to a slot-loading Blu-ray drive, faster processor and high-resolution (1080p) display. Reviewers love the 1080p LCD widescreen, which is a $250 upgrade from the base model, and the backlit keyboard also gets high marks.

In terms of performance, the Dell Studio XPS 16 excels in most multimedia tests, but reviewers note that serious gamers should look for a dedicated gaming notebook. The Dell Studio XPS 16 also gets high marks for design, even though the glossy case is a magnet for fingerprints and smudges. The other downside to this laptop is battery life, which lasts less than two hours in one test. If you're most interested in gaming, reviewers recommend a laptop designed specifically for gaming like the Alienware M17x (*Est. $1,800 and up) or the Asus G51Vx-RX05 (*Est. $1,050).

There is no shortage of reviews on the Dell Studio XPS 16, but the most comprehensive and detailed testing comes from Laptop Magazine and AnandTech.com. These publications provide the most thorough testing and provide more analysis than other sources we've seen. We also found valuable reviews at PCMag.com, CNET, NotebookCheck.net and TrustedReviews.com.