With a superb 17-inch display and an integrated TV tuner, the Sony VAIO VGN-AX570G is among the most self-contained multimedia laptops and undercuts many of them by several hundred dollars.

The HP Compaq Presario SR1620NX makes a good impression for a $500 PC, thanks to welcome extras such as an x16 PCIe slot and a nine-in-one media-card reader.

The HP Compaq Presario SR1620NX makes a good impression for a $500 PC, thanks to welcome extras such as an x16 PCIe slot and a nine-in-one media-card reader.

The Toshiba Tecra S3 courts business buyers with its durable design and ample security but falls short on battery life, performance, and price.

The Gateway FPD2185W’s excellent image quality, adjustability, extra features, and decent price make it tough to beat.

The Gateway FPD2185W’s excellent image quality, adjustability, extra features, and decent price make it tough to beat.

Most 17-inch monitors can’t match the NEC MultiSync LCD1770VX’s clean appearance and ease of use; however, so-so image quality limits the NEC’s appeal.