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CNET's spring 2010 retail desktop and laptop review roundup

The latest wave of new laptops and desktops for 2010 is here, and we've been scouring the shelves of big retail stores to find boxed versions of these popular PCs, from entry-level systems starting at $329 to massive $2,000 gaming monsters.

Dan Ackerman Editorial Director / Computers and Gaming
Dan Ackerman leads CNET's coverage of computers and gaming hardware. A New York native and former radio DJ, he's also a regular TV talking head and the author of "The Tetris Effect" (Hachette/PublicAffairs), a non-fiction gaming and business history book that has earned rave reviews from the New York Times, Fortune, LA Review of Books, and many other publications. "Upends the standard Silicon Valley, Steve Jobs/Mark Zuckerberg technology-creation myth... the story shines." -- The New York Times
Expertise I've been testing and reviewing computer and gaming hardware for over 20 years, covering every console launch since the Dreamcast and every MacBook...ever. Credentials
  • Author of the award-winning, NY Times-reviewed nonfiction book The Tetris Effect; Longtime consumer technology expert for CBS Mornings
Rich Brown Former Senior Editorial Director - Home and Wellness
Rich was the editorial lead for CNET's Home and Wellness sections, based in Louisville, Kentucky. Before moving to Louisville in 2013, Rich ran CNET's desktop computer review section for 10 years in New York City. He has worked as a tech journalist since 1994, covering everything from 3D printing to Z-Wave smart locks.
Expertise Smart home, Windows PCs, cooking (sometimes), woodworking tools (getting there...)
Dan Ackerman
Rich Brown
2 min read

The latest wave of new laptops and desktops for 2010 is here, and these systems have some important new features to help them stand out from last year's models. We're seeing Intel's Core i3 (as well as the i5 and i7) CPUs, and the new Intel Atom N450processor for Netbooks, along with Wireless Display technologydesigned to easily send a signal from your PC to your TV.

To help cut through the clutter, we've been scouring the shelves of big retail stores to find boxed versions of popular PCs, from entry-level systems starting at $329 to massive $2,000 gaming monsters.

This roundup is all about the specific retail models offered by brick-and-mortar stores. These are similar to those you'd be able to configure online from companies such as Dell and HP, but may have slightly different names and features. Thanks to frequent retail discounts, they can sometimes be a better deal than buying direct from a PC maker. And if you pick up a Sunday newspaper sales circular (which typically lists the retail-specific models names of computers on sale), be sure check here for a review before heading out to the store.

We've got all the entire list of models in our retail review roundup below (a few more may sneak in before we're done), and we'll update this page with ratings and live links as the systems get reviewed over the next several weeks.

LAPTOPS

Netbooks
Dell iM1012-687OBK
Asus 1005PEB-RRED01S
Samsung NP-N210-JA02US

Budget (up to $599)
Acer AS5532-5535 (2 stars)
Compaq CQ60-615dx
Gateway NV7915u
HP Pavilion dv4-2145dx
Asus K60I-RBBBR05 (3.5 stars)
Dell i1545-4266IBU (3 stars)
Toshiba L505-ES5018 (3 stars)

Mainstream ($600 - $999)
Dell Studio s15z-2249CPN (3.5 stars)
Toshiba E205-S1904 (4 stars)
Toshiba A505-S6025 (3.5 stars)
HP Pavilion dv7-3165dx (3.5 stars)
HP Pavilion dv4-2165dx (3.5 stars)
HP Pavilion dv4-2155dx (3.5 stars)
Toshiba P505D-S8007 (2.5 stars)
Asus UL50VT-RBBBK05 (3.5 stars)
Asus U50F-RBBAG05 (3.5 stars)
Dell Inspiron i1564-6980CRD (3 stars)
Samsung NP-R580-JSB1US

High-end ($1,000 and up)
Dell Adamo 13
Sony VPCF115FM/B
Sony VPCS111FM/S
Asus G73jx

DESKTOPS

Budget (up to $599)
HP Pavilion Slimline s5310y (2.5 stars)
Dell Inspiron i545-1125NBK (2 stars)
Asus Essentio CM5571-BR003 (2.5 stars)
Gateway DX4831-01e (3.5 stars, EC)
HP Pavilion p6310y (3 stars)
Dell Inspiron i560-4000NBK (2.5 stars)

Mainstream (up to $899)
Gateway DX4300-15e (3.5 stars)
HP Pavilion p6320y (3 stars)
Asus Essentio CG5275-AR003 (3.5 stars)
Dell Inspiron i580-5108NBC (3.5 stars)
HP Pavilion Elite HPE-112Y (3.5 stars)

High-end ($1,000 and higher)
Dell Studio XPS sx8100-1986NBC

See more news, reviews, and recommendations in our Laptops and Desktops sections.