Computer Ratings: Laptops are getting smaller, but so are desktops

It's back-to-school time (how I hated that phrase when I was a kid). That means you could be in the market for a new laptop. We tested 33 of them, ranging in size from the slimmest and smallest 13.3-inch models to bulkier and more powerful 17-inchers.

Check our latest Ratings of laptops (available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers) and you'll find systems with just the right balance of price, performance, and battery life for all-around use. Among our Recommended laptops (available to subscribers), we also identified a few for the power user in your family. Those models are packed with high-end video for gaming and more powerful processors.

For those tied to a desk, we Rated desktop systems (available to subscribers) with new quad-core processors from both Intel and AMD, as well as a couple of sub-$600 models that will save you money but still perform the basics well.

Finally, all-in-one systems continue to raise the bar in terms of style and performance. Liberate yourself from those black towers!

—Donna Tapellini