Laptop Sweet Spot: 12 Winners That Cost $650 or Less

Need more PC punch than a netbook but less than a top-of-the-line desktop replacement? Here's a clutch of laptops that will get the job done.

Patrick Miller, PC World

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Whether you're a mobile gamer with a minuscule budget, a business traveler who puts a premium on portability, or a starving student who needs an all-purpose PC, there's a laptop for you.

What's more, if you're willing to make a few trade-offs, you won't have to spend more than $650--not bad compared with the $1000 price point that the industry touted as cheap just 18 months ago.

Read on for the scoop on a dozen sturdy laptops priced at $650 or less. One of them just might fit your priorities--and your paycheck.