HP HP Pavilion n5430 Notebook PC

WHAT'S HOT: Strong, rich sound and dedicated audio controls will please those who like to mix laptop work with listening to their favorite music. Buttons on the front of the Pavilion N5430 let you play, pause, and eject audio CDs without turning the notebook itself on. When you press a separate button, a bright, easy-to-read LCD cycles through a display of the remaining track time, the day's date, and the percentage of notebook battery life left; and green LEDs light up the controls for a few seconds for easier identification. A line-out jack on the front of the laptop makes plugging in headphones easy. The only two things we'd ask for in addition are a mute button and a volume toggle that doesn't require repeated pressing.

To help your work go more smoothly, four dedicated shortcut buttons provide instant access to files, applications, or Web sites you visit most frequently. A special pad-lock button disables the touchpad--a great time-saver for typists who constantly struggle with repositioned cursors.

WHAT'S NOT: The N5430's lithium ion battery turned in a disappointing battery life of slightly less than 2 hours. Without a docking connection, the N5430 makes a poor desktop replacement, and unlike other Pavilion models, it does not allow access to the hard drive. That means you'll have to ship the entire notebook to a service center if the hard drive fails. HP could also be more generous with its support policies. The company cuts off free telephone technical support (which is a toll call anyway) after only 90 days, and it covers parts and labor for just one year.