1. Mainstream Laptops
The mainstream notebook category encompasses systems with 15.4-inch displays that generally weigh 6-7 pounds. These systems are designed for home use primarily, but they’re portable enough that you can take them on the road if it is not longer than 3 hours.

2. Desktop Replacement Laptops
The desktop replacement category encompasses notebooks that have enough power and flexibility to do nearly anything a desktop PC can. Most systems can be moved from room to room without too much trouble even if they are heavier than others. These big systems are designed for users who rarely need to travel with their notebook but want portability as an option. These laptops are for someone who wants desktop power in something that takes up allot less room.

3. Thin-and-light Laptops
Typically weighing 5 to 6 pounds and measuring 1.5 inches thick or less, they are relatively portable. Still, the thin and lights offer more than enough power for listening to music, editing pictures, and watching videos. These all-around notebooks are designed for people who desire portability for taking the notebook from home to work and back again, including the occasional flight.

4. Ultraportable Laptops
The ultraportable is the smallest traditional notebook design, which typically weigh less than 4 pounds and measure no more than 1 inch thick, also having longer battery life. These laptops are designed for road warriors who travel constantly and need just enough computing power with them at all times.

5. Business Laptops
Systems that offer more durability and security features (like for example fingerprints reader) than mainstream consumer notebooks are known as business laptops. The business lines of most major manufacturers include notebooks that range from ultraportables and Tablet PCs to mammoth desktop replacements and workstations. Business notebooks are targeted at mobile professionals and IT managers seeking a stable, secure platform.

6. Tablet PCs
Tablet PCs deliver the benefits of both handwriting recognition and a full-fledged notebook in one powerful and flexible device. Some are slate models with external keyboards, while others are convertibles that change from slate to notebook mode more easily. Field workers or mobile professionals who want to take notes and save them in their own handwriting, and have the ability to brainstorm, collaborate, scribble e-mails, and sign faxes with a digital pen.

7. Multimedia laptops
A multimedia laptop offers specialized audio and video features that enable it to serve as a mobile DVD player, MP3 jukebox, and digital photo album. For a little more money, your notebook can double as a television and digital video recorder, too. These laptops typically offer solid gaming capabilities but usually not quite at the level of a dedicated gaming system. Multimedia laptops are perfect for people who want to access their audio tracks, home movies, digital photos, DVDs, and more on a relatively compact, transportable system. Usually weighing 7 pounds or more (heavier than most of the laptops) and offering battery life of less than 3 hours, entertainment laptops aren’t for road warriors, but something that can be moved around in vacations where plug-in is available.

8. Gaming laptops
Gaming laptops take the fastest processors and combine them with powerful video cards on the market to offer absolutely the best 3D gaming performance you can get on a notebook, meaning that there will be allot of power consumption of the battery. If you’re content to sit at your desk whenever you want to fire up a 3D game, then you should stick with a high-powered tower PC. If you like to test your skills against other gamers at LAN parties or don’t want to give up your favorite games when you travel, however, then a gaming laptop is the perfect system for you since it won’t take up much space.