Not long ago I was looking to buy a subnotebook computer, and there really wasn’t much of a choice unless I willing to spend at least a couple of thousand dollars. Then, with the arrival of the sub $500 Asus EeePC, the game changed completely.

Wondering how to buy the right Windows notebook/laptop (sometimes called a PC notebook)? It’s easy to get confused by all the options available, which is why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide.

So you’ve finally been seduced by the sleek lines of Apple’s hardware or the promise of the Mac OS’ reliability, and you want to buy a Macintosh laptop? Here’s what you need to know.