By CNET.com
Tribune News Service
Get a new laptop, hybrid or desktop, perfect for the home office or man cave.
Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display (13-inch, 2015)
CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: Apple adds new Intel CPUs, faster memory, longer battery life and its new Force Touch trackpad to the standard 13-inch MacBook Pro, which keeps its generous selection of ports.
The bad: The 2015 updates make only a minor difference to the hands-on experience, while similar high-end 13-inch laptops continue to get thinner and lighter.
The cost: $1,234.99 to $1,299
The bottom line: While the upcoming 12-inch MacBook has all the buzz, this 13-inch system gets a handful of updates to remain a top choice for combining power and portability.
Dell XPS 13 (2015)
CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: Dell's revamped XPS 13 has a nearly borderless display and a very small body for a 13-inch laptop, plus the latest Intel CPUs.
The bad: Upgrades can get expensive; a touchscreen isn't included by default; the boost from the new CPU is minimal.
The cost: $1,299.99
The bottom line: This new Dell XPS 13 is the first great laptop of 2015, but it owes that title more to a smart design revamp than Intel's new processors.
HP Omen
CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The HP Omen has a bold design, plenty of user customization options, a great keyboard, and something often missing from gaming laptops, a touchscreen.
The bad: The screen resolution is capped at 1080p, while the competition goes up to 4K. Routing all the ports and heat vents to the rear won't appeal to everyone, and the only graphics card available is decidedly mid-tier.
The cost: $1,141.96 to $1,495.99
The bottom line: HP shakes up the world of gaming laptops with unique-looking and highly portable Omen. It offers very capable performance in PC games, despite being stuck with a last-gen graphics card.
HP Pavilion 300-020 Mini
CNET rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (Very good)
The good: The HP Pavilion Mini costs less than other small desktops, offers options for the CPU and hard drive, and allows for user upgrades later on. A wireless keyboard and mouse are included.
The bad: Even the top-end hardware configuration is slow, and there are no options for SSD hard drives or faster Wi-Fi.
The cost: $319.99 to $345.29
The bottom line: Smaller and less expensive than a Mac Mini, the HP Pavilion Mini focuses on big storage over fast performance.
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