Laptops: power up & prices down.(COMPUTERS)(Buyers guide)

The price of portability has plummeted, great news if you're in the market for a new computer. The average price of a laptop is now about $840, down from $1,091 just a few months back, according to Current Analysis, a Washington-based market research firm.

While prices have fallen, features and functionality are on the rise, so you'll get more for your money than ever. Among the latest developments:

More screen choices. Wide screens are standard on most new laptops, and spacious 17-inch screens are widely available. Glossy displays are making a splash under names such as BrightView (HP), Ultrabright (Gateway), Xbrite (Sony), and TruBrite (Toshiba).These shiny screens provide better contrast and more vibrant colors than most matte screens, so they're great for viewing digital photos or watching movies, though they can suffer from annoying reflections in bright settings.

Vista compatibility. The next version of Microsoft Windows, called Vista, promises a new interface, enhanced security, and more--capabilities similar to those of OS X, the latest Macintosh operating system. Vista won't arrive for months, but most new laptops are already "Windows Vista Capable," meaning they meet the minimum specs to run it. Models called "Windows Vista Premium Ready PC" have enough additional oomph to run Aero, the Vista interface. (At press time, Microsoft hadn't yet released specs for Vista's higher-end interface, dubbed Aero Glass.)

Core Duo processors. Intel's Core Duo processor, which made its debut earlier this year, has quickly become dominant. This processor is designed to give laptops speed and power rivaling desktop systems while conserving battery life, a claim it lived up to in our tests. Intel's Core 2 Duo, promising still better performance, was due this summer. AMD recently introduced a Core Duo rival, the Turion 64 X2, which we'll test soon.

More ways to hook up. The flashcard readers on most new laptops (Macs being an exception) accept multiple card formats, making it easier to transfer photos from your camera. Wi-Fi, also called 802.11, is featured on almost all new laptops, enabling wireless networking and Web surfing. Bluetooth is showing up on some models, allowing wireless communication with cell phones and PDAs. Cell-phone modems on some laptops let you use a cell-phone network to connect to the Internet without Wi-Fi, routers, or phone jacks as long as your cell service is available. Webcams and microphones are handy for videoconferencing and for Internet phone services such as Skype. Enhanced entertainment features. Bigger, brighter screens and the surprisingly good speakers on some laptops are great for viewing movies or listening to music. You can watch "American Idol" live if you add a TV tuner, optional with some models or available from third-party suppliers. You'll be limited to standard-definition fare because laptops are designed for use with analog cable. There is a way to watch high-definition movies on a laptop, though: Buy a Sony laptop with a Blu-Ray drive or a Toshiba with an HD DVD drive. Two cautions: The screens have 1920x1200, or WUXGA, resolution for displaying full HD detail, so text is tiny. And the battle between these high-def DVD formats continues, so one of them could vanish (remember Betamax?).

HOW TO CHOOSE