For durability and stability and affordability and less hassle maintenance, I prefer TOSHIBA. For affordability and less hassle I prefer LG. HP dont have CD, you have to create for your own, I have lot of clients, friends end up downloading softwares/drivers in HP cause of such reason. Toshiba and LG have its own DVD OS/Recovery etc.

SONY is Best but affordable
MAC is the Best of the Best but you have to migrate to another world.

SAMSUNG - No idea
Fujitsu & Compaq - Heavy
ACER - Affordable and Not Stable but always have a better innovations.

I still prefer LAPTOP with XP drivers.