REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 22, 2011 — Thin, light, fast and powerful — whatever you’re looking for, PC makers are delivering some amazing innovation this year. From ultrathin laptops to exciting new slate designs, 2011 might be one of the best years yet when it comes to cool new hardware.

With such a wide range of choices, how do you find the perfect PC that will fit the bill long after the presents are unwrapped? A person’s interests, lifestyle and budget all play a role of course, but so do capabilities such as mobility, entertainment, usability and, yes, productivity.

To help consumers with their holiday gift research and to provide a better understanding of which PC they should consider this year, we’ve collected a number of the top devices available from the leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) into the following slideshow:

Great Gift Choices for the Holidays

18

Sony VAIO SA

Sony’s latest premium, ultrathin laptop is thinner and lighter than the SB series but packs a real performance punch with a sleek look and feel. Equipped standard with the latest Intel Core i5 processor, the SA is highly customizable with options including a 1TB solid-state drive, a Blu-ray burner and built-in mobile broadband.

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Dell Inspiron One 2320

With a brilliant 23-inch 1080p display and an HD webcam, Dell’s new all-in-one PC comes ready for games, movies, video chat and more. As an option, the display can also be touch-enabled, providing even more flexibility and ease of use.

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Samsung Series 7 All-in-One PC

The <a href="http://global.samsungtomorrow.com/?p=6822" target="_blank">Samsung Series 7 All-in-One PC</a> redefines the desktop PC. Touch-enabled, the brilliant, 16mm-thick, 23-inch LED display tilts to create a horizontal interface for gaming, art and design projects. With the Intel Core i3 or i5 processor and Windows 7 Home Premium, this PC for work and play starts at $999.

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Toshiba Qosmio X775-3DV78

With an Intel Core i7-2530M processor, copious memory (8 GB), an Nvidia GeForce GTX 560M graphics processor and 500 GB of storage, Toshiba’s Qosmio laptop is a real thoroughbred that can run with the best of them. Great for games, movies and anything else you can throw at it. Available in array of colors, the one-piece magnesium-aluminum cover is both strong and beautiful. The smooth glass touch pad and textured palm rests give it a sophisticated feel, making it perfect for the tech-savvy and style-conscious alike.

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HP TouchSmart 620-1080 3D

HP’s new entertainment all-in-one provides the ultimate 3-D PC experience with a large, 23–inch, 3-D display that swivels up to 180 degrees and reclines up to 60 degrees. Built to keep your family and friends connected, the TouchSmart 620-1080 3D offers a built-in 3-D webcam, allowing for 3-D photo and video creation, and the TriDef 3D Ignition game player enables your family to enjoy playing their favorite games in 3-D.

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Lenovo IdeaPad U260

For fans of form and function, Lenovo’s new IdeaPad offers the best of both. A truly unique PC, the Lenovo IdeaPad U260 looks like a leather-bound book but opens up to a great PC. This machine is ultra-light (weighing less than 3 pounds) and has all the power you need to be productive.

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ASUS Zenbook UX21

ASUS has made a stylish, ultra-thin, light PC that provides you with great performance and remarkable productivity. With a flushed trackpad and metal keys, the UX21 manages to squeeze durability, power and class into a small package. With an all-aluminum, lightweight chassis and a powerful Intel i5/i7 processor, it makes a beautiful gift for anyone this year.

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Acer Aspire S3

Just arriving on the market last month, Acer’s Aspire S3 is an ultralight laptop that weighs in at less than three pounds, yet offers a 13-inch display and a battery boasting 50 days of standby time, making it great for students and mobile workers with its lightweight feel and cool styling.

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