Word of mouth has served me well, but you absolutely have to get your hands on a laptop you're eyeing, if only to test things like overall feel, keyboard, etc.

Word of mouth has served me well, but you absolutely have to get your hands on a laptop you're eyeing, if only to test things like overall feel, keyboard, etc. No matter how much you read up on a machine, it doesn't compare to getting a feel in the flesh :) Otherwise there are innumerable reputable sources for info on the internet -- wirecutter, HN, MobileTechReview just to name a few. Good luck!