Notebooks from cyberpowerpc and ibuypower have generally looked good to me. I've never read any CNet reviews or anything like that on them, might want to check that out.
If you're looking for a low-end to mid-range lappy I would suggest Compaq, they are pretty good for the money. Same stuff as HP but at a lower price. If you need something higher end I would look into ABS. They have great prices and you can also buy many great models through Newegg.