The overall build quality, decent feature-set and low price of the Satellite L300 make it a great choice for anyone after a new notebook for the classroom, office or home.

The HP 2133 Mini-Note PC (FJ100PA) is designed to be a true ultraportable device, sturdy enough to take some knocks and light enough for everyday use. Business users will appreciate the connectivity and networking options. When compared in terms of specifications, performance and value of the FH441PA model it doesn’t shine as brightly.

Although the unit lacks the speed seen in other dual-core systems, it is one of the best notebooks available for under $1000. If you are on a tight budget, this unit should be high on the must-see list.

If you don't need to run the latest games and you aren't after a notebook to be the heart of your home entertainment setup, then the Toshiba Satellite L300/L02 is a decent choice. It won't excite you with its specs, impress you with its size or wow you with its design, but it performs well enough at basic tasks and it's hard to go wrong at this price — especially once you take into account Toshiba's cash-back offer.

It's small, affordable and easy to use. Business users will appreciate the fast networking options and the ExpressCard slot. Travellers and students will love its large hard drive capacity and the fact that it's compact but still easy to use.

The Compaq Presario M2000 is a well-rounded home laptop for users who don't care about sleek looks.