If you don’t mind your laptop attracting more attention than you, the HP DV5-1010TX_01 is a fast but heavy unit that comes with a built-in TV tuner and Blu-ray player for a reasonable price.

It may not be a powerful performer but it does the basics.

It looks good, has good processing power, and it's well-suited as a notebook for everyday tasks. However, it's not really a great unit for high-definition video endeavours, as it lacks a Full HD screen and a Blu-ray drive.

Sony's VAIO FZ17G is a great multimedia notebook which offers a HDMI output and couples it with solid performance and a nice array of features.

The VAIO VGN-UX17 is a revolutionary entry into the portable notebook space, offering a fully fledged Windows XP device that is small enough to fit into the palm of your hand. We'd like to see further developments, but it still should appeal to those looking for portability and full PC functionality.

The Toshiba Satellite A300 provides excellent processing power and a sleek design for a price that won't break the budget.

A good ultraportable, the U5F offers excellent battery life and solid performance wrapped up in a stylish and attractive package.

HP has done a nice job at creating a good all-round user experience with the Entertainment PC range and this machine is no exception. The performance is much better than the dv2000 family we've looked at earlier but the battery life could do with a boost.

The Pioneer Dreambook Light 822 is a great all-purpose notebook that will satisfy a wide variety of users.

Although it comes with a strong variety of connections and good screen performance, the Acer TravelMate 6592 (831G08Mn) is let down by a relatively small hard drive.

A desktop replacement notebook with good speed and some versatile connectivity features that's also comfortable to use.

The MacBook Air is a superbly crafted notebook, but this niche product isn't for everyone. Its lack of optical drive, FireWire and Ethernet ports deem it inadequate for power or everyday users. Regardless, it functions well as a secondary device for frequent travellers, or those who require basic, hassle-free computing.