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.

The Fujitsu Lifebook U1010 3.5G is a great example of the increasingly popular ultra mobile PCs. It's easily held and is comfortable to use while also being extremely portable. If the size and weight weren't enough to get you excited then the addition of 3.5G HSDPA speeds of up to 7.2Mbps should help.

If you want some power under the hood but still need mobility this XPS from Dell is a great option. We're keen on the design and build as well as the features in tow.

The 901 is better than the 900, thanks to its faster CPU and networking features, but it's still small and will take some time getting used to. Nevertheless, the more you use it, the more you fall in love with it. It's great for taking it on the road with you, for working with office applications, and also watching videos.

A well-performing unit that succeeds in both style and substance, the HP dv6800 is a good device for most environments. Its relatively low battery life and lack of Gigabit Ethernet, and the fact that Blu-ray movies overscan at 1080p are the only negatives and these are minor points.

The Flybook VM's lifting screen is very useful and the unit is comfortable to use overall. It has enough power for typical office applications and even Photoshop, and its screen produced rich colours. We wish it had at least one more USB port and an SD card reader. Apart from that, we think this is a great choice for anyone after a comfortable ultraportable unit.

For users wanting a home entertainment centre or a powerful desktop replacement to work with, the dv9800 is a very strong contender.

It has been out for a while now, but the original Eee PC is still great value and one of the best super-portable laptops on the market.

Even if you've never used Linux before, the Linux version of the Eee PC 900 is worth considering. It's more expensive than the Windows XP version, but it does have a larger internal storage capacity, and we feel that it's easier to use.

There's a lot to this notebook, and while it works great for the most part, it could still use a little refinement, especially with regards to its video input ports. Overall though, it's a great media centre notebook and it does have tremendous storage capacity.

This Acer notebook is worth considering if you need a 64-bit processor and plan to move to Windows Vista in the near future. The superior build quality is also a plus.

The Acer Aspire Gemstone 5920G (602G25Hn) is a solid performer with plenty of power beneath its hood. It should suit everybody with the exception of hardcore gamers.