A worthy alternative to Toshiba's flagship G40, the Qosmio F40 is a well built and useful entertainment machine.

While it might not quite resurrect a dying breed, the A9 (PTS52A-00V00F) proves that big old-fashioned business notebooks still have a worthy place in the ultra-mobile world. Worth investing in.

This notebook isn't powerful, but it has many useful features and good build quality for its price. It's easy to use and well-suited to anyone who wants a portable computer for everyday tasks.

There's plenty of style to boast of here. The Verve, aptly named for its design, will turn heads, and it's a good performer too, if not at the top of the class.

It might not be fast, but it sure is affordable. At under $700, this 15.4in notebook is ideal for students, workers, anyone really, who wants a basic machine for perusing the Web and typing up documents, or even for viewing and storing digital photos.

Once again we are happy with Zepto's design and performance and are particularly impressed by the screen. There's nothing fancy to scream from the hills about, but the Znote 6625WD is a solid and powerful machine that will suit many needs.

The Acer Aspire 2920-302G25Mn is an ultraportable 're-imagining' of the all-purpose Gemstone series; offering a similar performance in a lightweight package. Provided you can overlook its garish interior, there's plenty to love about this little gem of a performer.

The screen may have a poor viewing angle, but the rest of this portable business option is pleasant to use. The LifeBook P8010 may not be as thin as some of its closest competitors but it's still a very portable unit.

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.

This notebook is suitable for anyone who wants an inexpensive dual-core machine for home, school or office use.

Apart from its redesigned lid, the BenQ Joybook S32B (BV14) is virtually indistinguishable from the the previous S32 iteration. It will suit both business and casual users looking for an affordable notebook for undemanding applications.

For the travelling business professional, theT2010's 3.5G and tablet features, spill-resistant keyboard and overall build quality are strengths. It performs everyday applications and handwriting well, but it's has a few quirks.