The addition of an HD-DVD-ROM puts this new P200 in a whole new class, and the implementation of the latest Centrino platform gives it a touch more power and battery life, too.

You're going to pay extra for the flamboyance of this notebook, but if you're willing to pay for it you won't be disappointed. The ASUS Lamborghini VX2s has plenty of power, good battery life and looks stunning.

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.

This card is an ideal investment for users who have, or are thinking of buying, an e-SATA-based hard drive to plug into their notebook computer. It fits into a 54mm wide ExpressCard slot and is simple to install and use.

This is a solid, feature-filled notebook. Thanks to its 3.5G module and battery life the Fujitsu Lifebook S6510 is a great option if you're out on the road a lot.

The Pavilion dv6000 is a bit like a supermodel; it's so gorgeous that you're willing to overlook any flaws just to get your hands on it. Thankfully, its catwalk stumbles are kept to a minimum -- an impressive piece of hardware.

The Portege R400 was already a sleek and stylish design with some useful features, but the increased speed of HSDPA 3G makes it all the more appealing.

The Toshiba Satellite A200 is a solid workhorse of a machine with plenty of processing power under its hood. Without question, it's the best A200 we have tested to date.

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.

The Alienware m9750 is without a doubt one of the most powerful and feature packed notebooks we've laid our hands on, but it comes at a hefty price. Unless you're bent on portability you'd be much better off buying a desktop system for half the price and with considerably more power. That said, if you've got your mind set on a notebook, you need the power and have the cash, then you'll enjoy the broad functionality and classic Alienware style of this machine.

The U3 offers HDMI and eSATA ports, integrated HSDPA and GPS and features a dual graphics setup. Whether or not you are willing to sacrifice an internal optical drive for these features will determine if this stylish ultraportable is for you.

The Y510-300 is a fairy decent all-purpose notebook suitable for those with a strong budget and an eye for design. With good connectivity and strong hardware performance, just make sure you use the D drive after purchase.