This notebook has its problems and wont suit everyone, but its performances its still worthy.

If you can't fork out the extra $500 for the fully featured ASUS F8Va and still want decent performance in an attractive design then the BenQ Joybook S42-PE01 is worth looking at. It might not have all the bells and whistles, but for this price point it certainly has a lot.

Although there's a notable premium on the solid-state hard drive and ultra-portables don't often come cheap anyway, this is a good little buy. It's got enough power to handle the most basic tasks and its implementation of flash memory should please those wanting to be on the cutting edge.

Acer's TravelMate C312XMi is a great device if you're after a notebook first and tablet PC second. The relatively low screen resolution impedes its handwriting recognition.

Unfortunately there is no microphone, and the specs are a bit weak where it matters.

An ultralight tablet PC that is a little weak on character recognition, and too high on price.

A well priced notebook that should do the job and do it quite well – even if it is graphics intensive.

While it could be a little sturdier, the abundance of connectivity options and the $2299 price make it a sensible purchase for anyone looking for a large, strong performing notebook.

If you are in the market for a good all-round notebook, the Fujistu E8210S will suit your needs.

The Lenovo ThinkPad T61 is a solid nugget of a machine with a good deal of power under the hood and will keep things running smooth under most conditions. Although it lacks the draft-n Wi-Fi connectivity it still boasts the speed of the new Santa Rosa platform.

For style and performance in a business machine, the LG E500 is a great option. It scored well in our benchmarks, including the battery test and includes some useful features.

Acer's Aspire 4920G is a good all purpose notebook. It doesn't excel at any one thing, but for users wanting a little gaming, movie watching and general desktop PC activities, crammed into a stylish package, it is a strong contender.