With an 18.4in high-definition screen, a 5.1 speaker configuration, a digital TV tuner and a Blu-ray player built-in, the Gemstone Blue is almost like a complete home theatre setup. It's fairly easy to use and it's a good performer, so it's a good choice for anyone after a desktop replacement.

Once you get over the fact that you could buy several PCs at this price, the Alienware Area-51 m15x-R1 is an extremely capable desktop replacement for the keen gamer.

The overall build quality, decent feature-set and low price of the Satellite L300 make it a great choice for anyone after a new notebook for the classroom, office or home.

For mobile professionals who want to forget they're even carrying a tablet-convertible notebook, the P1620 is a valid candidate. It's not perfect, but it has enough features to be a useful office productivity tool while on the road.

The Versa P7300 (2100DR) is a solid entry into the all-purpose notebook market, especially if you're not into gaming. While slightly let down by its graphics performance, it offers plenty of functionality for the price.

Despite lacking the latest and fastest networking options, the Dell Inspiron 1525's chic design and HDMI output make this a good choice for the home user.

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.

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.

Despite returning slower results on our benchmarks than we'd like from a desktop replacement, the low cost and large screen make this unit very good value.

The NEC Versa P8310-2402DR is an appealing choice for users who want an attractive and well-performing notebook. While it suffers from usability issues, such as a slightly cramped keyboard and a screen that can be excessively reflective, the benefits largely outweigh the negatives.

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.

If you already own a MacBook Pro, there is little reason to upgrade. For the rest of us, Apple's power notebook is a fine machine on the whole.