If a lightweight laptop with lots of connections and entertainment options galore is what you're after, the dv1000 is a great solution.

This business machine offers all that a business user on the road could ask for, and will happy replace a desktop PC at the office. The Centrino Pro and Santa Rosa features give it an advantage over older models and it performed well in our battery tests.

With its light weight, long battery life, and easy-to-read screen, the Compaq Presario V2000 might be the perfect wide-screen laptop, especially for road warriors.

A handsome design and quick-launch presentation button make this wide-screen notebook a great fit for business travellers.

If you need a notebook that will last for four hours while on the road, and double as a media centre once you get back to base, then look no further.

ThinkPad X300 is not a cheap notebook, but it only costs the sum of the components it offers, so you're getting what you pay for. The SSD and 3G features make this a great road warrior, and Lenovo's ThinkPad design leaves us confident it will take a few knocks.

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.

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

Apple's entry-level laptop is a well-designed winner.

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.

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 ASUS X55SV-AS081C has an excellent range of ports and networking connections and doesn't cost the world. If you can stand the drab design and can't spend more than $1800, this notebook should be seriously considered.