This unit's build quality is excellent and its size and weight (2.3kg without the power supply) make it an easy unit to carry to and from the office or the classroom. It's well worth considering if you want a shiny and well-performing mid-sized laptop.

The ATG should satisfy users who are after a well-performing, semi-rugged notebook, but more demanding users who are looking for a unit to use in a very dusty area might want something that has dust-protected ports and slots as well.

The 6930P's size makes it both comfortable to use, as well as easy to transport, and users who require a lot of running time away from an outlet will appreciate the option for a larger second battery. We don't particularly like its latch system, nor the prolonged set up time, and we wish HP would also implement 'Sleep-and-Charge'-like USB 2.0 ports.

The Toshiba Satellite Pro A300 is a unit that sits comfortably between the entry-level and mid-range notebook categories, featuring an excellent range of expansion ports and decent performance when balanced against its price tag. What lets it down is the dull design.

This is a powerful mid-range all-purpose notebook that is well worth looking at, as long as you can stand carting around a 3kg laptop.

With its high performance, great battery life and extensive multimedia capabilities, the 8005LMi will undoubtedly please those looking for portable performance.

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.

The Lenovo IdeaPad U330 is a device with lots going for it. Apart from the excellent keyboard, strong hardware and attractive design, the unit also has a great screen and a large variety of ports. Unfortunately, this quality is reflected in its high price tag.

This notebook ticks pretty much every box: style, speed, connectivity (including Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth and 802.11a/g/n Wi-Fi) and usability. It packs in plenty of business-friendly features, including a smartcard reader and a fingerprint scanner. It isn't cheap, but if you're after a business notebook and aren't in the market for an ultraportable the Latitude E6400 may well be worth it. Besides, Accounts will pay for it right?

Toshiba’s Qosmio F50 is ideal for multimedia, but it is also well suited as an all-purpose notebook. If you can live with the glossy display, there is plenty to like about this unit and it has performance to match its looks.

Although the Toshiba Satellite Pro P300 (PSPCDA-00L00D) is a fast system with Toshiba's noteworthy Sleep and Charge USB ports and plenty of hard drive space, the unattractive design and lack of features when compared to similarly priced units mean that you're better off looking elsewhere.