Sony's BZ-range is aimed at the corporate user, and the BZ11MN is an affordable, comfortable and attractive laptop. You'll find similar styling aspects to those found on the more expensive VAIO models – such as the cylindrical hinge and green LED ...

The 15.4-inch screen is the best in the group. It lacks the glossy Super-TFT coating found on its rivals – so it's a much better choice for those working on the move in direct sunlight. Colours proved equally vivid and lifelike, and this machine is ...

PC Nextday sells machines that offer excellent value for money, offering something to suit most budgets. The PC Nextday Zoostorm 82-5605 may not be the most exciting machine here, but it is one of the most powerful.

As with three of the other laptops, you'll find a 15.4-inch Super-TFT display in place. Image quality is similar to most of its rivals, with good colour reproduction. Movies looked impressive and there's enough space onscreen to work with a couple of ...

With a conservative design, comfortable interface and capable multimedia abilities, the Fujitsu Siemens (FSC) Amilo Pi 3540 is suitable for both business users and regular consumers alike. Colour and contrast on the 15.4-inch screen are good, with ...

Colour and contrast on the 15.4-inch screen are good, with lifelike images that make photo editing or watching movies a joy. The glossy Super-TFT coating results in reflections in brighter conditions, but we never found it problematic

The Asus N80VC is the second N-series laptop we've seen from the Taiwanese company – the first being the N10 (see issue 117). However, while the first version was a small and compact netbook, this is a fully fledged and fully specified laptop. You'll ...

You'll find similar styling across the range, with glossy brown and black plastic used, and the overall effect is simple but attractive

The HP 550 is an update of the older 530 model that has won a number of awards in What Laptop over the past twelve months. This model maintains the basic design of the older model, but changes have been made to the keyboard, as well as to the base ...

The design of the HP 550 is simple, but perfectly practical. Made from tough plastic, it has a smooth finish that feels great to the touch. With plenty of protection behind the screen and to the base of the unit, it will certainly survive being ...

Asus is better known for its more expensive laptops, but its X range targets the entry-level user. The Asus X58C sports a 15.4-inch Super-TFT screen, DVD rewriter optical drive and sufficient power for basic tasks. The design is simple. It's a black ...

The design is simple. It's a black plastic box with little or no ornamentation, but Asus has added a hint of style with a checker design to the lid and palm rests, which certainly lifts it above the ordinary

Advent is the in-store brand of PC World, so you'll only find this line on offer in its shops and online. The Advent 5421 is the entry-level model and offers all the basic features you need to get mobile, including a reasonable weight and sufficient ...

The design is a mix of basic and neat design touches. For instance, there is a glossy lid that has a wave design that is mirrored on the palm rests by ridged matt plastic. However, the underlying black and silver finish is rather businesslike

Early this year, Acer bought Packard Bell Computers and, as a result, also gained the eMachine brand. Acer is now using this name for its basic, entry-level models. The Acer eMachine E510 is the first such machine we've tested and it certainly ...

The chassis is made from rather basic plastic that has a rough finish to it and doesn't feel tactile at all. However, it adds plenty of protection to the body and, more importantly, to the back of the screen

Earlier this year, Toshiba released its Portégé R500 ultraportable to great reviews. It has now upgraded the range with the R600 and, although performance and battery life aren't the best we've seen, this is a fantastic ultraportable for the frequent ...

The ultra-thin 4mm screen panel also has a large amount of flexibility to prevent cracking under pressure. Usability is great and the keyboard is one of the best we've seen to-date. The use of a low voltage CPU keeps the chassis cool, but provides ...

The news is finally out, and Apple has launched a range of new aluminium laptops under its consumer MacBook and professional MacBook Pro brands. Following a meeting this afternoon at the Apple office in London, we've got our hands on the 15-inch ...

The rumours of the new design featuring a body cut from a single piece of aluminium are true, and the new metal casing adds a great deal of style to both ranges. It also makes the laptop far more recyclable, as does the glass screen, and Apple looks ...