The first time PC Authority got to take a look at a Twinhead notebook system (the Slimnote VX, Labs tested issue 20, p59) was back in July's test of budget notebook computers.

The Twinhead Efio is a mixed beast. It has some very good features, such as an all-magnesium casing and ATI Mobility 9700, but it also has some middling features, like a relatively slow 1.8GHz Intel processor and 4:3 screen. The unit is well made and well set out however.

Small, powerful and relatively cheap. This baby notebook is an ideal travel companion.

The Twinhead Efio! 2B18 PTK gives the impression of a modern, sporty and sleek notebook. It’s powered by a Pentium 4-M processor running at 1.8GHz, and carries 384MB memory and a 40GB hard drive.

While the $2500 price ceiling means you're usually picking up larger form factored notebooks with an average 15in display, some manufacturers like Apple and Twinhead have put together smaller ultra portable 12 inch models for those who value size over all else.

Even if the Twinhead Efio! 2003CTZ couldn't hold its own with the big boys here when we benchmarked it, we were highly impressed with the unit's features and pricing, which countered its relatively low performance and rocketed it into the top three in the Labs.

If the Efio 2617 looks familiar, it-s because it is almost identical to the Hi-Grade Notino R5400 (December 2002, page 49).

A year ago you would have been laughed at for dreaming of a notebook clocking in at 1GHz. But the 1GHz mobile processor duly arrived midyear, leaving us pondering what the next step was.

Built around the same notebook housing as the Emagen Zephyra XT, this attractive high shine lid is one of the better looking notebook covers we've seen, making this product appear out of its price range.

The second of three notebooks with identical bodies, designs, and almost identical specifications, the Targa Visionary 4E proved to be a powerhouse when it come to the PC Authority benchmark suite, ripping through SYSmark2002 and 3DMark2001SE Pro with ease.

With a price beaten only by Apple's iBook, Targa's offering to the multimedia market segment could easily be confused for their budget line of products. Clocking in at only 1.5GHz, this isn't the beefiest CPU in our roundup, but the 64MB of dedicated video memory, based on ATIs Mobility RADEON 9600 generation GPU, helped carry it through.

Coming in under our stringent pricing scheme, ASUS bettered it by $50 and managed to include some great hardware and features unavailable in some of the more expensive units.

The iBook represents the budget- end of Apple's notebook range. Its sturdy white lid, and solid base give it a quality feel, and it even manages to come in at only 2.5kg, including power pack.