If speed and features aren’t priorities for a desktop-replacement laptop, then turn your attention to the Toshiba P200. For only $1525, it offers a 17in screen with a resolution of 1440 x 900 and a large keyboard plus numeric keypad. There’s also a built-in webcam and microphone for video conversations, and a dual-layer DVD writer that supports DVD-RAM.

And aside from the glowing Satellite logo, it’s relatively stylish thanks to a glossy black lid and silver keyboard. The 120GB hard disk is sufficient and will provide enough storage for all but those with huge video collections.

There’s a media card reader for SD, xD-Picture and Memory Stick cards at the front, along with a volume control and an on/off switch for Wi-Fi. Four USB ports are par for the course, and there’s an ExpressCard/54 slot, mini-FireWire and both VGA and S-Video outputs.

However, compromises are inevitable at this price. The P200 is the only laptop here to use an Intel Pentium Dual-Core CPU – a T2080 running at 1.73GHz – and that put it firmly at the bottom of the pile with a score of 0.56 in our 2D application benchmarks. Plus, sporting only an integrated Intel GMA 900 graphics chip, it refused to run our Call of Duty 2 test at all.

Although Vista Home Premium is installed, there’s no TV tuner or S/PDIF output, but this is to be expected considering the price. The good news is that the P200’s speakers are among the best here, and are more than loud enough to fill a small room when you’re watching videos.

Another benefit is that, at 3.4kg, it’s the lightest laptop here. Battery life isn’t awful, either – it lasted for 2hrs 12mins with light use. Toshiba offers a year of collect-and-return warranty cover as well.

If you plan to run only basic office applications and aren’t fazed by the absence of features such as Gigabit Ethernet and HDMI, the P200 could be exactly what you’re looking for.