Another big name brand PC gets a cutting-edge, all-format, high-def optical drive capable of playing Blu-ray and HD DVD.

We detest IT’s spider-web-wire-syndrome and speakers are the worst offenders with their several kilometres of wiring.

The Inspiron 630m is Dell’s first 14-inch widescreen notebook.

We’re fans of ViewSonic’s stands.

Great quality, great features, great price.

An expensive and unusually poor Sony product.

We didn’t think that speakers this small could produce decent sound, but we’re happily wrong.

The look of Altech's offering split the office. Some liked the glossy black lid and silver and matte black insides, while others thought it too lumpy: the battery sticks out, it has protruding feet which dig into your lap and the sides that aren't flat or symmetrical. But aesthetics aside, it's a solidly built notebook.

ViewSonic's VX924 panel has one of the lowest quoted response time yet, at 4ms.

Good value, but it needs to decide whether it’s a business or consumer notebook.

Looks and feels good, but performance is more super Aguri than Scuderia.

A fast, quiet, good-looking PC that's great value.

Very fast for some applications, but poor gaming performance and strong competition reduces its appeal.

A poor performer in the face of HP’s similarly-priced, touch screen-enabled rival.

The most fully-featured notebook we’ve seen, but price will determine just how desirable this stylish notebook really is.

A very well-built ultraportable that’s great value, but a bit too small.

A decent multimedia notebook, but it’s not exciting enough for the price.

Very powerful and, with few features missing, it’s good value at the price.

Good features for the price. It’s just not very exciting.