The cheapest way to get OS X, but it has all of the MacBook Pro’s shortcomings and more of its own

Asus's model may not look like the bee's knees, but if you're after features, it's worth a look

It’s not the most powerful, but its games performance and features help the Toshiba A350 stand out in the price bracket for mid-price laptops

Smells like green spirit, and offers performance at a budget price. The ASUS F6V Green is a laptop with something a little different

MSI's Prestige laptop comes with a whole bunch of goodies: how does a wireless mouse, 4GB USB key, leather carrybag and leather stitched lid sound, for starters? And that's before you look under the lid.

In a world filled with gorgeous Sony, Apple and even Dell laptops, a sober, matte black machine aimed at consumers has to be truly special to turn heads. The IdeaPad Y430 is a well-built Centrino 2 machine that lacks nothing in the way of features, speed or value

Designed to sit between the low-end Inspiron and high-end XPS families, it comes in 15in and 17in flavours and its target audience could be pretty much anyone: few laptops are as customisable as this.

Despite some odd feature choices, this is an affordable powerhouse of a laptop. A great value mid-range Centrino 2 laptop, as long as you're not worried about battery life.

Form and function meet in the middle in one supremely well-made package

Like Volvos of old, Lenovo was a solid, reliable and unexciting name. Up until now. The business-masters have turned out a very desirable, stylish and powerful laptop.

A blisteringly fast processor, strong build and stylish design make this an extremely attractive laptop

Solid, but not flashy. However, a great price and decent battery life give it an edge.

An inexpensive laptop that, when it comes to style and quality, more than punches above its weight

A superb package for the price, with plenty of power. Only the unambitious battery life lets it down.

The new model in Benq's V series may just be an evolution, but under the skin there's a power revolution.

Great ergonomics are let down by a few mediocre components and limited portability. But some features will tempt many.

A new Core2 Duo based laptop has found its way into the labs, and from the outset, we like it.

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

Core 2 Duo laptops are on the way to the top.

The sweet taste of AM2, in the form of an ultraportable powerhouse.