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.

Intel has been banging on about Centrino 2 lately, so it was good to finally get a chance to test the claims courtesy of a spanking new mid-range Centrino 2 M51 Va courtesy of ASUS.

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.

This notebook has been designed with classic Sony style: rounded edges, hidden IO inputs and a sleek widescreen footprint. From a connectivity point of view, this 'book has it all, boasting front-mounted Memory Stick Pro port, iLink 4-pin FireWire port and three USB ports.

While we wait with bated breath for the imminent (or was that eventual?) release of Microsoft Media Centre into Australia, the number of companies cashing in on the media functionality of next generation consumer electronics is growing quickly.

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

Still one of the best examples of laptop design in the market, but there are compromises

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

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

Despite some welcome additions and good components, this Acer notebook is left wanting.

A good, basic notebook that’s specifically designed with the accident-prone user in mind.

Amazingly good value for what you get: a fully-featured, dual-core, ergonomic notebook.

Dell's 6400 is a great value mid-range notebook with very few weaknesses. The support is the icing on the cake.

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

The screen isn't great, but everything else about this notebook is very good indeed.

Great looks, a good software bundle and hardware that almost completes the package.

An excellent mid-range laptop for work, but not fun.

Everybody, who hasn’t already got one, wants a decent laptop.