Our notebook Labs wouldn't be complete without looking at what Apple had on offer, and the iBook series has always been an impressive value option of students. Not only is the iBook the cheapest notebook on show, it also features one of, if not the best, software bundles here.

Apple and style are synonymous and the rounded lines and gloss white plastic chassis add to its durability and looks. Its slot-mounting combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW means there are no moving parts to break off in accidents, and serve to provide additional storage space should the comparatively small 30GB hard disk not be enough room for your files.

As always though, Apple's strength lies in its bundled extras. The 12in iBook ships with AirPort Extreme 802.11b/g wireless, a swag of useful software in the iLife '04 package (iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and GarageBand), AppleWorks, Quicken 2005 and a 30-day trial of Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac.

While we couldn't benchmark the notebook in the same method as our other Windows based machines we were able to ascertain an approximate battery running time, leaving a looping QuickTime movie playing from full charge to empty in 197 minutes, or around 3 hours and 20 minutes. This places the iBook's battery up there with the best of them.

On the flip side, it's still hard to feel a good sense of value for money given that the unit has only a 1.2GHz PowerPC G4 processor and 256MB of RAM. This is assuaged by the knowledge that potential customers can customise the system by doubling the RAM, adding up to an 80GB hard disk and including a Bluetooth module for about $400 more.

For those after the shift to the Apple alternative the advantages are many and the price could well be right for students on a budget.