Powerful laptops have to be big, bulky and ugly, right? Not necessarily. Samsung's new line of laptops is proving that portability, style and performance are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

The Samsung X10 Plus is a svelte unit built from a tough magnesium-alloy casing. It's also very light -- even with the largest battery attached it still only weighs 2.1kg. Apple's influence on the laptop market is evident in the construction of the Samsung, with its clean silver lines and a power supply that is almost identical to the iBook's. The keyboard has a good action and the trackpad too, and it also includes a handy, notched scroll wheel.

There's sufficient I/O ports well placed at the left of the unit, and the laptop also has the provision of a MemoryStick slot. The software bundle is a little light, but Microsoft Office 2003 Student and Teacher Edition should provide sufficient scope.

It's a decent performer, too, which is largely attributed to its stellar battery life, which comes in at remarkable five hours. And with a spare battery in tow, you needn't worry about running out of puff if you're away from the mains all day.

Overall, the Samsung X10 Plus is a well rounded notebook, representing a seamless blend of ease of use, performance and style. It is only the first of Samsung's new line to reach the country, we look forward to testing its brethren as they hit the shelves throughout the year.