Hi-Grade is a UK manufacturer known for offering the latest technology at affordable prices.

The Notino D2200SR (£798 inc. VAT) manages to pack a comprehensive specification into an ultraportable chassis, but performance fails to impress.

Lightweight laptop

This is a small and light laptop. It weighs just 1.9kg and is easy to carry in your hand luggage, but the glossy finish is prone to scratches and fingerprints. Unfortunately, the 149-minute battery life restricts long-term mobility.

Usability is excellent. The keyboard is large and the keys are firmly attached, so typing is comfortable. Some keys on the right-hand side have been cramped together to make room for the main keys, but rarely cause errors when speed-typing.

The 12.1-inch screen is quite small, but its 1280 x 800-pixel resolution ensures text is large enough for comfortable use. Colour and contrast are strong, but brightness is lower than some rivals. As a result, visibility can be limited in lighter conditions.

Lacklustre performance

Performance is disappointing, despite its 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 2048MB of memory.

Multi-tasking is still possible, however. It was only when running more than three programs simultaneously that we saw any serious drop in speed.

3D performance is equally low, but this is to be expected for such a small laptop. The integrated Intel graphics chip lets you edit digital photos and home videos, and play basic games, but it quickly struggles under anything more taxing.

Comprehensive storage

Storage is outstanding. The 250GB hard drive is only bettered by the 17-inch PC Nextday and won't be quickly filled.

A 7-in-1 media card reader provides access to the most common storage card formats, and the DVD rewriter lets you create your own CDs and DVDs.

Software is limited, but covers the essentials for home and office use. OpenOffice provides tools for word processing, spreadsheet use and creating your own presentations, while Nero lets you easily burn data to CD/DVD and create music and video discs.

Entry-level machine

A key selling point for many consumers is the two-year warranty that Hi-Grade provides. It covers all delivery costs, as well as fees for parts and labour, and gives great peace of mind. An extra year can also be added for £88 (inc. VAT).

The Hi-Grade Notino D2200SR has a lot to offer and, at this price, is an impressive entry-level ultraportable.

More demanding users will be disappointed by the lack of power and short battery life, but first-time buyers will love the freedom its compact size provides.