The netbook is a fantastic all-round travel companion with very few flaws

While Toshiba's Satellite range comprises its consumer laptops, the Satellite R630-141 (£764 inc. VAT) takes its design entirely from Toshiba's corporate Portégé R700 line. Offering high-powered mobility, it is an absolutely fantastic choice for the frequent traveller.

Sony's VAIO E-Series has been very popular of late, offering a range of high-quality yet affordable machines that are ideal for home use. The VAIO VPCEC3S0E/WI (£919 inc. VAT) is a big-screen model aimed at those seeking a stylish desktop replacement.

Although HP primarily sells consumer laptops through its Pavilion range, its Envy line offers a high-end alternative for those with a bigger budget.

Despite the rise of tablet devices, the netbook market still charges on. The Acer Aspire One D255-N55QDrr (£286 inc. VAT) is one of the latest and, with manufacturers looking to set their products apart from the rest, runs the smartphone-centric Android (2.1) operating system (OS), as well as Windows 7.

Adding to Asus' comprehensive range of high-end laptops, the U53Jc (£899 inc. VAT) is a powerhouse portable with a twist.

Samsung's new thin and light is curvier than most, but can it marry performance and stamina with those seductive looks?

It's a desktop replacement that could replace your desk

A great-value gaming laptop with a strong design and surprising portability

An impressive specification from this highly usable multimedia laptop

This big-screen 3D laptop is a highly desirable entertainment machine

A well-built big-screen laptop with few flaws, but struggles to compete with some rivals

A laptop that's easy to recommend, with great power, performance and usability

A decent-priced ultraportable for those after entry-level performance

A winning combination of portability and power, but slightly lacking in usability

A compact and well-specified budget laptop that delivers surprising versatility

A decent specification, but let down by average usability and a limited battery life

Since Asus pioneered the humble netbook around three years ago, its Eee PC range has faced fierce competition from almost every other laptop manufacturer out there. From Packard Bell's Dot machines to MSI's Wind series, there's a mind-exploding variety of netbooks to choose from.

A strikingly designed, high-powered 3D laptop, but it's not without some notable flaws

A very portable Android-based laptop, but a bit of a missed opportunity

Great battery life and strong usability from this sleek, dual-core netbook

A stylish ultraportable that offers eye-catching mobility at a reasonable price

An affordable 3D Vision laptop, but it's clear the technology is still in its infancy

Great build quality, but performance and battery life are unfortunately limited

Although an excellent technological achievement, the MacBook Air has previously struggled to find its niche in the Apple notebook range. It was too expensive to compete with the low-end MacBook, and not powerful enough to replace the higher-specced MacBook Pros. It was light, beautiful and desirable, but unnecessary.