Labs

Samsung's R70 is the cheapest model on test, and although you can see where a few of the economies have been made, it's an appealing little package, with a core specification that's modest but not mean.

The R70 uses the same T7100 processor as Sony's FZ11M. Its lower benchmark score can be put down to the meagre 1GB of memory, which is acceptable for everyday use but not quite enough to let Windows Vista get into its full stride. The 120GB hard disk equals the pricier Sony, too, and will be plenty for most users, as long as you don't want

Battery performance was good, with a relatively long life under light use and a short recharge cycle. Most impressively, DVD playback (which drains the battery more than usual due to the moving parts involved) held out for more than two hours, the best on test, so you could finish a movie between mains sockets.

Unsurprisingly at this price, there aren't many bells and whistles. There's no S-video output for high-quality TV display (though HDMI is provided for the latest digital sets), no FireWire to connect your MiniDV camcorder, and no unique features like the Fujitsu's remote control or Sony's AV mode. 3D gaming is barely possible, courtesy of a merely average graphics chipset, and the whole unit isn't notably compact, lightweight or attractive.

Yet the R70 is a pleasure to use, thanks to a solid, well laid-out keyboard, a responsive trackpad and a screen that's clear and bright, even if the colours seem a little muted. If you're looking for a 15.4-inch laptop with better than basic performance, it's a tempting deal for nearly £200 less than the Sony.