Labs

Sony's VAIO laptops are renowned for their good looks, and although the FZ11M isn't the cream of the crop, its two-tone casing makes it probably the most attractive model here. This attention to design is more than skin-deep: the keyboard is responsive and positive, and most keys are a good size. The 15.4-inch screen was the brightest and most colourful we saw this month, and if this is the size you want it's about the best you'll get.

The Sony's Core 2 Duo T7100 processor isn't exceptionally powerful compared to the competition,

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but coupled with 2GB of RAM it still achieved a benchmark score of 135%, which is plenty for most applications. It doesn't have enough graphical grunt for today's 3D games, though.

One unique feature is Sony's 'AV mode', which lets you use the laptop as a CD or DVD player without starting up Windows. With both S-video and HDMI outputs, you can hook it up to either a standard TV or a high-definition display. It's also one of only three laptops here to have Bluetooth connectivity built in.

The battery is a weak point: while several of its rivals approached three hours of light usage, the Sony barely passed two. It did give the second-best DVD playback time, losing out only to the Samsung, and its hour and 48 minutes could get you through a whole film. Recharge time was slow, though, with only the incredibly sluggish Fujitsu taking longer.

Still, if battery life isn't a priority the Sony has a lot to recommend it: it's lovely to look at, a pleasure to use, and performs well. The only question is whether it's really worth £850, given what the competition achieves for a lot less.