Lab

Vista notebooks - £1,000+ notebooks

The wait is finally over. If you've put off buying a new laptop until the launch of Vista, now's the time to make your choice. And there's no messing about with a voucher to upgrade from Windows XP, since all 22 notebooks on test come with Vista pre-installed and are ready to go.

We've split contenders into four groups: sub-£500, sub-£700, sub-£1,000 and £1,000+. So, there's something to suit every budget, and it's easy to compare the models at each price.

Naturally, you get what you pay for, and the high-end machines are better specified than the cheapest. While most of the laptops come with Vista Home Premium or Ultimate, several in the sub-£500 group have Home Basic. This lacks features compared to the other versions, but remains a good choice for undemanding users - and saves you money, too.

Surprisingly, there are 17in models from £699, which is ideal if you're after a desktop-replacement notebook on a budget. With Media Center Edition integrated into both Home Premium and Ultimate editions of Vista, notebooks with either version are capable of showing off your photos, giving you easy access to your music and allowing you to watch DVDs. A few even boast TV tuners, so you can watch and record shows.

A few models are aimed more at the home office than at entertainment, so if you're looking to get some work done - and keep your data secure - you'll find the ideal match too. We've also rigorously tested every notebook for battery life and performance.