Sony VAIO VGX-XL202

There's a lot to like about this system: WLAN, infrared and RF receiver are all integrated into the design, not clumsy add-ons; the bundled wireless keyboard and touchpad is highly practical; and you even get a great software bundle. Ultimately, though, there's little reason to splash out on Blu-ray yet, and certainly not at this price. If you're keen on the looks, the XL201, which settles for a humble DVD writer, 250GB hard disk and slightly slower Core 2 Duo E6300, sells for £999 inc VAT, albeit still with the single TV tuner.

Author: Ross Burridge