Dell Inspiron 8100 1130UT

Running at 1.4V and below, we hoped to see the 0.13 micron product's promise of lower power consumption borne out, and this was reflected in our strenuous battery tests. With SpeedStep enabled, the 1130UT died after 119 minutes, translating to two and half hours under normal use. However, Toshiba's Satellite 3000 (see Reviews, p135) edges ahead of the 1130UT, lasting an incredible 151 minutes in our test, and still provides a full feature set.

If battery life is your main focus then you should consider Toshiba's Satellite 3000. In all other respects, bar its hefty size and weight, Dell's Inspiron 8100 1130UT is currently the fastest and most feature-packed notebook, with a reasonable price of £1,999 plus £49 for delivery, and also a one-year European collect-and-return warranty. Add this all up, and the Dell is pushed straight on to PC Pro's A List as the best fully featured notebook.

Author: Ian Robson