ACi Centurion

If there's one slight disappointment, it has to be the screen, but only in comparison with the superb TFTs in the Dell Inspiron 8500 and the Toshiba Tecra M1. The Centurion doesn't have the brightness or expansive viewing angles (particularly vertically) of the Dell or Toshiba, but it's certainly comparable with the Acer TravelMate 800, and it offers a 15.1in diagonal and a high 1,400 x 1,050 resolution.

If the Acer TravelMate 800's new price of £1,399 is out of your league, the ACi Centurion is the ideal cheaper alternative. Its 3D performance is superb, its battery life is almost the same as the Acer's and its 2D performance, while not quite as quick, is among the fastest we've seen. With better build quality, battery life and 2D performance than the Dell, and an identical one-year collect-and-return warranty, plus a lifetime of labour and technical support, this Centrino notebook offers a great feature set and fast performance for a superb price.

Author: Ben Hardwidge