HP Compaq nx9420

Rounding off the nx9420's specifications are Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g wireless, Bluetooth and a LightScribe DVD rewriter. Along the top of the keyboard are quick-launch buttons for HP's setup software, as well as a presentation button, which when pressed launches an application of your choice (such as PowerPoint), as well as outputting the onscreen image to a projector or external monitor. Some of these are only minor touches, but they all add up to a laptop that makes finding the fastest way to perform a task a very intuitive process.

The only problem with the nx9420 is that it's almost too well specified. At £1,499, it's expensive, and it's worth considering whether you need to pay the premium for all these top-end components. The one-year warranty is another concern at this price. But if you can justify the outlay, it's a superbly built and well-specified notebook that will do virtually anything you ask of it.

Author: Dave Stevenson