Apple MacBook

But the MacBook isn't without some positive selling points. Even the top-end version is much better value for money than the MacBook Pro - build quality is comparable, the CPU is the same and, while you get a bigger screen, hard disk and a discrete graphics adapter with the MacBook Pro, just look at the saving - more than £750.

If you're going to buy an Apple laptop this year, the mid-specification model is the obvious one to go for. In terms of pure hardware, it's arguably as good a proposition as the winners in this month's Ultra-light notebooks group test and Sony's excellent SZ1M. The Sony is half a kilogram lighter and offers much better battery life, but costs significantly more, has half the RAM and a slower CPU than the MacBook. Just remember, though, you'll need to add £60 to the price for a full Windows CD. Even so, Apple's new consumer notebook is incredibly tempting.

Author: Dave Stevenson