Netbook HP Mini 5102
RRP$1195
Netbook PCs are designed to give you all the good bits of a notebook PC (such as portability) without the bulk or hefty sticker price.
Unfortunately, many netbooks are a poor trade-off between price and quality, with many feeling more like Tupperware than a notebook.
HP's design wonks have taken this issue to heart with the Mini 5102, which manages the rare feat of being stylish and extremely well-built.
The 320GB Mini 5102 might not have a consumer friendly name, but it does cram a lot of performance into its petite metal-finish case (which can be had in black, red or blue) with a surprisingly comfy keyboard and trackpad.
Thanks to its Intel Atom N450 CPU, the 5102 - with 4GB of RAM - runs on the digital equivalent of the smell of an oily rag, delivering up to 10 hours of life from a single charge.
Connectivity-wise, the Mini 5102 sports all the usual goodies.
On its left, there is a VGA port (handy for connecting a projector or external screen) and two USB 2.0 ports.
On the right, there is an Ethernet port, a third USB 2.0 port, headphone and microphone sockets plus an SD/MMC Card slot (which is useful for transferring photos off digital cameras), and a Kensington lock.
Its 2.0-megapixel screen bezel-integrated webcam also performed well when paired with Skype.
The 5102's 10.1" LED-backlit screen hinted at its rock-solid build by not flexing when opened, and offered up a usable 1024 x 600 resolution.
Just as impressive are the speakers, which managed to belt out a surprising amount of sound.
While most netbook speakers are at best feeble, the 5102's front-firing speakers easily filled a small room with passable audio.
Last, but by no means least, the 5102 also runs Windows 7, which felt way snappier than Windows XP.
About the only thing missing is an optical drive, but then the 5102 is a netbook so that's only to be expected.
Accessories
Transporting any netbook requires a decent bag, and STM's XS Micro (RRP$69.99) is attractive and designed for netbooks with up to 10.1" sized screens.
Looks aside, it's a practical beast, featuring padding to protect netbooks, a swivel shoulder strap and a tuck away handle/removable shoulder strap, plus storage for other bits and bobs.
The HP 5102 may have a usable keyboard, but packing something a little more roomy for prolonged typing isn't silly.
Thankfully, Microsoft has come up the elegant Arc keyboard (RRP$99) which manages the Tardis-like feat of cramming full keyboard functionality into a package small enough to slip into the S XS Micro bag, while still being big enough to be usable.
Also petite is Microsoft's Mobile Mouse 4000 (RRP$64.95) which is to the Arc keyboard what peanut butter is to jam.
Using Bluetrack technology, it'll work on surfaces that a normal laser mouse just won't.
It'll also work with the bundled USB "Nano Transceiver" that pops out from the underside of the mouse, which also houses an AA battery slot (Microsoft claims it'll last for up to 10 months on a single battery).
Both will work with the tiny USB transceiver dongle that can also be stowed into a magnetised slot on the keyboard.
Low Voltage Notebook: Acer TravelMate 8471
RRP$1999
If you're looking for a good workhorse notebook with processor grunt to go, a roomy hard disk and an impressive battery life, you'll be hard pressed to beat Acer's TravelMate 8471.
Spec-wise, the TravelMate ticks all the right boxes and is equipped with an energy-efficient Intel Core 2 Duo 1.4Ghz SU9400 CPU, allowing it to run for just over eight hours (which is that proposal plus several movies during a flight to Singapore) and also packs 4GB of RAM plus a capacious 320GB hard disk.
Add to this a roomy LED backlit 14.1" LED display and six-cell battery, and you've got enough horsepower for work, light gaming and multimedia.
Measuring 3cm thick when closed, the TravelMate manages to be skinny without feeling flimsy.
Weighing just 1.93kg, it is a great travel companion, and at 341.9mm W x 235mm D x 25.9mm H it's easily stowable.
Size aside, it also packs a plethora of connectivity options.
There are three USB 2.0 ports, gigabit ethernet LAN, a VGA-out (but no HDMI-out), a DVD super multi dual-layer burner as well as a 5-in-1 memory card reader, and built in 3G wireless to complement its WiFi.
The TravelMate also sports an almost-full-sized keyboard with keys like Scrabble tiles that proved more than up to the job of knocking out long documents as well as a big roomy touchpad that proved to be surprisingly accurate.
The combo of its Intel GMA 4500MHD GPU and 14.1" 1366 x 768 resolution screen also makes it ideal for in-flight HD entertainment.
A smart power supply has also been bundled with the TravelMate which, according to Acer, can consume up to 40% less power compared with typical notebook power supplies and will give you up to 66% power savings while your notebook is in sleep mode.
Accessories
STM's Sports2 laptop backpack (RRP$129.95) is a handy addition for transporting 15" laptops.
Big enough to accommodate accessories, cables and gym gear, the Sports2 doesn't look like a traditional laptop bag, an added bonus especially as laptop theft is on the rise.
Its padded cell will also keep your laptop safe.
If, like a growing number of people, you use your notebook on your lap at home and at a desk at work, the Logitech MK605 Notebook Kit (RRP$199.00) is pretty hard to beat.
The MK605 bundle gives you a compact fold-out riser dock that elevates your laptop to eye level, a wireless mouse, and keyboard, both of which are built to Logitech's usual high standards.
Nicer still, both the keyboard and mouse use a unifying wireless USB dongle that's small enough to leave permanently plugged into your notebook so it won't get lost.
Desktop Replacement Powerhouse: Alienware M17x
RRP$3499
On planet Zog, the natives get their dose of gaming goodness using Alienware's rather lusty M17x.
Packed with the fastest and gruntiest hardware able to be crammed into to a notebook (how does two Nvidia's GeForce GTX 280M graphics cards and a 2.53Ghz Intel Core 2 Extreme Quad QX9300 CPU grab you?), it is truly awesome to behold.
Playing games such as Mass Effect is nothing short of awesome and is what the M17x is made for.
At 32.7mm H x285.7mm W x 233.3mm D, and weighing 5.7kg, the M17x is a beast of a notebook that's really designed to sit on a desk rather than being lugged about.
The model I received was done out in a nebular red anodised aluminium finish, which was pretty easy on the eye.
Resembling the lovechild of the Batmobile and Tron, the M17x's keyboard was easily the equal of a high-end desktop keyboard, complete with a full number pad.
The keyboard and trackpad were also bordered with a backlit strip, whose colours can be customised.
Stylish looks aside, the M17x also has a wide assortment of connectivity options.
On its left are HDMI and VGA outputs, an ethernet port, two USB 2.0 sockets as well as an eSATA, DisplayPort and FireWire sockets plus a Kensington lock slot.
On its right are two additional USB 2.0 ports, an 8-in-1 memory card reader, an ExpressCard slot.
Bizarrely, its audio connectors are located on its rump which annoyingly meant I had to snake a headphone cable around the M17x's body.
The M17x's 17" display sports a crispy, 1920 x 1200 HD resolution which is definitely the business for movie watching and gaming.
While its high-gloss finish caught some glare, it was sufficiently bright that reflections were rarely an issue.
Its speakers were also loud yet crisp, easily filling my dining room with audio.
Accessories
The ultimate add-on for the ultimate muscle notebook has to be Dell's 3008WFP 30" Monitor (RRP$2999).
Big doesn't begin to cover it, as 30" will easily immerse you in gameplay and give you acres of on-screen real estate.
The 3008WFP is capable of 2560 x 1600 resolution and is able to pump out tanning clinic brightness levels.
Its 2560 x 1600 resolution also means HD video with room to spare.
The 3008WFP also comes with HDMI, Display Port, DVI, and USB connectivity, making it a complete multimedia display.
