Toshiba Tecra A7

The Tecra A7 is a well-featured, desktop replacement notebook featuring Intel's Core Duo T2300 dual-core processor and a 15.4in screen. It has a fairly small footprint of 360 x 267 x 36.8 mm and weighs a light 2.8kgs, making it very mobile. The Tecra's specifications are powerful and its price is affordable - it's the first Centrino Duo notebook to feature in the sub-$2500 notebook chart.

Performance wise, running PC WorldBench 5 and 3DMark 2001SE it delivered the highest scores in its price category (86 and 12899 respectively). Running the game FEAR, it averaged 21fps on high graphics settings, and 48fps when detail settings were optimised.

The Tecra's build is very sturdy and includes a spill-resistant keyboard. Motion sensors on the hard drive are able to return the drive heads to a parked position in periods of erratic movement. Biometric security has also been implemented through a fingerprint scanner, and the Trusted Protection Module (TPM) (available on this model) can be implemented for improved security in corporate environments. Add in Toshiba's assist management software, and you can easily manage the notebook's features.

The Tecra A7 is missing a webcam and a built-in microphone. While these are becoming common features in notebook PCs, the Tecra A7's security and build quality make up for this omission.