Best laptops

HP EliteBook 8560w

November 14th, 2011 - The HP EliteBook 8560w is a beautiful piece of engineering, providing you can afford it.

• Where to buy? $1268 to $1306 at 2 stores

Alienware M11x R3

October 26th, 2011 - We still love the M11x, but with the ever-marching pace of technology, we'd like to see it go on a diet, get a better screen and a much better touch pad and buttons for the R4. And maybe, just maybe, make use of the currently pointless 3G slot. 2

SteelSeries Sensei

October 14th, 2011 - The Sensei is a phenomenal mouse. It's a testament to its performance that despite having woefully horrible button customisation and macro support, it's still one of our favourite mice.

Roccat Kova[+]

October 7th, 2011 - The Kova was fantastic, and the Kova[+] now adds Roccat's great software into the mix. We'd recommend this one for all.

• Where to buy? $10 at 1 store

Razer Lachesis (5600dpi)

September 5th, 2011 - If you need an ambi mouse, the Lachesis should be on your list of rodents to check out. 2

Apple MacBook Air 13 (2011)

August 19th, 2011 - Apple's upgraded MacBook Air is a seriously fast performer — even if you only use it as a Windows machine. The switch to Sandy Bridge puts Apple's travel laptop on the top of the portable pile. 4

Alienware M18x

July 12th, 2011 - If a desktop is too large but you still want excessive power, the Alienware M18x is your holy grail. 2

Apple MacBook Pro 15 (Early 2011)

March 4th, 2011 - It's a hefty investment, but the combination of new high-end Intel processor options and AMD graphics makes the 15-inch MacBook Pro an all-round powerhouse, with the new Thunderbolt I/O port as an added bonus. 9

HP Mini 5103

February 9th, 2011 - HP's Mini 5103 is a gorgeous, luxury item that makes a netbook desirable again. You'll still need to ask yourself if the small size is worth the cost; however, for portability, battery life and features, the 5103 is on our wanted list.

Kobo Wireless eReader

January 14th, 2011 - The Kobo Wireless eReader is a noticeable improvement on its predecessor. It takes accessibility and user-friendliness and combines them with a couple of nifty upgrades designed to further streamline your ebook experience. It's simple, slick and fantastic value for money. 10

• Where to buy? $105 at 1 store