Name Rating Comment Screen HD MM Supplier Tel Additional comments, notes
Intel
486SX/33
Twinhead Slimnote 350C 1,649 **** Plenty of modularity, but an under par keyboard. Col DSTN 4 200 Mb none Twinhead 01256 811366 3 102
486SX2/50
TI Travelmate 4000M 2,999 **** Excellent multimedia portable. Col TFT 4 340 Mb docking Texas Instruments 01932 780753 1 93
486DX/33
Brother BCP 631T 2,339 **** Respectable performer in compact package. Col TFT 4 120 Mb none Brother 01279 416888 1 96
486DX2/40
Compaq Contura 400C 1,995 ***** First class and a competitive price. Col DSTN 4 250 Mb none Compaq 0181 332 3000 2 111 recommended
486DX2/50
ACI Performer AC 2,136 **** Some neat features, and a clear legible screen. Col DSTN none ACi 0181 830 1958 5 56
AJP 7560T 2,573 *** Fast performance and good battery life. Col TFT none AJP 0181 452 9090 5 57
CIC Cardstar CS200-50 2,590 ** Good all round performer. Col DSTN none CIC 0181 813 8217 5 58
Compaq LTE Elite 4/50 CX 4,690 **** A worthy machine. Col TFT none Compaq 0990 134456 5 60
Dell Latitude XP 450CX 3,019 *** Incredible battery life. Col TFT none Dell 01344 720000 5 61
Dell Latitude XP 450CX 2,899 ***** Excellent design and luxurious screen. A pleasure to use. Col TFT 8 340 Mb none Dell 01344 720000 1 97 recommended
Digital HiNote Ultra CS450 2,490 ***** Ultra slim design and impressive battery life. Truly portable. Col DSTN 8 335 Mb docking Digital 0181 286 5000 17 62 value
Digital HiNote Ultra CS450 2,600 ***** A notebook to lust after. Col DSTN 8 335 Mb none Digital 0181 286 5000 7 88 recommended
Gateway Handbook 486 1,499 **** A mixed bag of high performance and inconvenience. 8 250 Mb none Gateway 2000 0800 782000 3 100
Hi-Grade Hi-Note LBC2-DX2/50N 2,115 *** Well featured with plenty of scope for expansion. Col DSTN none Hi-Grade 0181 591 9040 5 62
HP OmniBook 4000CT 2,385 ** Neat and well designed, but underpowered. Col TFT 8 324 Mb none Hewlett-Packard 01344 369222 17 66
IBM Thinkpad 360CE 2,820 *** Lacks and major flaws, but disappointing for an IBM machine. Col TFT NA docking IBM 0345 727272 5 63
IBM Thinkpad 701C 3,320 **** Superb. Innovative keyboard technology delivers real benefits. Col TFT 4 360 Mb none IBM 0345 727272 7 87 recommended
Minstrel Xpeco Elite 2,329 *** Comfortable machine, sensible price and good performance. Col DSTN none HM Systems 0181 209 0911 5 64
MJN Powerlite 4DX2-50 1,678 *** Better thought out than your average notebook. Col DSTN 8 260 Mb none MJN 01282 777555 7 92
NEC Versa V/50 2,720 ** Not well designed, poor pointing device, and slow. Col DSTN none NEC 0181 993 8111 5 65
Samsung 486DX2 3,299 ** Has some good features but too expensive for performance. Col TFT 4 120 Mb none Samsung 0181 391 0168 2 110
TI Travelmate 4000M DX250MHz 3,283 ** Poor system performance. Col DSTN docking Texas Instruments 01932 780753 5 68
Toshiba 2100CT 2,595 **** Very fast but poor screen and keyboard. Col TFT 8 335 Mb none Toshiba 01932 828828 8 94
Toshiba T2400CS 2,570 **** Difficult to fault. Col DSTN Toshiba 01932 828828 5 76 recommended
Toshiba T2400CT 3,495 ***** Top notch perfromance. Col TFT 8 320 Mb none Toshiba 01932 828828 2 106 recommended
Viglen Dossier 486 ST 3,050 **** Pleasant to use. Col TFT Viglen 0181 758 7000 5 77
Zenith Z-Star EX 1,699 **** Beautifully implemented modular design. Keenly priced. Col DSTN 4 200 Mb none Zenith 01756 702800 4 110
486DX2/66
Mitac 4023 1,499 *** Robust though small and light. 8 340 Mb none Mitac 01952 207200 10 97
Rock Estima 486 DX2/66 1,698 *** Reasonable power management but poor keyboard. Col DSTN 8 323 Mb none Rock 01753 567899 6 98
486DX4/75
AST Ascentia 910N 3,495 ***** Good build quality and excellent performance. Ideal for travellers. Col TFT 8 510 Mb none AST 0990 611611 9 85 recommended
Dell Latitude LX475D 1,499 ***** Good value, well designed. Col DSTN 8 420 Mb none Dell 01344 720000 13 100
NEC Versa M/75TC 4,195 *** Feature rich but poor battery life. Col TFT 8 250 Mb None NEC 0181 993 8111 5 97
NEC Versa 500D 1,475 **** Well built with good performance. Col DSTN 8 340 Mb none NEC 0181 993 8111 17 93
NEC Versa 2000C 2,395 **** Excellent ergonomics and good performance at a reasonable price. Col TFT 8 720 Mb none NEC 0181 993 8111 17 66
Samsung Sens 700 2,824 **** Rugged good performer. Col TFT 16 250 Mb none Samsung 0181 391 0168 12 115
Sharp PC-8900 3,595 *** Low performance at a high price. LCD VGA 8 320 Mb 16-bit sound Sharp 0161 205 2623 9 89
Thinkpad 370C 2,740 **** Solidly engineered, good quality. Col TFT 8 340 Mb none IBM 0345 727272 12 105
Toshiba T21 10 995 **** Not enough RAM, but solid no frills notebook. Mono LCD 4 334 Mb none Toshiba 01932 828828 14 124
Toshiba T21 50CDT 3,195 ***** Mobile multimedia the way it is supposed to be. Col TFT 8 520 Mb 2x,16 Toshiba 01932 828828 9 88
486DX4/100
Aries Perfecta 7400 2,512 *** Not without its faults but some good design features. Col TFT 8 510 Mb none Aries 01582 745555 11 102
Brother Pro Book 761T 2,349 *** Disappointing performance and indifferent screen Col TFT 8 540 Mb none Brother 01279 416888 17 60
CTX ExBook 1,999 *** Neat machine, good for general use. Poor port layout. Col TFT 8 514 Mb none CTX 01923 818461 17 61
CTX ExBook 2,650 *** Well constructed, but not the best value around. Col TFT 16 480 Mb none CTX 01923 818461 13 98
Compaq Contura 430 CX 2,395 *** Steady workhorse, good quality basic build. Col TFT 8 721 Mb none Compaq 0181 332 3000 17 61
Compaq LTE 5100 4,480 **** Robust, fully featured and flexible. Needs another 8Mb RAM. Col TFT 8 810 Mb 2x,16 Compaq 0990 134456 16 103
Dual Pentmedia 3,300 ** A low cost notebook with obvious compromises. Col TFT 8 320 Mb none Dual 01223 576622 2 107
Ergo CD Brick 3,195 ** Flimsy construction. Not worth the money. Col DSTN 16 500 Mb 2x,16 Ergo 01159 452565 8 96
Ergo Powerbrick 100 3,595 **** Too many rough edges, though hefty specs make it quick. Col TFT 16 500 Mb none Ergo 0115 452565 4 121
Gateway 2000 Liberty 2,599 **** High specs and good performance, but lightweight build. Col DSTN 8 720 Mb none Gateway 2000 0800 462000 7 90
Opti 741 2,382 *** Competent machine without outstanding features. Does the job. Col DSTN 12 503 Mb none Opti 0181 507 1818
Panasonic CF-41 4,499 **** Impressive but expensive multimedia portable. Excellent display. Col TFT 8 450 Mb 2x,16 Panasonic 0500 404041 4 111