Everybody has their own definition of the perfect laptop computer, but it often boils down to the age-old compromise between performance and portability. <br><br> We'll talk you through how the different components are likely to affect your computer so you can make an informed decision about which is the best model for you based on how you plan to use it.

Whether or not you think they're a passing trend of a genuine response to modern users' demands for better portability, it's impossible to deny that netbooks are increasingly popular. With so many new models hitting the market, though, there are is almost as much variation in quality as there is amongst 'regular' notebooks ...

This page looks at some of the different components that contribute to the performance of your laptop. As well as explaining some of the technology involved, we've also tried to give recommendations based on four different ways of using a laptop:

Small text in big tests Each product presented on our site is tested on its technical characteristics and in practical use. We use the results from these tests to make a product profile with its pluses, minuses and to give it a final grade.