Lightweight laptops: Apple MacBook 2GHz Intel Core Duo

Smooth operator

Four stars

£900 (as reviewed) from www.apple.com/ukstore

Potent tool for the image-conscious digerati

The MacBook is the size of an A4 pad and hence easily totable, yet at 2.3kg it’s lardier than it looks. The reflective, glossy finish of the unconventional-sized 13in widescreen is a pain under office lighting, but does add lustre to, say, King Kong’s coat when watching the DVD.

In tests, battery life was a risible 1hr 26min, though this doubled with lighter use. There are rumours of updated MacBook models. However, current performance is mighty zippy, especially with Apple’s own software. The standard 512MB of Ram and 60GB hard drive are, frankly, stingy. That said, a posh built-in webcam and Apple’s suite of free software deliver an intuitive, virus-free computing experience that PC owners can only dream of. A fine keyboard and clean, sassy design make for a classy companion.