1. Asus EeePC 1018P - from £289
Unlike some of Asus' earlier Eee PC models, this netbook boasts a high-end look and feel, thanks to the brushed aluminium design. We can't remember seeing such a subtly stylish netbook before, and the matt finish means it's also impervious to scratches and scuffs while you're working at home or out and about.
The 1.1kg chassis isn't a problem to carry around for hours on end, and the strong battery life of 359 minutes gives you almost six hours of power, so it's great for those after a truly portable option.
Equally impressive is the 10.1-inch screen, which looks great encased in the brushed aluminium bezel. Brightness is good, as is detail, thanks to the 1024 x 600 pixel resolution. But it's the vibrancy of colours that pleases the most, and those looking for a netbook to watch films and view photos on will find a lot to like here.
An inclusion we are particularly impressed with is the 500GB of free online storage. This means you can save a vast amount of content from the 1018P's 250GB hard drive to Asus' servers and access it from anywhere in the world, adding convenience and security.
2. Asus X52F - from £319
The Asus X52F-EX894V is powered by an Intel Core i3 processor, which provides strong performance for those on a tight budget. It's not just performance that impresses though, with plenty of other surprising highlights and few flaws.
You can edit your photos and have a quick play around with your home movies, but you won't be able to play the latest games, because the integrated graphics can't cope.
Still, film fans will be pleased because you can watch DVDs via the built-in drive or stream your favourite movies or TV shows over the internet in high definition (HD) from sites such as BBC iPlayer. The Asus X52F-EX894V coped admirably, and catching up with last night's telly was a smooth experience.
This is also a great way to enjoy your media, thanks to the excellent screen. The 15.6-inch display isn't as sharp as the compact screens of the HP Pavilion DM1-3100sa and MSI U270, but it's bright and pleasingly vibrant.
The 320GB hard drive gives you enough storage for thousands of photos and full-length music albums. You also have a 4-in-1 memory card reader, which can be used to back up your data or expand the available storage. Three USB ports are available for connecting peripherals.
3. Acer Aspire 5552 - from £319
Performance is provided by a triple-core AMD Phenom II X3 processor but we were a little disappointed by the results of our benchmark tests, since the Acer was comprehensively beaten by other laptops around this price point.
Your Office applications will run fine, but anything more than light multitasking will bring the system to a halt. However, the Acer proves far more pleasing when it comes to graphical ability.
Most laptops around this price have basic integrated graphics, but the Aspire 552 is actually quite capable when it comes to streaming high-definition (HD) video and running other light multimedia tasks. You won't be able to frequently edit your media or play the latest games though.
While the Aspire 5552-N834G50Mnks has limited performance, a weak battery and an ugly plastic chassis, it isn't all bad news. The display is fantastic considering the low price, while usability and features provide good value for money.
4. Samsung RV510 - from £323
When you're spending less than £400 on a laptop, you're not going to get the best power or build quality, but for basic users the Samsung RV510 is a good buy.
The screen is very bright and produces vivid images that make the laptop great for viewing photos and films. The standard glossy Super-TFT screen coating is in place, but manages to suppress reflections in bright light well.
An attractive silver paint finish has been implemented, which contrasts nicely with the black screen bezel and mock-chrome mouse buttons to make this an aesthetically pleasing laptop.
Build quality is surprisingly good, and at 2.4kg this is quite light. The 247 minutes of battery life is also useful for those who travel a lot and require a decent battery life.
5. Acer Aspire 5742G - from £349
Right out of the box the Aspire has enough processing power to handle everything you want in a starter laptop, but on top of that it's also a pleasure to look at. The textured finish on both the lid and internal chassis feels comfortable and won't pick up the grubby fingerprints that curse more reflective designs.
The keyboard doesn't feel quite as sturdy as some (we noticed an obvious flex in the keyboard during typing), but the keys are well spaced and easy to type on. The Aspire 5742G sports Acer's favoured keyboard where keys appear to float above the chassis. This looks great, but you'll find it quickly traps debris underneath the keys.
The Acer is built around Intel's Core i3 processor, which provides plenty of power, and is backed up by the 4096MB of memory.
But what really sets the Aspire 5742G apart is the 1024MB of video memory provided by the dedicated Nvidia GeForce GT 520M graphics card. This laptop will be fine running the current crop of gaming titles and will easily handle photo and HD video editing.
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