Acers Aspire range is aimed at buyers seeking high-performance components at affordable prices. The Aspire 2920 (£599 inc. VAT) is one of the lightest, cheapest and best specified laptops around and provides strong mobility and great value for money.

Designed by BMW Designworks, the chassis is strong and stylish. The glossy lid is less prone to scratching than the Samsung Q45, but still needs protection when travelling. Its 2.1kg weight almost qualifies as an ultraportable and its 192-minute battery life suits frequent travel.

The keyboard and touchpad provide strong usability. Some keys on the right side of the board are smaller than preferable, but the main keys are all large and smooth to type on. The large and responsive touchpad is equally usable and makes it easy to manoeuvre onscreen.

The 12.1-inch screen is smaller than some of its rivals, but provides outstanding image quality. Its glossy Super-TFT coating enhances colour and contrast and is ideal for basic photo editing. The widescreen aspect ratio is also great for spreadsheet work and watching movies.

All ports are arranged on either side of the chassis for easy access. The three USB ports are clearly labelled on the top of the chassis, so you can easily connect peripherals. VGA and S-Video analogue connectivity is provided, but you cant connect to external digital displays.