Quick pointers to find the perfect notebook to match your demands

Entry-level systems are a more cost-effective (under £350), basic option, ideal for people that just use their laptop for straightforward office duties which consist of spreadsheets, email and internet use. They're a superb alternative for students in search of something to take to lectures or for crafting essays and could be a great starting point for buyers using computers for the first time. These systems have much less memory (Ram) than their more powerful (and more expensive) counterparts - commonly around 2GB - and may not run a dual core processor. They will not have as much storage space as more high priced options but target for at least 250GB of hard disk space if you'll be able to. Desktop replacements are considerably more powerful computers that are comparable to desktop systems in terms of ability and functions, but in a portable format. This kind of computer is better suited to those who need to edit images or video and play games, as well as carry out office duties. As these laptops are designed to replace a bulky desktop machine, they have large screens (frequently 15+inches) and large keyboards. Thanks to their size, desktop replacements tend to be a lot heavier than other laptops, so they're not a great alternative if you're in search of something to take out and about. These models have a great deal of memory (at least 4GB of Ram) that is especially important if you're operating a number of programs at once. They could have a separate graphics card - very effective for playing games or editing video - and will run a powerful processor such as Intel's Core i5 or i7 chips. Desktop replacements need to have ample storage for photos, videos, documents and programs. Permanent storage is provided by the laptop's hard disk drive, which should be at least 500GB for a desktop alternative. All of this power could be extremely draining on the battery, though, so don't expect to get more than a few hours' battery life out of a desktop replacement. Of course, such models are likely to spend most of their time plugged into the wall so this shouldn't be too much of a problem. Expect to spend in the region of £850+ As befits their name, family laptops have a number of uses, catering for all the family. They're fantastic for surfing the web, doing homework, emailing, sharing and managing photos, watching YouTube videos and even enjoying the occasional game (although not at the highest settings). Family laptops often have medium-sized screens - approximately 13 to 15-inches - and mid-range requirements. Search for approximately 3GB of Ram (this is the memory that allows the laptop to run a handful of programs at once) and a dual core processor. As this laptop is more likely to be used by a number of different people, be sure to have plenty of storage for all of your family's photos, videos, music and documents. Look out for a hard disk with in excess of 500GB of storage. These will start from around £400. Ultra-portable laptops make dimensions and weight the priority, shrinking components right down so they're much easier to carry, but often at the cost of functions. They're distinct from netbooks in that they are still extremely powerful machines - and can be quite expensive to boot (expect to pay upwards of £400 to sky's the limit!). Like netbooks, they lack an optical (DVD) drive, and have a modest screen (usually between 10 and 12-inches) and keyboard. In contrast to netbooks, they run a complete version of the operating system (either Windows 7 or Apple OS X), have more memory (perhaps 3 or 4GB of Ram) and a fast processor.

Quick guidelines to find the best laptop to suit your budget.