The Vaio is easily the most expensive SpeedStep notebook we've tested, and although dealer discounting should knock something off it will remain a pricey choice. The spec doesn't differ wildly from the high-end norm, with 128MB of SDRAM, an internal modem and DVD as standard, although you do get a particularly large 18.1GB hard disk.

The Vaio does have its peculiarities however, most obviously an arrangement Sony calls the Intercooler Flap. When you open the machine, a section of the base hinges down and admits a flow of cool air directly on to the processor heatsink. At the same time, the open flap acts as a stand, tilting the notebook and making prolonged typing more comfortable.

There's also the Jog Dial, a thumbwheel to the right of the keyboard which you use with a programmable pop-up menu for fast access to a wide range of features from application shortcuts to power management and other system settings. It's potentially quite handy, but only if you are prepared to spend the time setting it up so that it does what you want.

The notebook is fairly portable at 3.1kg, but the case body was a little on the insubstantial side, which we weren't too happy about, and the screen lid was plastic, not alloy. You might reasonably expect better general construction quality for this sort of money.

Possibly in order to accommodate the works of the Intercooler Flap, a number of essential ports have been omitted from the notebook itself and transferred to a rather bulky port replicator which will add 700g to the load if you need to take it with you on your travels. While a port replicator is undoubtedly an asset wherever your peripherals are kept, not everybody will be comfortable with the idea of a notebook dependent on one for its parallel, serial and even PS/2 ports.

Sony has equipped the Vaio with a 13.3-inch XGA screen which worked well enough, and we liked the special anti-glare, anti-reflective panel mounted over it, although you do have to be careful not to smudge the thing, especially while colleagues are admiring it. Nevertheless, given the price of this notebook, we felt that the screen was too small.

The Vaio's keyboard was spacious and pleasant to use, and the machine turned out not just to be fast, but fast by the standards of PIII/650s in general. This was all to the good, but the somewhat average battery life of around 2 hours 20 minutes didn't compare so well with the likes of the Gateway and the Dell, and once again, it raised the key question of just what you are getting for all this money.

Sony has built the Vaio brand well over the last few years, but branding alone can't justify the price tag of this machine. The Vaio Note PCG-X18 is undoubtedly fast, but other SpeedStep machines around at the moment offer a better spec for the cash.

Sony - Vaio Note PCG-X18 price

£3,149 + VAT

Sony UK: 0990 424424