My old laptop died and I had to buy a new one a short notice as I need a computer at home for work and home life. I found the Acer Aspire 5741 at under £500 and have been really please with it in the 6 months that I've had it.

I use it for browsing the web, Email, MS Office, watching video - all the usual stuff. I've found it to be fast - I never have to wait while the rest of a video clip downloads - and really reliable. The screen is a great size; it is easy to see and easy to work with for hours on end. I found my old netbook too small and it caused headaches. With this Acer, I have had no headaches at all.

The build quality feels robust. My 3 children all use this computer and they can been less careful than I would like (they are 10-16 year old) but, so far, I've had no problems with bits falling off, as I've had in the past with other machines. While the laptop is solid, it is still possible to hold it in one hand and certainly it tucks under one arm easily. The battery life is not bad, although I'd be happier with a few more hours of juice in the battery. The WiFi is strong and I have never had it drop the signal.

Ok, so it's not the snazziest machine out there, in terms of looks, but it does everything I need and it does it well. I'd happily buy another one.