Laptops are today more popular than desktop PCs. Faster processors, bigger hard drives and better software are constantly introduced, so if you're replacing a computer that's a few years old, you'll be amazed at what it can do.

Once you've worked out your budget, it's just a case of finding one that suits your needs best. 

Accounting and running a home office: a basic machine will be fine and you’ll probably find one that comes with standard software in the box like Microsoft Office.

Playing music and watching TV: you’ll need a more expensive, multimedia laptop with plenty of memory, a TV tuner card built-in and a DVD player.

Emailing and accessing the internet: all computers have the ability to operate online.

Design and artwork: a fast processor is an advantage if you plan to run creative programmes like Adobe Photoshop and InDesign. Designers often choose Macs over PCs.

Music making: dedicated music laptops often have a soundcard with the right connections and software you need to get started.

We've grouped laptop computers under five categories of computing habits. If you know what you want from your laptop, you should be able to choose a category first and then think about what specifications to look for.  

Sub-notebooks and ultra mobile laptops: these include the smallest laptops that can fit into a handbag or coat pocket.

Both types tend to run Windows OS, so they work just like a desktop PC, but sub-notebooks often have no optical disc drive. In which case, you will probably need to buy an external drive to load some software and play CDs.

Entertainment or multimedia notebooks: designed for using at home to play music, DVDs and watch TV. They typically come with a TV tuner that can record straight onto the hard drive, and may be compatible with Blu-ray High Definition movies.

Gaming notebooks: gaming laptops have large screens and very fast graphics cards to keep up with the on-screen action.

Business notebooks: these are loaded with essential features and software, but might not come with any of the fun stuff like a movie player or TV tuner.

Bluetooth: this means the laptop can connect wirelessly to other devices with the same logo.

Blu-ray: this means the laptop will play - and possibly record - HD Blu-ray discs.

Intel: this logo indicates that the CPU inside is made by Intel rather than AMD.

Wi-Fi: this logo means wireless connectivity or Wi-Fi will let you connect to wireless networks.

Windows Vista: this logo refers to the Windows operating system pre-installed in the laptop.

Laptop bag: for protection on the move. A dedicated laptop case will be padded in all the right places.

External disc drive: a separate disc drive, stored in its own case, and connected to your laptop via a USB cable. Compact and designed for portability, they are powered via the USB connection.

External hard drive: a separate hard drive, stored in its own case, and connected to your laptop via a USB cable. Compact and designed for portability, they are powered via the USB connection or the mains.

Flash memory drive: these little USB flash drives are great for transporting small amounts of data (1 or 2GB) onto your laptop.

Media card adapter: connects to your laptop via USB cable and allows it to read certain memory cards. A universal adapter reads all cards.

Software: your laptop will come with an operating system and some free software programmes.

Wireless router: all new laptops can detect broadband signal from a wireless router. Just plug your internet cable into the router to turn your home into a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Laptop stand: raising your laptop to eye-level on a stand can improve your posture.

Mouse: connected via USB cable, this device is used to move the cursor around the screen. It performs the same function as a track-pad.

Webcam: these small cameras can be built-in or connected via USB to put the video they capture on your computer screen. You can use them for video calls over the internet.

Bluetooth adapter: a device that lets you connect wirelessly to compatible devices such as keyboards, mobile phones and laptops.

USB hub: If there’s only room for one USB socket on your laptop, a hub, or splitter, will allow you to plug in more than one USB device.