Our test results for the Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo Pi 1505 put it way ahead of the pack in terms of performance. Not only that but it also proved to have one of the longer-lasting battery packs, both for normal office use and when playing a DVD.

It’s possible that the performance results we got from our test unit might be a little on the generous side, as the retail version of the AMILO Pi 1505 has since undergone some minor tweaks to its specifications.

Even still, the Fujitsu-Siemens PC is the only notebook in the test running an Intel Core Duo processor, and this fact alone makes it a bargain. Programs launch noticeably quicker, and Windows was generally more responsive.

The multi-tasking nature of the dual-core processor, which boosts performance when running more demanding applications, means that you might even be able to use the AMILO for a spot of video editing. There’s a Firewire socket for connecting a digital camcorder should you decide to give it a go.

The Amilo Pi 1505 is a pretty good- looking system with a solid-feeling keyboard and a nice, wide touchpad. The 15.4in TFT display is sharp and clear too. We noticed some strange, transparent blobs in the centre of the liquid crystal that moved slightly when we opened or closed the lid, but this is likely to be a minor fault with our test machine, rather than a flaw with the product in general.

Elsewhere, a good selection of starter software (including Microsoft Works), plenty of storage space and a wide variety of connections.

This article is part of a group test of budget notebooks.
The table can be read via our Pdf download.
Others are:
Acer Aspire 5101 AWLMi
Asus A6Rp-AP026H
Hi-grade Notino W5600
MSI Megabook M670
Toshiba Satellite Pro A120