Umax ActionBook 340T

The ActionBook 340T is an ambitious attempt by Umax to pack as many features as possible into a truly budget laptop. It's only in the last year or so that sub-£1,000 PCs have become fodder for entry-level users, and it's quite amazing to see this well-featured laptop coming in at such a low price point. However, Umax has made major sacrifices to reach this price.

Our Labs likened the keyboard to a trampoline, and it certainly doesn't seem solid. The keys rattle and the whole board visibly sags under the barrage of typing fingers. Whether you can handle this bouncy ride or not, it makes one wonder how long it will last. The stiffness of the mouse-like trackpoint buttons also means that you may struggle to control the machine. Luckily, the ActionBook comes with a three-year warranty, should any problem arise.

The case has a blue metallic finish that certainly stands out from the crowd. However, the screen isn't worth showing off: it has a distinctly blotchy look that ripples and distorts even under gentle handling of the lid.

The 32Mb of memory, although vital to reduce the price of the laptop, cripples what could be a decent performer. There is a noticeable delay when opening programs, and the hard disk is forced to take the strain of demands placed on the machine. This was shown up when our Labs tested its performance - it scored well below similarly featured notebooks with 64Mb of memory, which we'd say was the basic allocation for most computers today.

Nevertheless, there are other plus points as well as the price. There's a generous complement of external ports, including two USB ports for more modern peripheral devices, as well as a PC Card slot that can handle two small or one large card. The internal modem saves hassle with cables, and the audio controls are conveniently located along the front of the machine.

Contact: Umax, 01344 871329