RM Mobile One 300

My version had Windows XP SP2 installed, along with an Intel Core 2 Duo T7700 mobile processor running at 2.4GHz; 2GB RAM, 105GB useable hard disk space and 15-inch 16:9 LCD screen. I know that one of the ONE's major features is its ruggedness and it certainly is built to stand the rigours of the classroom with its magnesium alloy lid, hard LCD screen and rubber edges. With specifications like these, you might expect the ONE to look rather industrial, but it actually looks pretty stylish. First impressions were that it was a lot lighter than I expected it to be. While you wouldn't want to lug the ONE around in a bag all day, it is certainly transportable and no problem to carry from classroom to classroom.

Switch on was fast and while my own PC takes ages to fire-up Windows XP, the ONE did it in next to no time. Another surprise was the noise - or should I say, lack of it. I have used PCs with a much lower specification that sound like a Force Ten gale once the cooling fan is up and running, but the ONE is almost silent in operation - something every classroom teacher would appreciate. The ergonomics are good too; with lots of space to rest your hands when using the large keyboard.

I used the ONE as a desktop replacement, plugging an optical mouse into a USB port. Programs installed quickly and the ONE had no problem handling all the multimedia I could throw at it, from YouTube videos to iTunes to DVDs. Picture resolution was fine. The built-in webcam gives a reasonable image and the integrated microphone and speakers were good enough for me to make Skype calls without the need for an external mic or speakers. Wireless connectivity was quick and easy.

As I'm a journalist, I'm bound to have a few grumbles (!), although all of them are minor. The ONE came with a CD writer and DVD reader; I would have liked to have seen a multi-format DVD writer. The ONE has four USB ports; two at the back and two at the side. I use USB ports a lot and have an optical mouse, external hard drive and multi-card reader permanently attached to my PC. The problem is that the two side USB ports are the same side as the mouse and so any device attached to them gets caught up in the cable. I would have liked to have seen one of the side USB ports moved to the back or the ONE provided with five ports - three at the back and two at the side. You can never have too many USB ports! I appreciate that many people will use the ONE's trackpad, but I also suspect that quite a few will use the computer as a desktop replacement with a mouse. The Battery Monitor display is useful but I would have liked an option to disable it (I tried doing this using the MS CONFIG start up items menu, but it seems to be burnt into the registry!).

But as I say, these are minor complaints. I have been using the ONE for several months now and find it reliable, easy-to-use and offering a high performance. It's a very fine computer.

The Energy Saving Trust's Energy Saving Recommended certification guarantees that the product is the most energy efficient in its category and since only the top 20 per cent of products on the market can carry the symbol, it is a clear indicator of excellence, recognised by four out of five shoppers.