The X60MV may have the same case as the Zoostorm Versa 83-6701, but Novatech has wisely opted for the version with neutral grey plastic on all surfaces.

While this looks minimalist, it's sure to divide opinion less than the Zoostorm's black-and-white colour scheme. Don't make the mistake of assuming the two laptops are otherwise identical; their differences are more than aesthetic.

The Intel Core 2 Duo T5750 inside the X60MV is the oldest processor here, and paired with 2GB of RAM it trailed in last place in our PCMark benchmarks. A Call of Duty 4 score of 7.4fps from the GeForce 9300M GS graphics isn't the worst here, but it certainly isn't enough to play the latest titles.

While we welcome the inclusion of an S/PDIF audio output, as well as an ExpressCard/54 slot, the X60MV doesn't have an HDMI output and has only three USB ports. Networking interfaces are slower than others here, and there's no support for Gigabit Ethernet or Draft-N wireless. The 160GB hard disk is especially small for a laptop at this price.

There are some good points, though. The 17in screen is clear and bright, and although it has a reflective glossy finish, colours are accurate and contrast is good. The keyboard takes advantage of the width of the case, and has large keys and a numeric keypad. Feedback and travel are adequate, but we found the action a bit spongy. The touch pad is smooth and responsive, though the buttons are stiff and have almost no travel, so you'll probably want to use an external mouse.

The competition this month is fierce and Novatech's X60MV looks overpriced for the specifications on offer. Although it's £57 more expensive, PC Nextday's laptop has much better performance and more features (although the same network adaptors). Both models are eclipsed by others here, though, especially Asus's great-value X71SL, which has a Blu-ray drive for just £7 more.