Ultra-compact notebook computers are getting popular among students and professionals who are shunning heavy desktop replacements in favour of a device light and small enough to carry everywhere.
Naturally, an ultra-compact will not run your latest games well. But it lets you take your work everywhere, and watch movies while sipping coffee in cafes, which is a big boon for many.
Digital Life sits down with five ultra-compacts to find out which is right for you.
The notebooks were selected based on weight - with a target weight of about 1.5kg. Screen size was also a factor - notebooks with 12.1-inch and smaller screens were selected.
For each notebook, Digital Life susses out its biggest plus and minus points, and help you decide if you should pony up that hard-earned cash for these portable marvels.
Lenovo's Thinkpad X60 Tablet has a 120GB hard drive and about seven hours of battery life.
A BUSINESS-ORIENTED NOTEBOOK running Intel Core Duo 1.83GHz processor, backed up by 1GB of RAM.
Hard drive is generous for an ultracompact at 120GB. Biometric sensor allows you to log in by touch.
Battery life was impressive, at just under seven hours on an eight-cell battery.
Looks like IBM's old Thinkpad models, with its black no-nonsense exterior and interior.
Feel of the touch screen was good, and the provided stylus felt comfortable when gripped.
Latch design of the notebook was also very clever. When the screen is oriented towards the front like a normal notebook, the latch holds the notebook shut.
But flip the screen to tablet mode, and you'll find that the latch can be pushed through the cover to lock the screen in place.
Unfortunately, there is no trackpad. You either stick with the pointer in the middle of the keyboard, or pick up the stylus to tap the screen. Users who have never been able to accustom themselves to the pointer should take note of this omission.
Biggest plus: Built like a tank. The keyboard spill drain and active rollcage are two features that make this compact notebook a sturdy contender.
Biggest minus: No trackpad.
Who should buy it: Professionals looking for a sturdy, business-oriented notebook with strong security features. Not for the fashion-conscious.
Dell's latitude D420 has both a pointer and a trackpad - and a Wi-Fi catcher.
Not flashy, but gets the work done
Contender: Dell Latitude D420 Price: Starts from $2,843 Weight: 1.43kg (with six-cell battery)
QUICK START-UP, FASTER than the rest in this list. Start-up time is an important aspect because ultra-compacts are meant to be carried around for work and play - and sitting around waiting for your computer to start up is uncool.
Thoughtful design: it has both a pointer and a trackpad - no matter which you prefer, the Latitude clearly has you covered.
Another plus: a Wi-Fi catcher which is a switch on the notebook's side that can be flipped to scan the area for a Wi-Fi signal without switching on the notebook.
Once a network is detected, you'll see a green light. Great for checking out if that cafe has wireless Internet before you plonk yourself down with a cuppa.
It has an 80GB hard drive, fairly standard for an ultra-compact. Adequate for the programs you need, but don't expect a movie collection stored in there.
The notebook has an integrated DVD writer drive - handy for burning discs to share with your friends on the go.
Overall, the Latitude felt utilitarian. It's not flashy, but it gets the work done.
Battery life: Four hours - not bad, but could be longer.
Biggest plus: Quick start-up in less than a minute. (Note: The review set came with Windows XP, but the actual retail units will ship with Vista.)
Biggest minus: Look and feel. Grey exterior felt ordinary - a minus for people who like to show off their ultracompacts.
Who should buy it: For the budget-conscious who need a decent performer.
MOST IMPRESSIVE IS its slimness. It looks good, with a body you could easily slip between two files in your briefcase.
Specs are good. Runs on an Intel Centrino 1.20GHz and 1GB of RAM. Has an 80GB hard drive. One gripe: the keyboard feel was questionable. Keys felt very stiff which made typing for long periods uncomfortable - a minus for a notebook.
Punctuation keys on the laptop were also obviously laid out to save space - the comma, period and backslash keys are half their normal width.
Battery life: Just two hours with the slim battery. But the notebook comes bundled with an additional six-cell battery that can take it up to seven hours.
Biggest plus: Slim form factor, it weighs around 1kg with the slim battery.
Biggest minus: Cost. Far and away the most expensive of the five notebooks here.
Who should buy it: The fashion-conscious who want to attract the envious looks of others.
TABLET SCREEN FELT extremely thick to write on. Some writing strokes were not registered by the system.
Stylus not very comfortable to grip. Also a little difficult to get out of its silo if you have large fingers.
The hinge of the tablet screen wobbled ever so slightly, but overall the notebook felt like a sturdy build.
C1 gets full marks for its keyboard. Keys have a soft feel and low key travel and, more importantly, they are full-sized.
Typing was a pleasure. This will no doubt go down well with students and professionals looking to get that report done on the go.
Battery life: Acceptable at two and a half hours. The notebook comes bundled with a three-cell and a six-cell battery for a total of eight hours of operating time.
But no FireWire port for this product.
Biggest plus: Looks great with its glossy exterior.
Biggest minus: The tablet screen. You can get a satisfying experience out of this notebook if you stick to using the keyboard and trackpad.
Who should buy it: Those looking for a balance between looks and features may want to fork out for the C1.
The Vaio VGN-TX57GN has Blue-tooth.
This notebook oozes class
Contender: Sony Vaio VGN-TX57GN Price: $3,699 Weight: 1.25kg with standard battery
ELEGANT LATCHLESS DESIGN is easy to open and the top lid has a wonderful texture.
Sports an Intel Core Solo 1.33GHz processor and 1GB of RAM, with an average-size 80GB hard drive.
Has Bluetooth and wireless LAN. Audio ports are clearly labelled and placed on the front of the notebook.
One very useful inclusion: dedicated keys on the hinge of the notebook for AV mode. Push this button while the computer is off, and it will skip Windows to load a special menu on the screen.
The notebook's widescreen display, while small, remains extremely sharp and clear.
Battery life: Decent at four and a half hours. The Sony clocked a start-up time of one minute and 30 seconds.
Biggest plus: AV mode. Dedicated keys for watching movies and viewing photos without switching on the system fully.
Biggest minus: The thin screen felt a little flimsy, but the hinge remained sturdy.
Who should buy it: For the stylish who want a powerful machine too.
