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Three Ultralight Laptops Get the Job DoneThree Ultralight Laptops Get the Job Done
Can an ultralight laptop be small enough to take on the road, yet big enough to be functional? Absolutely. But with ultralight laptops everything becomes a compromise, so choose carefully.
2 Min Read
While no one of the three ultralights offers the ideal combination of features, each one has its strengths:
If I had to sit in front of one all day working on a spreadsheet or a text document I'd pick the Fujitsu Lifebook for its combination of excellent screen and decent( if not great) keyboard. If the ThinkPad had a better screen I would pick it instead—it offers the best keyboard of the trio.
If I were traveling and wanted to take along an ultralight to check e-mail, surf the Web, listen to music, or watch a movie, I'd pick the Sony for its built-in optical drive (and I would probably spring for the high-capacity battery).
If I were going to sling my bag over my shoulder and wade out into a tradeshow floor or a day-long seminar, I could go with either the Sony or the Fujitsu (with the bigger battery). Both offer the battery life and connectivity I'd want, and neither would be breaking my shoulder by the end of the day.
So, can an ultralight laptop be small enough to take with me, and yet big enough to be functional? Absolutely. With bright, sharp screens, usable keyboards, acceptably fast processors, hard drives big enough to carry a variety of installed applications and a lot of data, and networking and connectivity equal to or better than much bigger computers these little machines are big enough for real jobs.
Product Info
Lifebook Q2010
Fujitsu Computer Systems Corp.
www.fujitsu.com
Price (Base Unit): $1,999
Price (Review Unit): $3,100
Summary: Proof that a notebook can never be too rich or too thin, the Lifebook Q 2010 is a mere 3/4 of an inch thick and 2-1/4 pounds, with a screen that's to die for.
ThinkPad X60
Lenovo
www.lenovo.com
Price (Base Unit): $1,249
Price (Review Unit): $2,200
Summary: A Core 2 Duo processor makes this 2-3/4-pound ultralight a tiny dynamo, and its ThinkPad DNA gives it great ergonomics, although it's display technology could use an update.
Sony VAIO VGN TXN15P
Sony Electronics, Inc.
www.sony.com
Price: $2,450
Summary: While a built-in optical drive isn't an absolute requirement for an ultralight laptop, it certainly gives this one an edge. It's extremely small size and great screen don't hurt, either.
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