Darious Chang asks Is yours too small? It’s a good commentary on the state of ultraportable notebooks. Quote:
With an increasingly mobile workforce, ultraportable notebooks have been becoming increasingly more popular and prevalent as well. A few years back, a weight of 2kg and thickness of 35mm seemed incredible for a portable. Today, we have notebooks with the similar heft and dimensions of a hardback novel, yet somehow squeezing in an optical drive as well.
However, the small 10.6-inch screen of these machines does little for your eyesight (but wonders for your optician’s pockets). If a 12.1-inch LCD is more your liking, the upcoming LifeBook Q2010 is an amazing marvel, weighing the same as two 500ml drink bottles and looking almost thin enough to slide into a letterbox slot. But if you must have one now, Lenovo’s ThinkPad X60 and the semi-rugged Panasonic ToughBook series will transform you into a mobile warrior overnight. With a 13.3-inch display, the latest Sony VAIO VGN-SZ18GP has probably the largest screen estate, yet retains the same portability as the aforementioned systems.
But don’t expect to pay peanuts for these machines. Like going to weight-loss centers, each shaved-off inch and kilogram comes at a hefty premium meant only for the deepest pockets. But for those willing to shell out the dough, the advantages are many.