Features

Lighten Up

27 Nov 2006 by business traveller

As smartphones get smarter and laptops get lighter and more powerful, the line between your office PC, laptop and mobile gets more blurred by the day. The latest laptops are small enough to take everywhere, yet boast performance up to any office task – as well as keeping you amused with DVDs on long flights.

Design has played a huge part in the reinvigoration of the entire laptop market, and nowhere is that more obvious than in the so-called ultraportables. Influenced, like so many electronics items, by Apple, the latest notebooks are slick and good-looking enough to be at home both in your living room and your briefcase. When deciding which one to buy, there are a few things to consider.

Optical drives

A lot of very small notebooks owe their slender figures to the lack of DVD drive. While this obviously means no in-flight movies, it can also make installing new software difficult. However, as all of the notebooks here come with excellent connectivity, installing over a network or the internet is always an alternative.

Speed

It's importantto decide what you want your laptop for. Will you still use a separate desktop machine? Desktop replacements have more power but are also less portable. Conversely, lighter laptops tend to be slower, with less hard-drive space. But for email, the odd bit of web browsing and editing documents, a lower-powered machine with longer battery life might do the job.

Connectivity

If you're going to be connecting peripherals, MP3 players and the like to your laptop, ensure it has plenty of high-speed USB 2.0 ports and includes a Firewire connection. Wifi is a given these days, but Bluetooth is worth looking out for. Several of these machines also feature built-in HSDPA, a new standard being touted as 3.5G by the phone networks. It's fast, and gives you proper broadband speeds, although only T-Mobile and Vodafone currently support it. You'll just need either a built-in or plug-in adaptor, into which you place your normal SIM card once it has been enabled for the service.

The laptops

Toshiba Portege R200

Toshiba was, for a long time, the IBM of the laptop world: the safe, functional choice that nobody ever got fired for choosing. However, in recent years, and in the face of an onslaught of designer machines from new competitors like Sony and Samsung, it has been forced to redesign its entire range, making it slicker and lighter. The first thing that hits you about the R200 is its sleek dimensions, being a mere 24mm thick – almost half that of some of its competitors. However, this comes at a price, as there's no optical drive. This means, sadly, no in-flight DVDs, and no CDs in the hotel room (although obviously with some forward planning this can all go on the hard drive anyway). This isn't as huge a problem as you might at first think, although loading software can be a pain.

Other sacrifices have been made to give the R200 its "size zero" dimensions. The hard drive isn't a standard 2.5-inch notebook drive but rather the smaller 1.8-inch variant, which isn't a problem but limits capacity to 60GB – still more than enough for the average mobile worker. Its weight – a mere 1.3kg – is incredibly impressive. The case is made of aluminium, which helps to keep the weight down without needing to be bulky. Thankfully it's solid, and should survive being carried around on a daily basis.

The 12.1-inch screen seems small at first, but spend a few hours with it and there's no problem at all – unless of course you're editing massive Excel documents. Oddly, there's also a Biometric fingerprint scanner built into the case that is supported by a Trusted Protected Module (TPM) chip, which can be set up to encrypt your security codes as well as your data. The scanner means the machine can be set up to allow up to 12 users. It's a pretty useful feature, and one we expect to see more of in the future, particularly in the ultra-stealable ultraportable market.

The R200 keyboard is decent enough, although those with large fingers may want to give it a try first. The whole unit is powered by an Intel Pentium M 753 processor, an ultra-low voltage chip that has a running speed of 1.2GHz, making it fine for daily office tasks. You won't want to run anything too taxing on the machine as it lagged when multiple windows were running – no late-night games playing, then.

Battery life is only average, with around four hours seeming normal (without any heavy work), so it's probably worth investing in a second battery as well. Overall, for a PC that is portable enough to easily fit into your briefcase, and for average day-to-day work, this is an elegant, stylish solution that is sure to turn heads in meeting rooms.

COST £1,400.
CONTACT toshiba.com.

Dialogue Flybook V33i Lux Pro

The Dialogue Flybook V33i 3g Lux Pro is the second incarnation of what can only be described as the most stylish tablet on the market. It's a small, compact device weighing in at 1.3kg, largely due to the use of a 9-inch digitised screen, which means you can carry it around without even knowing it's there.

The Flybook is, at first glance, the gadget you'd expect James Bond to be using (at least, if he wasn't contractually tied into using Sony's Vaio). It manages to cram almost every feature and mode of communication into a tiny device. It even has a neat party trick, doubling as a tablet PC. Flip the screen round, and you can write directly onto it – useful for annotating documents, or for inputting data into simple forms. It's also useful for meetings, where you can jot down ideas easily. As with all tablet PCs, you'll find a range of Microsoft handwriting tools, which allow you to write directly on the screen then convert it to text and either save it disk or even email it directly to colleagues.

The other means of navigation, naturally, is the keyboard, which is small and compact, but surprisingly not that cramped. One of the unique features of the V33i is the placement of the mouse buttons. Above the keyboard rather than below it, the pointing device and two sets of mouse buttons – a pair on either side of the mainboard – mean you'll need to rethink the way you type and navigate the screen. But pick up the machine and you'll find they are in the perfect position.

If you're a Blackberry and web addict, the Flybook is your dream machine. There's a built-in SIM card slot, and the machine can do everything you'd expect, including wifi, 3G and GPRS. It also supports the new HSDPA (see opposite). Powered by an Intel 1.1GHz Pentium M 733 ULV processor, this is an older technology than the latest Core Duo, but it runs at a fraction of the voltage. It never gets hot, which is certainly an advantage, but with a battery life of a little over 2.5 hours, I found myself seeking out a mains socket more often than I'd like from such an ultraportable device. A second battery should easily solve this, and there is a double-sized, double power battery available.

The Flybook is a tough call overall – it's perhaps a little too quirky for a lot of users, and does attract a lot of attention wherever you use it. However, it really does pack in everything you will ever need, and for exhibitionists who can put up with the short battery life, it's well worth a look. Just get ready to be the centre of attention when you whip it out.

COST £2,145.
CONTACT flybook.com.

Sony VGN-TX2HP

With its stunning Vaio range, Sony has become the foremost name in stylish ultraportable PCs, having almost invented the market with its thin, sleek designs. However, it now has everyone from Samsung to Asus biting at its heels, so many in the industry saw this machine – Sony's flagship ultraportable – as the one that could make or break the company. Fortunately for Sony, this machine shows it is ahead of the game and, judging by the Vaio VGN-TX2HP, it's going to stay that way for quite some time. Weighing in at 1.2kg, this is by far the lightest machine the company has produced, but it's not only the weight that's impressive. The 31mm thickness means you can carry it in any bag without too much of a burden.

Made from carbon fibre, the chassis may feel flimsy but it's strong enough to hold up to the occasional knock, and, of course, looks great as well.

The 11.1-inch widescreen display has a glossy Super-TFT coating for richer colour and contrast. Rather than using standard lamps, it is illuminated by a row of LEDs that run along the bottom of the screen. This makes for a sharper image, giving good colour, although in reduced light it can look a little strange. Connectivity is pretty standard, with 802.11bg and 10/100 Ethernet for wifi and fixed networks. You'll also find Bluetooth for wirelessly connecting to headsets and mobile devices.

Considering the thickness of the chassis and its weight, I was impressed that Sony also managed to cram in a dual-layer DVD writer. Powered by an Intel Ultra Low Voltage processor to maximise battery life, the 1.1GHz Pentium M 733 processor is supported by 512MB of memory and an 80GB hard drive, which is more than enough for watching DVDs and most office work. The Sony really comes to the fore on battery life, and you can expect five hours of use with ease. If you need even more battery life, you can opt for a larger second battery (£249 including VAT) that brings the overall weight to 1.5kg. What's more, it acts as a sort of stand, tilting the laptop forward for ergonomic viewing and typing angles.

As an everyday machine, it's tough to find fault with the Vaio. It is light, slick and comfortable to use – a fantastic all-rounder.

COST £1,499.
CONTACT sony.co.uk.

Samsung X1

Samsung might be a name you associate more with TVs or mobiles, but the company has come on leaps and bounds in its home country with a range of computers, and now it's bringing them here. The X1's 14-inch screen means it's not the smallest machine here, but at 1.7kg it's still very light for a machine with a full-size screen. It is thin at just 24mm, and has a top loading DVD rewriter drive to allow it such a svelte outline.

Under the hood there's an Intel 1.2GHz Pentium M 753, which isn't the fastest on test, but is fine for most business tasks, although it can appear a little sluggish at times. However, battery life is great. The X1 is supplied with two battery packs: you can opt for the small pack, which gives in the region of four hours, while I got five hours from the larger pack. So, in theory, if you're willing to take both on the road with you, you'll get in the region of 10 hours. The larger battery does take the weight to over 2kg, but it's a sacrifice worth taking for the extra battery life. It has an interesting look, which is not to everyone's tastes, but the 14-inch screen is a real bonus. The only sticking point was the keyboard, which is a little cramped.

COST £1,409.
CONTACT samsung.com/uk.

Apple Macbook

The iPod styling is a real love or hate affair, but this latest version of Apple's consumer laptop also packs a serious punch, with Apple's latest Intel Core 2 Duo processor giving its PC competition a run for its money. It may seem strange to include what is essentially Apple's consumer laptop line here, but the 13-inch screen, blazing performance and great looks make it worthy of inclusion.

It's worth checking with your IT department before buying – many will run a mile at the thought of supporting a Mac. If they are willing, it's well worth considering. Much has been written about the pros and cons of Macs versus PCs, but in general Macs are easier to use, and less susceptible to viruses. However, the software available is limited, so check that your favourite software is available before switching.

At the top of the new range is the Black MacBook, which will cost you an additional £130 for the privilege over the standard white version. While on paper it sports a bigger hard disk drive, even an upgrade means this model's paint job makes this £40 more expensive. That said, it does look great. There's a tiny camera, the iSight, built into the top of the screen, and a neat MagSafe power socket that will automatically detach if you trip over the cable – a killer feature for anyone working in a cramped hotel room or plane seat. The highly glossy screen is excellent, although in direct sunlight can be a little too glossy. As for connectivity, Bluetooth, wifi and a Gigabit Ethernet connection come as standard, as does a Firewire and two USB2.0 sockets on the left of the machine. Overall, the MacBook is, on the face of it, an odd choice for corporate users. But its looks, price and features make it well worth considering.

COST From £749.
CONTACT apple.com.

Lenovo ThinkPad X41

Lenovo, the Chinese company that bought the IBM hardware brand last year, as well as the trademark for ThinkPad notebook, has really come to the fore with this brilliant take on the tablet PC. The first thing you'll notice is how well it's built. It feels as though it will survive the rough and tumble of everyday life easily, and while it has kept the old IBM "nipple" joystick in the middle of the keyboard, I actually prefer this to a trackpad. It also has a superb keyboard, with a solid feel to the keys.

At first appearance, this is still very much a notebook, and follows the standard trend of taking a notebook design and adding a digitised screen, which you can write on with the specially supplied pen. In this way, you can use the X41 as a standard ultraportable, but when you want to make notes or share an idea with others, you can twist the 12.1-inch screen around and use it in tablet mode. As you would expect of the ThinkPad brand, the screen is great to use and feels responsive.

As a reminder that this is a business machine, a Biometric fingerprint reader can be found by the side of the screen. Other key features include IBM's rescue and recovery software, which can repair software crashes instantly. The hard drive is protected from fatal falls by the use of the Active Protection System, which acts like an airbag. Being an IBM machine in everything but name, it is also something your IT department will love, as it will integrate easily into whatever IT set-up you have (this is worth bearing in mind as some IT departments can have minor heart failure when asked to look at the latest ultrathin Vaio).

Weighing in at 1.7kg, this model worked off the battery power for close to three hours, while connected to a wireless network. It's not exactly all-day working, but it's not bad, and there is a second, larger battery pack that offers well over five hours of battery life but costs £150 (including VAT).

Under the hood is an ultra-low voltage Pentium M, in this instance the 758, which is backed by 512MB of DDR2 memory. It's fine for office tasks, although not the fastest machine here by a long shot. Overall, the Lenovo is a great little performer – solid and reliable, and with the added bonus of tablet PC features.

COST £1,500.
CONTACT lenovo.co.uk.

Asus S6

The only leather-coated keyboard in our test, there's no denying that Asus has really taken the whole "stylish" thing to heart. It's an ultraportable weighing in at a slim and light 1.4kg, and the back of the lid and the palm-rests are covered in leather. This may seem a little kitsch (and the pink version on offer certainly is), but when it comes to adding that all-important touch-and-feel factor, it's surprising how pleasing it is. It also means it stays cooler to the touch, so there is a practical benefit as well. Despite the pink leather, it's a robust and well-built machine, albeit with a relatively small 11-inch screen.

Using a sharp widescreen resolution of 1366x768 pixels, the display is consistently clear and accurate in all lighting conditions. Typically for a slim and light notebook, graphics are integrated and so performance isn't brilliant, but they're fast enough to handle daily tasks without too much trouble. Powered by an Intel Core Duo L2400, this dual-core low-voltage chip packs the latest mobile processing technology into a small package.

Backed by 1,024MB of memory and a 80GB hard drive, there is little to complain about in terms of performance, as the machine handled well in all circumstances. There's also a dual layer DVD rewriter, and Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g wifi and Bluetooth mean you'll always be in touch.

The only real downside is the battery life. I managed to get a little over two hours from the standard battery, which isn't ideal if you're out and about all day. Overall, it's great that Asus has tried to make this machine distinctive, and the processor packs a real punch. So if you can live with the battery life, it's a real contender – even in pink leather.

COST £1,799.
CONTACT asus.com.

Fujitsu Siemens LifeBook S2110

The LifeBook is a weird-looking machine. Open it up and it looks strangely chaotic, with the DVD drive above the keyboard. However, this does mean it's incredibly thin, at 24mm. At 1.9kg it is also light, and with a built-in DVD rewriter, you won't need to make sacrifices. The casing is well built and I didn't find any weak spots, which is always a sign of reliability for an ultraportable. The body is square in shape, which leaves plenty of room for a decent-sized keyboard, as well as palm-rests, and it's a comfortable machine to use. The 13.3-inch screen is more than adequate, and the graphics performance is fine for business users – just don't expect to be playing the latest games.

Fujitsu Siemens has opted for an AMD Turion, a 1.8GHz chip which is more than fast enough for most things. Turion, like Intel's mobile chips, is designed to save battery life as well as to offer performance. In the case of the S2110 it certainly did, giving around four hours of battery life. To keep roaming office workers happy, the S2110 has 802.11a/b/g wifi. Rather than Gigabit Ethernet, the S2110 has a slower 10/100 Ethernet adaptor for connection to fixed networks. Connectivity is boosted with the inclusion of three USB ports, Firewire and a VGA-out socket. There's also a superb three-year warranty.

With a powerful processor and a great battery life, this is a lightweight notebook at a great price. If you can put up with its ugly duckling looks, it's a great option if you can't quite stretch to the Vaio.

COST £1,291.
CONTACT fujitsu-siemens.co.uk.

Dell D420

Dell's Latitude notebooks are doing brilliantly, and the 1.5kg D420 is no exception. It is powered by Intel's U2500, a Core Duo CPU with a speed of 1.2GHz. If that doesn't sound terribly impressive, take into account the brilliant battery life. Keeping in touch on the move is something the D420 does exceptionally well. Not only will it work in any wifi hotspot, but the integrated Dell Wireless 5505 card is an HSDPA adapter compatible with 3G SIM cards. The D420 has most of the plus points of the D620. The chassis is built from magnesium alloy, and the build quality should survive all but the most reckless treatment. The excellent keyboard is another carryover, as are the trackpoint and trackpad. The smart card reader and fingerprint scanner between the mouse buttons remain, as does the TPM. The 12.1-inch widescreen has a resolution of 1,280x800 and a matte finish. However, the lack of an optical drive is a little more of a disappointment. The Sony Vaio VGN-TX2XP manages to squeeze in a DVD writer, yet weighs even less at 1.2kg – it also has a bigger hard disk. To use an optical device on the D420, you'll need to attach the media slice, but at least this is included in the price (use the E-Value code MAG-240PCP on Dell's website to order this exact model). The media slice includes not only a CD combo drive but also serial, parallel, USB and DVI-I ports. As standard, the D420 comes with a six-cell battery. The battery provided almost two hours of heavy use while watching DVDs, and two hours with light use, and there's a six-hour battery option as well. The D420 is very much a business laptop, and the sober looks, high-end features and accompanying price reflect that. But it's a decent all-rounder, good in every category, but outstanding in none: a sensible, safe choice.

COST £1,149.
CONTACT dell.co.uk.

Marc Gardener

TECHNOLOGY REVIEW

V-phone from Vonage

What is it? A bright orange USB memory stick complete with headset (ear pieces) with a microphone to make and receive calls.

How does it work? Just plug it into your PC and the preloaded software will launch. You can then make calls using the on-screen keyboard, access your contact list, and view recently called numbers.

Quality of received calls using the ear pieces is good, but occasionally the person at the other end said my voice was muffled – I found it necessary to hold the microphone in my hand rather than let it hang in the hands-free position.

Unlike some internet phone services the V-Phone is automatically allocated a number for incoming calls and setting up voicemail. There are additional free services such as caller ID, call waiting and forwarding – with Skype these services come at extra cost. Another benefit is that it can be used as a mass storage device with about 250MB of space.

Cost £19.99 to buy and £7.99 per month for unlimited calls to the UK and Ireland.

Verdict Small and light, it has some advantages over larger VOIP handsets but does restrict you to Vonage only. Before choosing, it is worth looking at call costs based on the frequency and destination of your calls. If you phone the UK and US, for example, Skype costs about 1.2 pence a minute to a landline and 14 pence to a mobile. Call costs to some destinations tend to be slightly more expensive with Vonage.

Julian Gregory

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