Is a 4.5-pound machine too much to carry? An ultraportable notebook is the answer. These featherweight marvels cost a bit more and involve some compromises, but at 4 pounds or less (much less in some cases), they are easy to stash in a bag.

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What Are Ultraportable Notebooks?

Thinner and lighter than even a thin-and-light notebook, an ultraportable notebook is a machine that weighs less than 4 pounds but still delivers the functionality of a full PC. Screens are smaller, keyboards are tighter, and processors are generally less powerful than with a full-size notebook.

Who Are They For?

An ultraportable notebook is the right choice for anyone who wants a constant computing companion. The target demographic is typically road-going professionals, but an ultraportable might also suit a college student who needs a machine in class each day, as well as a power user who wants a PC at the ready should they happen upon a Wi-Fi hotspot.

What Can You Expect From an Ultraportable Notebook?

• 10.6- to 12.1-inch screen
• Core Solo or Core Duo ULV processor
• 2.5 to 4.0 pounds
• Optional solid-state drive
• Optional wireless broadband

Simple Buying Tips

• Is it too small? Before you commit to your preferred ultraportable notebook, be sure you can live with the size of its screen and keyboard day in and day out. The small LCD combined with today's higher resolutions will mean tiny default type, and some keyboards have truncated keys that can give a fast touch typist fits.
  
  
• Internal or external optical? You also need to think hard about whether you want the optical drive to be built in, or if you can live with an external drive. The former means you'll always have a drive handy (for watching movies on the plane, for example), but opting for an external drive lets you shed about a pound from your load when you can leave it behind.
  
  
• Get a bigger battery. If you tend to travel (or get stuck in long meetings), opt for the notebook's extended battery. It adds a little bulk, but often a couple extra hours of runtime. If all-day computing away from an AC outlet is essential, buy an extra battery.
  
  
• Sacrifice performance. Generally speaking, opting for an ultraportable will mean giveing up some processing power. The ULV CPUs and integrated GPUs employed draw less power and produce less heat (important in an ultraportable's tight confines), which limits the machine's use to typical productivity chores and basic multimedia.