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A Buyer's Guide To Ultramobile PCs: Page 3 of 5

The XPS M1330 is new, available only since last month, and so it features Microsoft's latest Windows Vista operating system--either Vista Home Premium or Ultimate versions. It uses the Intel Core 2 Duo processor.

The XPS M1330 has some limitations. It's not as power efficient as some other ultraportable laptops on the market and only offers up to seven hours of battery life. Inserting a nine-cell battery will add extra weight. And like the others on this list, it doesn't offer the option of reading Blu-ray discs.

Toshiba Portege R500
Toshiba Portege R500
Toshiba Portege R500

Weight: 1.7 pounds
Price: Starting at $1,999

Toshiba's Portege R500 laptop, which was unveiled in June, is tagged as "the world's thinnest notebook series with an integrated optical drive." Toshiba offers two versions: Windows XP Professional and Windows Vista Business, both of which are intended for on-the-go businesspeople.

The Portege R500 is not only light, but it also takes into consideration various conditions that mobile professionals face on the road. For example, the laptop has a transreflective screen that uses natural light from the outdoors to bring out colors and images, and the LED backlit display produces rich colors even in poor lighting conditions. Toshiba promises up to 12.5 hours of battery life, as well as durability if it's dropped. Other features include a 12.1-inch screen, Intel Core 2 Duo proces- sor, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator, 802.11n wireless connectivity, and an integrated DVD-SuperMulti drive.

The laptop, however, has only one memory upgrade slot, and it lacks an integrated modem if you're forced to use a dial-up Internet connection.