WHAT'S HOT: Thin and lightweight, the Actius MV10W tips the scales at just 5.1 pounds (with its power adapter and combination DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive). You can drop the notebook's weight to a superlight 3.7 pounds by pulling out the combo drive and replacing it with the included weight-saver insert.

The MV10W comes wireless enabled, with Wi-Fi (802.11b) antennas embedded in the sides of the 12.1-inch screen. Subscribe to a Wi-Fi service, and you're ready to wirelessly explore the Internet and pick up e-mail at access hot spots. The unit's FireWire, S-Video-out, and S/PDIF ports (the last doubles as a stereo headphones port) satisfy cutting-edge multimedia needs.

Equipped with a 1-GHz Pentium III-M processor, the Actius MV10W performs like a champ for its class. Its PC WorldBench 4 score of 95 matches that of most new Pentium 4 notebooks we've tested. We measured the MV10W's battery life at a healthy 3 hours, which matches Sharp's advertised claims. An add-on $199 battery that snaps onto the bottom of the notebook adds 13.1 ounces to the weight, but it also adds 3 more hours of battery life (for a total of 6), according to Sharp.

WHAT'S NOT: Our test machine's combination drive was so difficult to remove that we finally had to force it out with the flat end of a screwdriver while pressing the bottom release. Perhaps fortunately, the modular bay currently does not accept any devices other than optical drives, so some users may never need to access it.

The notebook has a single, wimpy speaker on the bottom; turning the volume wheel hardly makes a difference. The Actius MV10W's 30GB hard drive is not user accessible, and its 12.1-inch screen seems a trifle small for a 5.1-pound notebook when you consider that IBM's ThinkPad T30 (5.7-pounds without a power adapter) offers a 14.1-inch screen.

A USB 1.1 floppy drive for the MV10W costs an extra $99. The notebook does not have a port replicator or docking-station option, making it a poor candidate to replace a desktop. Sharp does not offer an office application suite with its portable--you'll have to purchase and install one separately.

WHAT ELSE: Like most small notebooks, the Actius MV10W includes an all-important VGA port for attaching a monitor and lacks less-crucial PS/2 and serial ports. It also lacks a standard parallel port, but it does squeeze in a proprietary connection for plugging in a short parallel adapter cable that comes with the notebook. A sturdy drop-down door on the back protects the two connections, while attached rubber plugs cover the network and modem jacks on the left side.

The keyboard spans most of the Actius MV10W's width, allowing roomier typing than many other superslim portables. Aside from a slightly shallow feel and cramped Shift key, the keyboard felt fine to us, and we liked the stylish dark looks of its touchpad and mouse buttons. Unlike the hard drive, memory is easy to reach: It lies under a bottom panel held in place by two small screws. The Actius MV10W comes with a printed Operation Manual but no electronic documentation.

UPSHOT: If you don't mind the Actius MV10W's skimpy 12.1-inch screen and you like to travel with an optical drive, the MV10W is suitable for working while on the road. With no docking station or port replicator option, however, you'll want to hang onto your office desktop PC.

SUMMARY

Sharp Actius MV10W PC WorldBench 4 score of 95, 1-GHz/733-MHz Pentium III-M CPU, 256MB of RAM, Windows XP Professional, 12.1-inch active-matrix screen, Intel 830MG graphics using main memory, 30GB hard drive, 8X DVD-ROM and 16X/10X/24X CD-RW combination drive, built-in V.90 modem and network interface, touchpad pointing device, 5.1-pound weight (including combination drive, parallel port adapter cable, AC adapter, and phone cord). One-year parts and labor warranty; free toll-free 24-hour technical support. $2199 800/237-4277 www.sharpsystems.com