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Biometrics, the futuristic-sounding technique of using physical characteristics like your retina or fingerprint to verify your identity, has long been touted as the next big thing in PC security. A system that uses biometrics doesn't require you to recall a password or punch in a code. You are the password.

Well, the future has finally arrived. Acer's TravelMate 739TLV, the first laptop we've seen that has a built-in fingerprint reader, snags the fourth spot on our power chart this month.

The reader, a postage stamp-size window in the wrist rest, worked like a charm. Though pricey at $3499, the 739TLV would be a good (and a very cool) choice for any company looking for a way to put tougher locks on its vital data.

Several other new notebooks also made the cut this month. On the power list, Fujitsu's lightweight PC E-6571 offers a set of shortcut buttons that can double as a password system. On the budget side, Fujitsu's PC I-4187 appeals to those who want a multimedia-savvy laptop for under $1400.

The WinBook Si 800 CD offers raw performance at a low price of $1299, but its Pentium III-800 CPU is a desktop processor. If you need to work on the go, consider Compaq's corporate-minded Armada E500S, on our midrange list. It can hold three batteries at once.

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