WHAT'S HOT: The NEC Versa TXi edges out the Fujitsu LifeBook S as the lightest notebook we've seen that includes an internal device bay. When equipped with a hollow travel module, the TXi weighs only 3.5 pounds. When holding the DVD-ROM/CD-RW combination drive that came with our test unit--and with the notebook's USB floppy drive and AC adapter attached--the TXi still weighs less than 6 pounds. Individual port covers protect almost every connection, offering peace of mind if you're the type to worry about dust or moisture buildup. This little notebook also features three USB ports conveniently located in a row on the right side. On the front, multimedia fans get a high-speed IEEE 1394 port and a combination headphone-and-S/PDIF port. The latter gives you the option of downloading tunes onto a Sony minidisc player. NEC provides a mini-TV-out port on the back, though using it involves attaching an included adapter cable.

WHAT'S NOT: In our tests, the TXi drained its lightweight three-cell battery in 1 hour and 16 minutes. You have two options for extending this time, but neither is perfect. For up to 3 hours of untethered work, you can buy a $179 secondary battery and insert it in the modular bay, but that means you can't use your optical drive. Alternatively, you can replace the main battery with a heavier, more powerful 15-cell power pack that costs $399 extra and adds 1.6 pounds to the carrying weight. This battery lasts for up to 5 hours, according to NEC.

The TXi lacks standard parallel, serial, and PS/2 connections, but it does include a miniparallel/miniserial combination connection and one of the adapter cables it needs for parallel-port peripherals. The hard drive can't be removed, which eliminates the option of storing data separately for safekeeping, and the TXi has no docking connection.

WHAT ELSE: Though it requires awkward combination keystrokes for paging up and down, the TXi's small graphite-gray keyboard feels fairly comfortable and looks good, with cheerful, easy-to-read white and yellow lettering. Some keys are half size, and the backspace is a strangely long, skinny key--but the layout works and the sliding scroll button is easier to use than a rocker. Two shortcut buttons above the keyboard launch e-mail and your Web home page. (To launch different programs or files, you have to edit an .ini file, which can be an arduous task. But at least the option is there.) Next to these buttons are dedicated audio controls for stopping, advancing and ejecting music CDs. A thumbwheel on the front controls volume. You'll need headphones, however: The tinny speakers are good for little more than low background music.

The TXi's modular bay can accept only two types of devices: an optical drive or a second battery. A thick, attractive print manual and an electronic manual on CD-ROM round out the TXi's features. Though we haven't tested any other laptops with the TXi's processor, its PC WorldBench 4 score of 83 reveals it to be a tad sluggish for a notebook equipped with the Pentium III-750/600 processor. A WinBook Z1 with a Celeron-750 CPU, for instance, earns the same score.

UPSHOT: The NEC Versa TXi will tempt business types and consumers alike with its 3.5-pound weight and smart looks. USB devotees and digital editors who need its high-speed port will love it even more. Unfortunately, you pay for the ultraportability with ultrashort battery life.

SUMMARY

NEC Versa TXi PC WorldBench 4 score of 83, Pentium III-750/600, 128MB of RAM, 256KB of L2 cache, Windows 2000 Professional, 12.1-inch active-matrix screen, ATI Rage P/M Mobility graphics with 8MB of SGRAM, 20GB hard drive, 8X DVD-ROM and 8X/4X/24X CD-RW combination drive, built-in V.90 modem and network jacks, touchpad pointing device, 5.6-pound weight (including USB floppy drive, AC adapter, and phone cord). Three-year parts and labor warranty; free, unlimited 24-hour toll-free technical support. $2499 888/632-8701 www.neccomp.com