Dell Inspiron 700M

The $2091 700m is well-equipped overall: A DVD burner comes built in. Extras include an S-Video-out port for using a TV as an external monitor, a FireWire port for downloading video from a camcorder, and an SD Card slot. It would have been nice, however, to have a Wi-Fi switch.

Thanks to an unusually thick case for an ultraportable--1.6 inches at the hinges--the 700m balances well on the lap. We liked the feel of typing on the 700m's keyboard, but it wasn't perfect: The half-size punctuation keys are hard to locate with your fingers, and paging requires combination keystrokes. On the plus side, the firm-feeling keyboard is well laid out and includes a large, easy-to-navigate touchpad. Most touch typists should be able to overcome the flaws.

Want to keep your upgrade options open? You can with the 700m, thanks to an accessible memory slot and hard drive. You can reach either simply by removing a bottom protective panel held in place by a few screws. (The second memory slot, under the keyboard, can't be reached.) Our only serious complaint about the design is that the DVD drive's eject button is hard to press.

The rear-mounted, four-cell battery lasted 2.75 hours in our tests. If you don't mind adding a half-pound to the weight of the laptop, you can upgrade to a longer-lasting eight-cell replacement battery for $53 that serves up an additional 5 hours, according to Dell.

Upshot: A strong, lightweight laptop, the Dell Inspiron 700m offers the bonus of a wide-aspect screen. All that mars the picture is a slightly cramped keyboard and an annoying optical drive button.

Carla Thornton