Lenovo ThinkPad X41

The long-distance runner among notebooks, the ThinkPad X41 sprinted for 6 hours on the included extended battery that came with our test unit. Its 3.3-pound weight keeps you light on your own feet. Back at the desk, the ultraportable snaps onto the UltraBase Dock, a thin bottom slice that replicates ports and provides an internal bay that houses an optical drive. IBM says that this time around the dock comes standard with the system.

Unlike some other ThinkPads, which have both trackpad and eraserhead, the X41 has only the latter. Touch typists, however, will love the pitch-perfect layout and deep keystroke. Plus, there are a few extras. A dedicated button launches the Acrobat user manual; a fingerprint reader bypasses password entry. A combination keystroke activates IBM's patented ThinkLight, which is an LED in the top edge of the 12.1-inch screen that shines just enough light on the keyboard so you can identify the keys for typing. The ThinkLight is a nice extra that will come in handy if you spend a lot of time taking notes in dark places like conference halls or on red-eye flights.