Road Warrior: Lightweight Laptops

Is lightweight the right weight? No doubt you've seen the MacBook Air ads, and perhaps you've checked out some of the popular laptop's competitors. Here's a rundown of what you can get at four-and-a-half pounds or less.MacBook Air (80GB)Weight: 3 lbs
Screen size: 13.3 inches
Price: $1,799WHAT YOU'LL LIKE: The MacBook Air is comparable toits predecessor, the MacBook, so you may already be familiar with the platform. And add-ons such as a backlit keyboard and a built-in ambient light sensor are handy for night flights.WHAT YOU WON'T: If you've recently purchased a standard MacBook, you may feel you've missed out on the latest technologies. The Air also is missing some of the features of its older generation, such as multiple USB ports and expansion capabilities.

Dell XPS M1330Weight: 4.3 lbs
Screen size: 13.3 inches
Price: $999 to $1,997WHAT YOU'LL LIKE: A midrange hard drive (120 to 200 GB) beats MacBook Air's, and two USB ports allow you to charge an MP3 player and still have a slot to spare. A (PRODUCT) RED version allows you to do some global good with your purchase.WHAT YOU WON'T: Battery life is an issue, and to upgrade in memory, you'll have to choose a higher-end version.

Sony Vaio TZ150NWeight: 2.7 lbs
Screen size: 11.1 inches
Price: $1,659WHAT YOU'LL LIKE: Offers a bigger hard drive than the MacBook Air (250GB vs. 64 or 80). Two USB ports make connecting devices to the laptop easier.WHAT YOU WON'T: Research reports indicate the Sony lags behind in multitasking and photo processing, and the smaller screen may present some readability issues for those without near-perfect vision.