Looking for a laptop that weighs less than your BlackBerry? Well, those may be still a few years off, but these 2.5-pound-and-under selections will be light on your luggage—and at less than a grand, pretty light on your wallet, too. So, if your New Year's Resolution was to lose a few pounds, here's a great place to start.
MSI Wind
$479, www.msimobile.com
The MSI Wind offers maximum screen size for minimal weight and price. The 10-inch screen is part of a laptop that clocks in at just 2.5 pounds. The Windows platform allows users to access files from all of their favorite Microsoft programs. Plus, it's Bluetooth enabled and allows for wireless Web browsing, in addition to featuring a Webcam—ideal for communicating with those at home. However, this model has limited battery life, so keeping the charger handy is a must. Comes in four designs.
Fujitsu LifeBook U810
$899, www.computers.us.fujitsu.com/
The LifeBook, with its 5.6-inch screen and 1.5-pound weight, blurs the line between smart phone and laptop. But some of the bonus features may make it the perfect hybrid. A built-in camera, wireless capabilities, five-and-a-half hours of battery life, a swivel screen, 1 GB of memory and a touch screen make for a machine that does big things despite being so small. (However, that size has forced Fujitsu to compromise: Some users have commented that the keyboard has some odd design choices.) Multiple system configurations for this Windows-compatible laptop are available.
Asus Eee PC 4G
$379, www.asus.com
With a 7-inch screen, this Windows XP-compatible model checks in at half the size of traditional notebooks. This 2-pound model also boasts high-tech upgrades that protect it from the wear and tear business travel can often bring, and should last a three-hour flight without needing to recharge. Users looking to upgrade from this model should check out the 8G model, which has 1 GB of memory, a sizable upgrade from the 4G's 512 MB. The 4G comes in five colors.
Acer Aspire One
$299, www.acer.com/aspireone/
The Acer is ideal for the casual user who wants to have an inexpensive model on the road with them. At 2.1 pounds, the Acer offers users two hours of battery life and 512 MB of memory. The Acer's screen size—at 8.9 inches—is larger than some of its competitors—which is key when working on spreadsheets or text files. The Acer runs on a Linux platform and comes with its own Office Suite programs. Its instant-on capability means that you're ready just 30 seconds after you reach cruising altitude on your flight. Comes in four colors.
© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.