Wow, they really mean it when they say not to judge a book by its cover – but in this case an ultra-portable laptop!  Seriously, this computer doesn’t look that flashy, but it’s really a very solid machine.  Weighing in at just under 3 lbs with the smallest battery and with one of the new Centrino 2 processors, it’s a solid machine.  With a 1280 by 800 pixel 12.1″ widescreen, I consider it to be on the larger und of the ultra-portable laptop line.  It also thankfully comes equipped with a built-in webcam (a feature that is thankfully becoming more and more commonplace).

The keyboard is certainly large enough that no one could ever have issues with it.  Even with my large hands I have no problems.  It also has some great features like dedicated page up and down buttons, spill resistance, and the ThinkVantage button.  This one button gives support for manuals, security, recovery, and a host of other advantages.  Interestingly enough, it doesn’t have a touchpad – only one of those nubs.  I consider this a large disadvantage, but it does allow for a larger keyboard.

Most of these come with 2 Gb RAM and Intel Duo processors, so it certainly has some solid processing power.  Unfortunately it only comes with integrated graphics, so you game users will suffer somewhat.  A feature I liked though was the choice of three battery sizes – the largest of which offers a whopping nine hours of computer usage.  Unfortunately it does add weight up to about 4 lbs, but nine hours of usage is massive in my world – you could effectively use it all day and not run out of juice.  Two of these batteries will last you through a plane ride to almost anywhere.

One somewhat strange feature is an extra modular bay – you can plug in another battery or another hard disc here, which adds versatility.  Unfortunately, it has no built in optical drive – meaning you have to shell out extra to be able to do anything with discs.  Thankfully it does come with 3 USB slots., with fo course mic, headphone, and Ethernet jacks.  You can also pick SD card slot and no modem, or modem slot + 5-in-one card reader.  Your choice of hard discs is excellent too – you can choose regular disc drives around 160 Gb, or you can go for crash proof solid state hard drives up to 64 Gb – perfect for protecting your data.  I also like how it offers wifi, Bluetooth, and even GPS!

In conclusion, this laptop is excellent for the ultra portable line.  It has a host of options for customization, so I think almost anyone can find a setup they would like.  It also has a magnesium alloy cover and bottom, lending itself to a very solid ad durable design.  I highly recommend it.

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