Laptops, particularly stylish “thin-and-light” machines, such as Dell’s Adamo ($, ♥♥♥♥)*, Apple’s ultra-thin MacBook Air ($, ♥♥♥♥), and Acer’s Aspire Timeline ($$$, ♥♥♥), which has excellent battery life, are objects of desire and even envy among early adopters and the digerati.
Alternatively, consider a Lenovo ThinkPad X300 ($$, ♥♥♥♥), which is plain-looking but has a great keyboard and screen, or Toshiba’s Portégé R600 ($$, ♥♥♥), elegant and very thin. Apple’s 13in MacBook Pro ($$, ♥♥♥♥♥) is good if you prefer OS X.
For something more cheap and cheerful, sales of netbooks – low-priced mini-laptops with relatively low-powered microprocessors, and screens typically between 10in and 13in across – have been booming, partly because they are excellent value for money, make wonderful second machines and are small enough to take almost anywhere. Of course, this also makes them ideal holiday gifts.
My top picks are the Asus Eee PC 1101HA ($$$, ♥♥♥) from the Taiwanese company that invented the netbook, the sleek and slim Acer Aspire One ($$$$, ♥♥♥♥), or the Toshiba mini NB205-N210 ($$$, ♥♥♥♥).
For a colourful alternative that may appeal particularly to the young, or young at heart, try the Dell Mini 10v ($$$$, ♥♥♥♥) (pictured), which comes in seven colours, including “promise pink” and “passion purple”, or a choice of 232 patterns. For the latest in ultra-chic, check out the Windows 7-powered Nokia Booklet 3G ($$, ♥♥♥♥♥) with its 12-hour battery life and built-in wireless broadband capabilities, although it is currently only available in the US and Germany.
Fancy a “crossover” netbook that bridges the gap between netbooks and traditional laptops? Check out the MSI X340 ($$$$, ♥♥♥) for its 13.4in screen and sleek design.
(*My choices are scored according to value for money ($$$$$) and desirability (♥♥♥♥♥), with a maximum of five for each. Selections are based on my own tests, which emphasised ease of use, design and range of features.)
