How To Buy Guide - Laptop Guide

Ultraportables, also known as subnotebooks, are slightly larger than netbooks and have more power. Typical weights are in the 4 – 6 pound range with screen sizes around 12 – 14 inches. They are usually about 1 inch thick, making them very portable.

Unlike netbooks, ultraportables tend to have enough power to be used as a day-to-day computer rather than a secondary computer. They often use dual core processors like the Intel Core 2 Duo, have more ports than a netbook, and may come with an optical drive. Expect to pay a premium for this combination of portability and performance though. Prices start around $1000 and go up from there.

While not as powerful as some of the mainstream or desktop replacement laptops, ultraportables tend to be ideal for business travelers who need a portable laptop, but can’t afford to sacrifice much in the way of performance. If an ultraportable sounds right for you, you may want to consider the Lenovo ThinkPad X300 series or the Apple MacBook Air Notebook.