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Take your bytes

Laptops are an essential part of the everyday life of an executive and an inseparable travelling companion on business trips. They let you run your office away from office, and today you can’t imagine life without one. The specifications obviously vary from brand to brand. Besides, most laptops pack a punch when it comes to speed, and are getting lighter and more compact with each passing day. The choices are innumerable, but we have narrowed down on a few striking laptops that we think should make lives easier, and make a bold statement as well.

Lenovo ThinkPad R61

While the IBM blueprint is still evident in the Lenovo ThinkPad R61, the addition of a wide-screen display and all the latest Centrino Duo tricks make this a ThinkPad that could woo home users along with its legion of fans among business travellers. The 14.1-inch R61 includes all the important parts of Intel's revamped Centrino platform, including the new Core 2 Duo T7500 CPU, extra onboard turbo memory and 802.11n Wi-Fi. The time-tested design includes traveller-friendly touches, such as sturdy steel hinges and a shock-mounted hard drive.

Dell XPS M1330

Dell has finally put design first with the head-turning XPS M1330 laptop, emphasising both the thin and light aspects without sacrificing features or performance. This is a superthin, high-end laptop, from the slot-loading DVD drive to the touch-sensitive media buttons and HDMI-output jack. At US$2,000 and up, it's definitely a premium product, but worth it if head-turning design is as important to you as specs and performance. At less than four pounds, it's one of the lightest 13-inch laptops in the market.

Fujitsu LifeBook

Fujitsu's business-oriented thin-and-light LifeBook S2210 offers plenty of features and strong performance. Business-friendly features include Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and a hard drive shock sensor. It's an attractive, well-designed system that doesn't sacrifice performance, but the stodgy 4:3 screen and relatively short battery life are definite turn-offs.

Measuring 11.5 inches wide, 9.4 inches deep, and 1.1 inches high, the LifeBook S2210 is on the small end of the thin-and-light spectrum, slightly larger than a Lenovo ThinkPad X60, but smaller than the Apple MacBook. It weighs 4.2 pounds, which is perfect for frequent commuting.

HP Pavilion dv9500t

The HP Pavilion dv9500t laptop has a beautiful design; a bright, crisp display; a thorough set of AV controls, ports, and connections; long battery life; a touch pad on/off button and a fingerprint reader. It is a great choice for home users who don't want to spend a fortune on a large entertainment notebook. HP's desktop replacement is among the first available systems to feature Intel's refreshed Centrino Duo mobile platform, codenamed Santa Rosa. However, at nine pounds with its AC adapter, it is too heavy to carry with you every day. The screen produces rich colours and sharp details.