Notebook Computers

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			IN THIS REPORT

Lightweight, fast, and plenty powerful, there's never been a better time to buy a notebook computer.

We took ten notebooks on the test oval -- okay, the train -- to see which performed like true road warriors. The machines under consideration included portable offerings from Apple, Compaq, Dell, Fujitsu, Gateway, IBM, Sharp, Sony, Toshiba, and WinBook.

Which ones did we rate highly? Which ones did we want to leave in a closet?

You'll find out in our 2002 Notebook Buyer's Guide. In addition to reviews of the ten machines, you'll find stories about the current state of mobile computing, as well as a checklist for purchasing a portable.

FEATURE ARTICLES

		Charge of the Light Brigade Manufacturers keep extending the capabilities of portable computers. Now, if they could just extend the battery life of portable computers.

		This Year's Models The most bang for the buck? Look no farther than Fujitsu's practical LifeBook S. For a little more sex appeal, however, consider Sharp's elegant Actius.

		Kicking the Tires: A Buyer's Checklist When considering the purchase of a notebook computer, here's what to look for.


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		NOTEBOOK REVIEWS

		Apple iBook Verdict: Apple's spiffy iBook may look like a toy, but it's a powerful portable.

		Compaq Evo N410c Verdict: Little Evo a swell machine, although reliability could be a worry.

		Dell Latitude X200 Verdict: Docking station elevates Dell Latitude from good to very good.

		Fujitsu LifeBook S Verdict: Feature-packed -- and portable to boot -- Fujitsu's notebook tops our short list.

		Gateway 200 Verdict: A couple of glitches marr an otherwise first-rate portable from Gateway.

		Sharp Actius UM30W Verdict: Sharp's Actius is a simple, stylish -- and super light -- portable. If only it had a docking unit.

		Sony VAIO PCG-VX88 Verdict: Swell VAIO another solid portable offering from Sony. It's a bit on the portly side, however.

		WinBook X2 Verdict: Muscle-types may find this portable actually portable. But we think the X2 could stand to shed some pounds.

		IBM ThinkPad X24 Verdict: Latest ultralight from Big Blue features titanium skin. It also features a hefty price tag.

		Toshiba Portege 2000 Verdict: Thin and stylish, the Toshiba Portege 2000 could stand a little muscle in the battery -- and processor -- departments.


		VENDOR LISTINGS

		2002 Notebook Vendors Links to all the notebooks listed in this buyer's guide.


		RECOMMENDED READING FROM CFO.COM

		HP/Compaq: Is it Working? Hewlett-Packard made fast, firm decisions as it integrated Compaq; if only customers would do the same.

		Remote Possibilities Companies are more interested than ever in the concept of a far-flung workforce.

		Windows XP: Ray of Hype? Is it worth making the switch to Microsoft's latest operating system?

		Going Hybrid Rumours of open-source software's demise are exaggerated. Development of Linux is increasingly driven by large computer makers, such as HP and IBM.

		A Lemon Law for Software? If Microsoft made cars instead of computer programs, product-liability suits might by now have driven it out of business. Should software makers be made more accountable for damage caused by faulty programs?

		Linux: When Free Isn't Linux may be open source software, but does that mean you don't have to pay for it?

		A Different Way of Working All sorts of companies are finding mobile Internet technology surprisingly useful.

		E-commerce, Unplugged The wireless workforce is coming -- but expect some bad chord changes along the way.

		Deskbound for Glory The PC market may be stagnant, but today even an old machine can take a knowledge worker new places.

		The Great Inventory Correction The economic downturn left tech companies with mountains of goods. Now, they're rethinking how they manage their supply chains.


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