Top notebook PCs

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Inspiron 8000 has four colors available for to personalize your notebook

By Carla Thornton

(IDG) -- Biometrics, the futuristic-sounding technique of using physical characteristics like your retina or fingerprint to verify your identity, has long been touted as the next big thing in PC security. A system that uses biometrics doesn't require you to recall a password or punch in a code. You are the password.

Well, the future has finally arrived. Acer's TravelMate 739TLV, the first laptop we've seen that has a built-in fingerprint reader, snags the fourth spot on our power chart this month.

The reader, a postage stamp-size window in the wrist rest, worked like a charm. Though pricey at $3499, the 739TLV would be a good (and a very cool) choice for any company looking for a way to put tougher locks on its vital data.

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Several other new notebooks also made the cut this month. On the power list, Fujitsu's lightweight PC E-6571 offers a set of shortcut buttons that can double as a password system. On the budget side, Fujitsu's PC I-4187 appeals to those who want a multimedia-savvy laptop for under $1400.

The WinBook Si 800 CD offers raw performance at a low price of $1299, but its Pentium III-800 CPU is a desktop processor. If you need to work on the go, consider Compaq's corporate-minded Armada E500S, on our midrange list. It can hold three batteries at once.

Top 15 Notebooks

1. IBM ThinkPad A21p #1: Though expensive, the top-of-the-line A21p will tempt companies looking for a ThinkPad desktop replacement to complement their traveling workforce's ThinkPad T20 notebooks.
2. Dell Inspiron 8000 #2: For small to medium-size businesses looking for a decked-out desktop replacement, the well-rounded 8000 does it all -- convenient drive configurations, admirable performance, and for satisfying your inner Martha Stewart, changeable color accents.
3. Fujitsu PC E-6571 #3: Professionals and consumers looking for a fast, thin, light notebook with plenty of expansion possibilities, an extra layer of security, and the convenience of wireless mousing should take a close look at the E-6571.
4. Acer TravelMate 739TLV #4: With an easy-to-use fingerprint reader and great battery life added to all the usual features expected in a high-end portable these days, the TravelMate 739TLV belongs on the short list for companies seeking an extra-secure desktop replacement suitable for the road.
5. HP Omnibook 500 #5: Frequent travelers with deep pockets will appreciate the fast, handsome Omnibook 500 the most. It's flexible design lets you trim connections to lower the notebook's weight, or add bays and legacy ports and even use three batteries at once and still be a portable package. All but big-screen fans (and those with thin bank accounts) will be pleased.
6. Dell Inspiron 4000 #6: With its flexible design and fashion sense, the Inspiron 4000 will please small companies that want a fun, configurable, and lightweight portable for their road warriors.
7. Gateway Solo 5300 #7: Gateway pitches its latest midsize machine to consumers, students, and professionals, though we can't imagine why the first two would need LAN management utilities. For companies seeking a fairly thin, lightweight corporate laptop at a reasonable price, the 5300 is an excellent choice.
8. HP Omnibook XE3 #8: Working stiffs who want to have a little fun between meetings and deadlines will like this unit's improved CD player design. Beefed-up connections improve its work chops, too.
9. Compaq Armada E500S #9: The Armada E500S is your workhorse notebook, suitable for a wide variety of business users, especially those who work out of the office for hours at a time. It's also appropriate for businesses that are already using its compatible sibling, the Armada M700.
10. NEC Versa VXi #10: Neither a cutting-edge speed demon nor a stripped-down bargain-priced model, the NEC Versa VXi offers a middle-of-the-road set of features and a price to match. Companies looking to hand out notebooks to a horde of mobile workers should like this moderately priced, all-in-one laptop.
11. Dell Inspiron 3800 #11: SOHO users and students who don't need a huge hard drive or screen will like the Inspiron 3800, with its attractive case colors, choice of add-in devices, and all-around good performance. Just add a modem, and it's ready to go.
12. WinBook Si 800 CD #12: WinBook laptops appeal to people looking for the biggest performance bang for the buck, and this model is no exception. Those willing to take a chance on the desktop-chip processor will get in exchange a nicely designed, relatively light notebook that's just as fast as Pentium III-800/750 laptops that cost hundreds of dollars more.
13. Micro Express NP4800C #13: If they can live with the NP4800C's skimpy support materials and undersize command keys, power users and small businesses can score a great deal with this decked-out model from value-king Micro Express. It's fast and loaded with features usually found on much more expensive portables.
14. Fujitsu PC I-4187 #14: Though too bulky to easily fit in a backpack, the I-4187 would make a good choice for the dorm room where students can type up papers while listening to favorite CDs. Home or first-time notebook buyers who don't need legacy ports for older peripherals may also like this unusual-looking laptop.
15. Gateway Solo 1150cl #15: First-time notebook buyers with a taste for music and a preference for USB peripherals will appreciate this low-key notebook.

For more information, see ranking. For more specific detail, see Test Report results.

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