Nokia Booklet 3G
Nokia's new netbook is big on numbers. Twelve hours of battery life. A 10.1-inch screen on a mini-laptop that weighs just 2.7 pounds. A price tag of $299 if you subscribe to AT&T's wireless data plan, or $599 without it. (The $60-a-month 3G data plan enables Internet access where wi-fi isn't available.) Digits aside, though, the netbook has a more solid feel than any of its competitors. Like Apple's laptops, the Booklet is built from a single piece of aluminum. It's just a few millimeters thicker than the MacBook Air and more slender than most of its rival netbooks. Hey, if Apple can make a standout phone, why can't Nokia make a stellar laptop? The Booklet's central hinge lets you tilt the screen back almost 180 degrees, and the solid metallic shell means you can toss it into your bag without worrying about some bit of plastic breaking off. The keyboard is slightly undersized, unfortunately, which leads to extra typos and some awkward finger adjustments. Instead of a VGA port, the netbook includes an HDMI connector for linking the laptop to an external screen for digital presentations. It's the first PC from Nokia, but it likely won't be the last.
Price: $299 with $60-a-month 3G subscription, or $599 without.
Weight: 2.7 lb.