Lenovo ThinkPad X200

Critics love the 12.1-inch Lenovo ThinkPad X200. Though not the thinnest or lightest ultraportable laptop available, it is still thin and lightweight enough to make for a good traveling companion. Even more important, the X200 is a serious performer -- comparing favorably with full-sized laptops (let alone the rest of the thin and light laptop pack). Run time between charges is good even with the standard six-cell battery, and if you opt for the optional nine-cell battery, you'll get enough juice to complete a coast-to-coast flight and then some -- though the bigger battery also adds a smidgen to the X200's size and weight.

There are tons of customization available for the Lenovo ThinkPad X200 -- including a bevy of processor and storage options. Unfortunately, all the money in the world won't buy an optical drive -- such as a DVD burner -- or a touchpad pointing device. Graphics performance is surprisingly good considering the lack of a discrete graphics card, but playing a graphics-intensive game still won't be an enjoyable experience. Though the HP Pavilion dv3510nr (*est. $900) is not as widely hailed, and its performance is not quite as good, it is still more than decent in that regard, packed with features -- including an optical drive, a graphics card and a touchpad -- and blessed with an attractive price.

Almost everyone has reviewed the Lenovo ThinkPad X200, and the reviews are nearly unanimously glowing. The ultraportable laptop earns Editors' Choice recognition at CNET and Laptop Magazine, while PC World bestows it with a Best Buy designation. You can also read informative, highly detailed reviews at NotebookReview.com and PCMag.com. Lenovo's own site is the best destination for user reviews.