Lightweight Contender: Fujitsu LifeBook S7211

This svelte $899 Windows Vista Business laptop has only two significant drawbacks: so-so speed, and an inability to burn DVDs. The S7211 notched a WorldBench 6 score of 56, putting it 14 percent behind the average of 65 earned by the five sub-$1000 laptops we tested. Aside from a minor glare problem, the 14.1-inch, 1280-by-800-resolution screen is crisp and readable. We quickly acclimated to the petite keyboard, which features Fujitsu's dual-purpose Security Application Panel (numbered buttons for shortcut keys or a password). The S7211 weighs 5.2 pounds with a CD writer/DVD reader installed in its modular bay. Swap this optical drive out for a battery instead ($120 extra), and Fujitsu says you can get about 6.5 hours of operation. Our review unit lasted an average 3.8 hours with a single battery.

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