Complete Mobile Warrior's Product Guide

Wireless road warriors have special needs in portables. To help you stay connected no matter where you travel, we look for a full range of networking options. In addition to built-in Wi-Fi, we expect to see a 56K modem, Ethernet port, and Bluetooth. For those who want to use broadband cellular data networks, some notebooks also offer built-in EV-DO or HSDPA modems. Other key features for travelers are full-sized keyboards (even in ultralights), bright, crisp LCD screens, DVD drives for watch movies on those plane trips, long battery life, and expansion options like PC Card or ExpressCard slots, plus USB 2.0 and FireWire ports. PC Card or ExpressCard slots will let you keep up with future Wi-Fi standards, as well as use new high-speed cellular data networks that work in places Wi-Fi can't reach. While few ExpressCards are available right now, they have far faster bus speeds than PC Cards and will be shipping soon. We recommend buying laptops with ExpressCard slots so you'll be prepared for the future.

WIRELESS ULTRALIGHTS

Lenovo ThinkPad X60s (Verizon EV-DO)

This 3.5-lb. 12-inch ultralight doesn't skimp on power and features, and it's a wireless trifecta. It's got a brand-new Intel Core Duo processor, DVD recorder and gigabit Ethernet, not to mention ports galore and a PC Card slot. But it also has built-in a/b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 and Verizon EV-DO broadband cellular access (contract optional), so you can get connected at top speed virtually anywhere you go. You can't ask for more in that department.

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OQO model 01+ Handtop PC

If you REALLY want to go ultralight, try a handtop PC. These new devices (more coming soon from Samsung, Sony and others) put Windows XP in the palm of your hand. No crippled "Windows Mobile," but the full power of XP Pro or Tablet Edition. The OQO has a superfine display that crams 800x480 pixels into a 5-inch screen, plus a slide-out QWERTY thumb keyboard that works surprisingly well. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, FireWire and Ethernet provide plenty of expansion capabilities too. The main drawbacks are processor speed and battery life, to be expected in a handheld device of this type.

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PERFORMANCE PORTABLES

HP Compaq nc6140 Notebook PC (with Verizon EV-DO)

This 2GHz notebook combines a built-in Verizon broadband EV-DO card and Wi-Fi access for the best of both worlds. It has all the feature and power you would expect in a performance notebook, plus security features like DriveLock. But the biggest reason to buy is that built-in EV-DO. Verizon now offers pay-as-you-go EV-DO access for $15 per day, similar to Wi-Fi day passes, to owners of notebooks with built-in EV-DO, so you don't have have to pay $80 per month for a full two-year subscription. The day passes are not available with add-on EV-DO cards.

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Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (2GHz Intel Core Duo)

Apple's switch to Intel brings sizzling speed, a bigger, brighter screen, amazing compatibility, and much-improved Wi-Fi reception. With the beta Boot Camp software, you can even run the machine with Windows XP -- the first laptop ever to allow full Mac/Windows compatibility. The dual-core processor is blazing fast, and an iSight video camera is built-in. But some users may bemoan the loss of a PC Card slot for their cell data cards. Never fear, the newer and better ExpressCard/34 slot is there, and cards will start shipping within the next few months, at which point Steve Jobs will again look like a genius. Big-screen lovers should go with the 17-inch version, which also includes FireWire 800 and a dual-layer DVD recorder.

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Panasonic Toughbook 74

This true road warrior PC has a rugged alloy case that's shock and drop-proof, Wi-Fi and Verizon EV-DO wireless, dual PC Card and ExpressCard slots, an 8-hour battery, a CD/DVD recorder, and hard-core security options. The screen is a daylight-readable touchscreen, making it good for sitting outside at Wi-Fi cafes or using in the field, and dual Wi-Fi and broadband cellular WAN cards mean you can get connected anywhere. The Intel Core Duo processor is also state-of-the-art. Just grab the built-in handle and go.

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