Labs

At just 1.3kg, HP's nc2400 and Lenovo's ThinkPad are by far the lightest laptops in the group.

Unlike the Lenovo, the HP has a DVD writer squeezed into its chassis. Despite its tiny dimensions, the nc2400 feels rock solid, with little flex in the base or screen. The 12.1-inch widescreeen display has a matt finish, and while this is less suited

ADVERTISEMENT

to watching films or viewing photos than a glossy screen, it's also less prone to reflections and more suited to an office environment.

The nc2400 only has a couple of USB2.0 ports, so you may have to invest in a USB hub to connect multiple peripherals. As with the Lenovo ThinkPad, there's a rubber joystick instead of a touchpad, which isn't quite as easy to use. The keyboard's keys have a reasonable amount of travel, but there isn't much room to rest your wrists, so typing isn't very comfortable. The HP is also pretty slow, and struggles a bit with Windows Vista unless you turn off the Aero effects. Its battery life is poor, giving just two and a half hours in our light use test.

HP's nc2400 is tiny and well made, but it's slow and has disappointing battery life. If you need a really light laptop and you can do without an internal DVD drive, Lenovo's ThinkPad X60s is a better choice and costs a few pounds less.