The Best Inventions Of The Year

Three of a Kind: Notebook Computers

Fancy
Dell XPS M1330
This dream machine has all the power you need for both work and play. A handy set of multimedia touch controls sits above the beautifully designed keyboard. Opt for the superslim, power-saving led screen (a $300 add-on) for more vivid color and longer battery life.
$1,800 and up; dell.com

Cheap
HP Pavilion dv2660se Verve
You can get a full-featured notebook for as little as $800, but it wouldn't be much to look at. HP's Verve has a slick bronze design printed on its glossy case, a 14.1-in. (35.8 cm) HD widescreen display for watching DVDs and the 2 GB of RAM you'll want to run Windows Vista.
$950; bestbuy.com

Something Different
Lenovo ThinkPad X61 Tablet
Spin the screen 180°, shut the case and voilá—you've got a digital notepad that translates handwriting (even less-than-perfect script) into typed text. The 12.1-in. (30.7 cm) screen is visible in direct sunlight, and the DVD burner is in a separate dock, so you're carrying less than 4 lbs. (1.8 kg).
$1,600; shop.lenovo.com