TIME's Best Inventions of 2008

From a genetic testing service to an invisibility cloak to an ingenious public bike system to the world's first moving skyscraper — here are TIME's picks for the top innovations of 2008

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Computers

By JEREMY CAPLAN, LEV GROSSMAN, ANITA HAMILTON AND JOSH QUITTNER Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008
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Dell Inspiron Mini 9
Small enough to fit in a pocketbook, this 2.3-lb. (1 kg) ultraportable comes in two flavors: Windows XP ($399-$449) or, for maximum open-source coolness, Ubuntu Linux ($349). You can stick your camera's SD card right into its media reader, and the bright 8.9-in. (23 cm) screen will show off your family photos (or YouTube faves). Tiny as it is, you don't have to scroll around to see full Web pages as you would on a phone, though the compact keyboard does take a little getting used to.
More info: Dell Inspiron Mini 9


The Sakku Solar Bag
A laptop bag that does not make you feel like Jon Cryer in Two and a Half Men is a rare and precious thing. Rarer still, Sakku's bags are made from recycled material (old sails and awnings) and incorporate a solar cell for charging gadgets.
Price:$289 and up
More info: sakkuus.com


MacBook Pro
You can find a cheaper laptop, but not a better one. Every Apple MacBook Pro is carved from a single block of aluminum, making it strong and light (4.5 lb.; 2 kg). A revolutionary pair of graphic chips lets you play Call of Duty 2 until your five-hour battery dies.
Price:$1,999
More info: apple.com/macbookpro

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