Hewlett-Packard OmniBook 500
$2,299 to $3,799
www.hp.com
800-462-8947


HP's slick new OmniBook 500 is versatile, modular, and beautifully designed, with power, features, and style in a smart package. There's no shortage of good stuff here, including warm-swap batteries, two multibays, a LAN pass-through, and ample connectivity. The unit is wireless-ready, with support for Bluetooth as well as for a variety of other wireless standards and accessories.

The 3.4-pound unit has a 12-inch XGA screen, a wide range of processors, and a 3-hour primary battery. The magnesium alloy case has rubberized grips for style and easy handling. Prices range from $2,299 with a Celeron 500 chip to about $3,800 with a Pentium III 700, 128MB of RAM, and a 20GB hard drive. The expansion base ($199) adds two more multi-bays, which make the unit an all-in-one machine, and has Polk audio speakers and support for plenty of add-on drives and I/O. A hot little travelling companion, with an excellent combination of horsepower and design.