Best ultraportable laptops

By Craig Simms on 17 November 2008

If you're constantly on the go, or need to smuggle something inconspicuously into another room to escape the insanities of family life, then you need a laptop that's small and lightweight.

While typically not the fastest or most powerful laptops on the market, the ultraportable is very quickly catching up in terms of features, and will do most business and casual users, not to mention fashion moguls extremely well. Portability and prettiness comes at a price premium though, and those in need of power like designers and gamers should look elsewhere!

Dell XPS M1330

If you're in the market for a portable, the 1.78kg Dell XPS with its HDMI port and slot-loading DVD is both stylish and a pleasure to use.

Editor's rating:7.9 User rating:5.6
     Full ReviewSpecsImagesVideoWhere to Buy

  • Good: Battery life • Performance • Stylish looks • Value for money •
  • Bad: Flimsy screen on LED-backlit model •
  • Specs: 160 GB • 4GB • Intel Core 2 Duo • 2.40 GHz • See more specifications
  • RRP: AU$1,799.00

Topics: ultraportable, roundup, notebook, laptop, christmas, XPS m1330, dell, sony, vaio, VGN-TZ17GN, portege, R500, toshiba, fujitsu, s6410, lifebook, lenovo, thinkpad, asus, u1f

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Comments (11)

  • Sambo505 commented on 23/10/2009 09:24 Report abuse

    DO not buy a Dell I repeat DO NOT buy a Dell, I paid over $3000 for my laptop and it has been a lemon from day one .After 2 years of constant problems Dell have decided they will replace it BUT with NO warranty at all!! what sort of rubbish is this I'm takinfg them to Dept of Fair Trading

  • pons commented on 08/10/2009 02:59 Report abuse

    why are all these comments about faulty computers rather than the article? Oh well, to continue down that road...If I always believed it when people told me to stay away from a particualr product then I'd never buy anything. One can always get a dud. As it happens, Toshiba consistently scores highest in reliability surveys and pretty well in customer satisfaction too.

  • juggernaut commented on 12/09/2009 10:12 Report abuse

    My Dell XPS M1550 (next version up from mM1330) works damn gud.
    Must depend if u get a dud or not.

  • cybermogul - Canberra, Australia commented on 03/09/2009 14:46 Report abuse

    Just a note of caution about Toshiba notebooks .... stay away from them unless you want premature ageing from all the problems with the product. Surprisingly, Toshiba don't even want to know you or your problems when things go pear shaped. Has to be one of the most irresponsible companies I have come across in 30 years.

    After my problems and frustrations, I have talked several dozen people away from the Toshiba brand towards Asus which has been indefatigable since day 1.

  • Aron commented on 17/08/2009 15:32 Report abuse

    Darch, 1 year into use my Dell XPS1330 the graphics card failed and was replaced, just passed year two, searching for a replacement laptop. Good Luck with your XPS, don't use it too much, or carry it around, then it should last!

  • loloal commented on 12/08/2009 19:14 Report abuse

    This is the last Dell laptop I buy because there is no warranty available from Dell because of the Nvidia graphics problems. My Dell has died twice and Dell and Nvidia know they have a problem but will not acknowledge it. Typical Americans hiding from the truth and consumers as if you look at Dells website the XPS 1330 no longer exists for warranty renewals. Avoid Dell.

  • darch commented on 07/08/2009 09:52 Report abuse

    I've been using the Dell XPS1330 now for about a year and have been completely surprised by how good it has been. The only upgrade I've done is the addition of a 160GB SSD which makes it ultra fast, quiet, and has increasd the battery life by about 30%.

  • kim commented on 23/07/2009 11:47 Report abuse

    I wouldn't recommend dell too. Their warranty service is really really bad!! u might ended up paying for the repair service ..

    i regretted by buying dell, regretted buying their warranty!

    DEll i m disappointed with u!!

  • bonniebun commented on 25/06/2009 10:28 Report abuse

    i was so suprised i luv dell ha

  • sekhar (sydney, australia) commented on 27/05/2009 13:11 Report abuse

    HP DV 6000 laptop i am not recommending, becoz it is not good ,HP Repair services is not good, display problem coming a lot it is my experience ,please don't go to buy Hp Laptop

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