Weight

In general, a laptop computer should weigh as little as possible, provided it includes all the features you want or need. When you have to carry your computer across a college campus or through those long airport concourses, an extra pound or two can make a huge difference.

When you're comparing the weights of different computers in published specifications, make sure they're all describing a computer with the battery pack in place-the battery could account for as much as 15 percent of the total weight or more.

Remember that you probably won't carry the computer all by itself. By the time you put the computer into a carrying case and add all the extra cables, AC power unit, adapters, and other goodies to the case, the total weight of your five-pound laptop might end up closer to nine or ten pounds. If you can, try carrying a fully loaded case on your shoulder to make sure you can comfortably haul it around.

Weight may not be as much of an issue if you don't expect to carry the computer around very much. Those extra pounds don't make much difference when you're only moving the machine from your home office to the kitchen, or from home to work in the trunk of your car.