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Tool : The Maxi Mini An HP that lets you travel lightly without leaving anything behind. By: Mark SpoonauerJune/July 2008 , Page 42 They're the next big small thing. Designed as take-anywhere secondary PCs, low-cost mini-notebooks are increasingly nudging ThinkPads and MacBooks off laps (and aching shoulders and backs). But inside their cute, featherweight exteriors, not all of them necessarily have the guts of what a road warrior needs. The HP Mini-Note PC does. It all starts with the full-size keyboard, which makes this 2.6- pound laptop ideal for taking notes in meetings or firing off longer e-mails on the go. The Mini-Note PC is also durable, thanks to its anodized aluminum shell, scratch-resistant display and a 3D accelerometer that automatically shuts down the hard drive in case of a fall. Even the keys themselves are built to last; a clear finish prevents the letters from rubbing out over time. There's one other fundamental difference between HP's mini and the competition: You're not forced into a one-size-fits-all configuration. Outfit this micro machine with your choice of VIA processors (1 GHz to 1.6 GHz for more productivity punch), a solid-state drive (for faster performance) or a traditional hard drive (up to 160 GB, if you want to store a ton of photos and videos), plus one of three operating systems (Windows XP, Vista or SUSE Linux). The 8.9-inch display is a bit small for extended computing sessions, but it's nice to know that you'd be able to keep working or playing even on a Japanese "pusher" train. When you get to the hotel, use the integrated Webcam to check in with the office or the missus. Just be sure to pick up the six-cell (not the three-cell) battery to avail yourself of the full good-though-still-not-fabulous 4.5 hours of battery life.
The File Baby's Got Backup
The more computers you have, the more you need SugarSync (starting at $25 per year for 10 GB). This indispensable backup service with a twist magically keeps your files up to date online as well as on any Mac or Windows PC where you have it installed. You can even access your files from your BlackBerry or Windows Mobile phone. Sweet.
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