HP Business Notebook Nc4010 (Pentium M 725 1.6 GHz, 512 MB RAM, 40 GB HDD)

The smallest, most lightweight laptops are called ultraportables. Their compact form factor is crucial for people who need to have their PC with them all the time, especially frequent business travelers. What you gain in portability, however, you usually give up in terms of weaker performance, smaller keyboards and displays, and fewer features. And what's more, ultraportable laptops almost always carry a premium price tag. Still, a compact, lightweight profile can make all the difference if you spend a lot of time on the road.

Read more in the Laptop Buying Guide

See more Ultraportable laptop computer products

If you spend a lot of time on the road, size and weight are the two most critical factors in choosing a new notebook computer--even if it means sacrificing a little on performance and features. The smallest and lightest notebooks, ultraportables, weigh less than four pounds and are no thicker than a spiral-bound notebook.

Read more in the Laptop Buying Guide

Ready for Windows 7?

If you want to run Windows 7 on your PC, here's what it takes:

• -1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• -1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
• -16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
• -DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

Additional requirements to use certain features:

• -Internet access (fees may apply)
• -Depending on resolution, video playback may require additional memory and advanced graphics hardware
• -For some Windows Media Center functionality a TV tuner and additional hardware may be required
• -Windows Touch and Tablet PCs require specific hardware
• -HomeGroup requires a network and PCs running Windows 7
• -DVD/CD authoring requires a compatible optical drive
• -BitLocker requires Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2
• -BitLocker To Go requires a USB flash drive
• -Windows XP Mode requires an additional 1 GB of RAM, an additional 15 GB of available hard disk space, and a processor capable of hardware virtualization with Intel VT or AMD-V turned on
• -Music and sound require audio output

from windows.microsoft.com

See more Microsoft Windows 7 system requirements products

Whether you're looking for a thin-and-light laptop for home use, or a business notebook with full desktop functionality, CNET Editors review top HP laptop products in popular series including the Pavilion, EliteBook, and Compaq Business series.

See more HP laptop computer reviews products