Top 5 Thin and Light Notebook PCs

Those looking for a strong overall thin and light notebook should take a look at the ASUS M50Sv notebook. It offers a large number of features but has a very reasonable price tag. It is powered by the Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 mobile processor matched up with 3GB of memory. Those looking for a mobile high definition movie platform will enjoy the Blu-ray compatible drive while those looking at a mobile gaming platform receive a GeForce 9500M with 512MB of memory. The ASUS keyboard layout even includes a numeric keypad. The downside to all of this is that the system is slightly larger than average to fit the keyboard layout.

Those looking for the thinnest notebook that still features a full set of features, Apple's MacBook Pro has a 1-inch profile that gives it a profile most notebooks lack. Even with this thin profile, Appel does not skimp on features. The silver aluminum chassis design is also one of the most durable and stylish on the market. It is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 mobile processor along with 2GB of memory. The memory isn't as much of an issue as Mac OS X isn't as memory intensive as Vista. A slightly smaller 200GB hard drive handles storage but the slot loading DVD burner design integrates well so one doesn't have to worry about tray issues. The drawback to Apple's notebook is that it is fairly expensive and has only two USB ports.

For those looking to get a mobile high definition media platform that don't want to spend a lot of money, HP's Pavilion dv6880se Special Edition may be your best bet. It is one of the least expensive notebooks on the market to feature a Blu-ray compatible drive for playback of hi-def movies. HP is able to achieve such a low price though by giving it components that aren't as quick as other thin and light offerings. For example, it uses an older Intel Core 2 Duo T5550 mobile processor that trails the new T8000 and T9000 models but it still sufficient for most general purpose computing tasks. The NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS graphics also severely limit the 3D graphics performance making it less than acceptable for mobile gaming.

Dell's customizable XPS M1530 notebook offers a wide range of configurations to meet just about any needs one might have in a thin and light notebook platform. Those requiring a large amount of storage space will be pleased to know that Dell offers the large 320GB drives on this notebook, giving it some of the best storage available in the market. Performance is also quite good thanks to the Core 2 Duo T8300 processor and 4GB of memory that let it breeze through Vista and applications without a problem. Dell also allows customers to select from one of several different colors for the case to give it a most personalized feel. The big flaw with the XPS M1530 though is the glossy display that reflects too much in outdoor usage.

Those looking for an extremely well priced system that still offers good overall performance should take a close look at the Lenovo IdeaPad Y510. The IdeaPad notebooks were designed as a more cost effective alternative to the popular ThinkPad series. The Y510 may only feature a Core 2 Duo T5550 mobile processor, but they include a full 4GB of memory that lets it run smoothly with the Vista operating system. It provides plenty of storage space with a 250GB hard drive and a dual layer DVD burner. It also features an excellent keyboard similar to those of the ThinkPads. Heck, they even managed to put a GeForce 8600M GS graphics into it. Lenovo did some strange disk partitioning and the wrist rest can get hot with extended usage.