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Dell XPS M2010 (from $3,799)

Thinking outside the box is expensive.

Dell calls this a notebook, but that's a little like referring to your pitbull as a lapdog.

Still, it is an intriguing, elegant design if not robust piece of machinery that combines the best of the desktop and the portability of a notebook. However, at 18.8 pounds it's not something you want to be humping across town in your backpack every day.

On your desk, however, it's a stunning piece of technology. A bright, 20-inch WSXGA screen clam shelled over the body from whence the detachable Bluetooth keyboard pulls out. That screen pretty well dictates the size which is also hefty at 18.85" wide, 19.9 " deep and a chunky 2.9" thick.

But with 4 GB DDRS dual channel memory and capacity for two hard drives up with up to 240 GB driven through a choice of 2 GHz, 2.16 GHz and 2.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processors, it's also a powerful beast.

With those Hummer H1 dimensions comes a lot of room for goodies. There's a slot-loading DVD, integrated Web cam and microphone for IM chats, an eight-speaker plus woofer sound system, 256Mb ATI Mobility Radeon X1800 graphics card, 13-in-2 memory card reader, remote control and fire wire port.

However, there are a couple of components noticeably absent at this price level, including an HD DVD, TV tuner and integrated HDMI port. The batteries are also feeble with about two to three hours of life but then portability was never the M2010's prime function.

eo UMPC i7210 from $1,399 (U.S.)

There's notebooks, ultralights and then there's the eo .

Its name is Latin for "go, advance or progress" says the company and this tablet PC is designed as a portable device for those on the move.

With its size — the screen is just seven inches - there aren't a lot of features above the barebones. There's a 60 GB hard drive and 4-in-1 memory card reader in addition to 1GHz processor. That doesn't seem like much but the usage is really designed for quick communication on the go, email, web browsing and rudimentary entertainment.

Its prime use has been for physicians to replace charts and other mobile field workers to process work order and capture signatures.

There is, however, a growing community dedicated to these Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPCs) which are based on Windows XP Tablet edition. The screen is touch-sensitive and the unit comes with built in camera and microphone.

Content is loaded via an external DVD or CD player and connectivity is via Wifi or Bluetooth. Input for email and notes is either by handwriting recognition or by a pretty cool on screen virtual keyboard which is split into two quarter circles with the QWERTY keys arcing on the left and right side of the screen to allow ergonomic thumb typing.

Prices start at $899 (U.S.) and climb to $1,399 for three models.

Voodoo Envy U:709 from $5,016

It's garish and square box ugly, but Hewlett-Packard liked it so much that they bought the company.

For its part, HP hopes to get a little insight into how Voodoo computers carved out a niche in the highly cynical and performance-driven gaming market in the 15 years since Calgary brothers Ravi and Rahul Sood founded the company.

While playing games on a laptop computer isn't an optimum experience many code warriors like the customizable exterior and interior of the notebook line as a mobile workhorse. There are some 27 wild colours for the Envy and a slew of "tattoos" to personalize the outside.

Voodoo, which is as much about attitude as it is hardware, handpicks the components based on their performance and dependability but it all comes at a price. And there aren't too many bells and whistles; no TV tuners, no remote controls and no HD DVD player.

What you get is rubber-meets-the-road performance from Voodoo's three laptop lineup. The top of the line model here can be configured several different ways. Our choice features a 17" WUXGA screen, an AMD Athlon 64 x 2 4600 processor (like the Intel Core Duo it is two processors in one), twin 80 Gb hard drives and a DVD double layer burner.

But it's a chunky puppy at 13 pounds though it is only about 15.5" x 11.75" x 1.95" in size.

Panasonic Toughbook CF-Y5 from $2,895

Kick it, toss it, drench it or pick your form of abuse. The choice of firefighters, police agencies and gas line fitters alike, Panasonic's Toughbook series gets better every year.

The new CF-Y5 has 8.5 hours of battery life, enhanced by the Intel Core Duo processor which runs on a low voltage. It's not huge, with a 14.1" LCD screen, but the magnesium alloy case — 20 times stronger than plastic — means it'll perform in the harshest of environments. The added protection does at to the weight at 3.4 pounds but for those who need such rugged features, it's a small price to pay.

Inside there's a 60 GB shock mounted hard drive and a DVD player all protected by the spill-through keyboard.

Just the ticket to smash through the crowds at the rental car counter.