The laptop (or notebook) computer untethers workers from the office and desk. Packing virtually all the computing power and applications of a desktop system into a portable version, the laptop has become the sole computing device of professionals and students everywhere. Models vary in price, performance, and portability. Desktop replacements offer a large display, integrated drives, and high performance. Ultra-light versions are available for mobile professionals who don't want to carry any extra weight while traveling. Value notebooks offer a middle ground in both size and performance at a lower price.

Laptops have evolved to offer the same computing power, memory, and hard disk space as desktop models. Screens continue to get bigger as more and more people are opting for laptops as their primary (or sole) computer. Some manufacturers offer laptops with 16- and 17-inch screens. Average value notebooks now offer 14- and 15-inch screens. Ultraportables with 12- and 13-inch screens are available for road warriors. There has also been a recent trend towards widescreen models in the marketplace.

Several manufacturers offer laptops with rewritable DVD drives; today's more common combination is a DVD-ROM with CD-RW drive. Ultraportable versions rely on external drives. Notebooks now contain card slots for removable media cards like CompactFlash (CF), Secure Digital (SD), MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick, or Smart Media.

Pointing devices enable users to point-and-click without a flat surface and mouse. Users may have their own preferences between eraserhead (or pointing stick), trackpad (or touchpad), and trackball devices. Try to get a feel for each method before choosing the one which suits you best.

With its portable nature, power and battery life are top concerns for laptop users. Battery life greatly improved with the introduction of Intel's Pentium M processor. Battery life with the chip averages 3.5 hours (with some performing up to 7 hours). Ultraportable models have specialized ultra-low voltage processors to maximize weight, space, and battery life issues. The rechargeable lithium ion battery is the most popular battery offered by vendors today.

Laptop security is a critical concern for laptop owners. From stories about laptops forgotten in taxis to hi-tech crime rings targeting airports and conferences, protecting the physical computer and confidential data is a top priority. A multi-layered security strategy is always advisable. Most laptops are equipped with a USS (Universal Security Slot) that can be attached to a cable lock or alarm. When leaving laptops in the office, you can lock it securely to a docking station permanently affixed to a desk or cabinet. Metal tamper resistant asset tags can increase your odds of recovering a lost or stolen laptop.

Beyond physical security methods, there is much one can do to safeguard data. Most operating systems (like Windows 2000 and XP Professional) offer secure logon, file level security, even data encryption. Data thieves can be foiled with BIOS protection schemes. Personal third-party firewalls are an effective layer of security to prevent attacks. Some computer vendors are now offering optional biometric sensors where your fingerprint is your logon ID instead of a password.

The choice of laptop computers has never been greater, take some time to work out which is the best one for your own needs and enjoy the flexibility of being able to work anywhere!