Last year, they got lighter. This year, they got more powerful. Ultraportables, the smallest notebook computers, got down to an average of 3 pounds in 2002, and we marveled that so much hardware could be packed into such small spaces. And now, after several more months of evolution and the release of new processors from AMD and Intel, these tiny notebooks are even better equipped. Our jaws are dropping all over again.

Perfect for corporate executives who travel often, these tiny marvels can pack quite a technological punch in just 3 pounds. For example, the IBM ThinkPad X31, our Editors' Choice for ultraportables, gives you a 12.1-inch screen, the new 1.4-GHz Pentium M processor, a 40GB hard drive, 256MB of memory, a full-size keyboard, and an integrated wireless solution.

Of course, when you get the latest in technology, you also usually pay a premium; prices in our ultraportable roundup range from roughly $1,500 to $2,400. But that's still a lot cheaper than mainstream notebooks.

To keep ultraportables so thin, sacrifices must be made. In some cases, you give up a little battery life when using an ultraportable, but not as much as you used to sacrifice a couple of years ago. In our testing, the ThinkPad X31, the only system using the Pentium M processor, showed a battery life of 4 hours 41 minutes on its primary battery. The Toshiba model lasted 1 hour 46 minutes on its primary battery, but with its included lightweight extended battery, it can run for 6 hours 48 minutes. With most models, you can easily add a second battery for extra juice.

A major exclusion from ultraportables is an internal optical drive. (One of the exceptions is the Fujitsu LifeBook P2000, which includes a DVD/CD-RW drive but is also the thickest system here.) Don't think, however, that you have to give up optical drives entirely with systems other than the Fujitsu. Many companies bundle external drives with their systems.

Some systems also include different docking solutions, or at least offer them as an option at an additional price. The most distinctive one we've seen is the slim docking station that comes bundled with the Gateway 200STM and is an option with the Dell Latitude X200. It can transform your ultraportable into something akin to a desktop. It includes a DVD/CD-RW drive and floppy disk drive. These docking solutions usually only add a pound or two to a system's travel weight.

By next year, these ultraportables will be old hat, replaced by even smaller, more advanced, sleeker models. But for now, they're nothing short of amazing.