Dell today announced the latest addition to its expanding line of Vostro laptops, the 12.1-inch Vostro 1220. This stylish, ultraportable laptop was designed exclusively for business travelers who are unwilling to compromise performance, Dell Latitude D620 battery life and security for a thin and lightweight design.

Notebooks are made to hit the road. But many people don’t actually travel very often with them — until vacation time, that is.That’s when lots of planning needs to be done to be sure that your notebook gives you what you need when you’re away. Here’s a checklist of things to remember when you’re preparing your digital travel companion for the big trip.

A couple weeks ago, I wrote a critical post about, among other things, of the iPhone’s battery life. Since then, reports have poured in of new iPhone users who are displeased with the device’s longevity, indicating that the new 3GS does little to alleviate the problem.

Sony Corp. said Tuesday it will launch a tiny new laptop starting in August, the company’s belated entry into the growing but cutthroat “netbook” PC market.

The new addition to its Vaio line of computers will cost about $500 in the U.S. and 60,000 yen ($630) in Japan when it goes on sale next month. It will be about the size of a hardback book and run on lower grade hardware than other Sony(Sony VGP-BPS2A battery) models.

There’s something deceptively fierce-looking about the Panasonic ToughBook CF-F8. This business-ruggedized laptop comes with a handle, daring you to mess with it. So when I snatch it off the Test Center workbench, I’m surprised at how light this tiny Toughbook feels. I expect it to weigh a ton, but it’s a mere 3.7 pounds. Yet inside the magnesium alloy case lurks just enough power to handle most conventional tasks. Unfortunately, its price tag may put it out of reach for many people seeking a business laptop.

When I reviewed Apple’s prior, “unibody” 15-inch MacBook Pro, I gave it high marks. For the money, there is no better-built notebook. With its rigid one-piece machined aluminum frame, glossy LED-backlit display, flat backlit keyboard, huge multitouch trackpad, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and 8X slot-loading, dual-layer DVD burner, the unibody MacBook Pro defined the state of the art in design, construction, and manufacturing. Now Apple is building on that peerless platform with higher performance, an upgraded display, longer battery life, and a lower price.