LT20-4

This stylish convertible has a bright 12.1" display (with wide viewable angle and Wacom digitiser backing) that can be used like a traditional notebook or folded back on itself to become a slate. Using a stylus to scribble down and save notes or diagrams in a meeting, and swivelling the screen around to show others, has obvious appeal. Tablet PCs are also slowly winning fans in the education, finance and healthcare industries.

The LT20-4 isn't a powerhouse of a machine (it scored 66 in PC WorldBench 5 and 2526 in 3DMark 2001), but will handle everyday applications, in addition to those integrated into Windows XP Tablet PC Edition--including handwriting or voice-to-text conversion.

The LT20-4 has no built-in CD/DVD drive, which keeps its weight down to a svelte 1.75kg.

LG pre-installs network configuration and battery life management software in addition to an "ez-menu" system settings interface. This pops up when you press the ez-menu button found at the top-right of the display, next to the Windows Journal shortcut, screen orientation and power buttons. Cursor up and down and buttons are also located at the bottom-right of the display, and are handy when in slate mode.

The battery has power indicator lights and part of the rear of the notebook can flip down to raise the notebook at the back (and store a spare mini-stylus).