Despite an appealing aluminum case and an enviable profile, the Vostro V130 will likely disappoint mobile workers seeking the right mix of battery life and power on the road. Still, it's a beautiful system at a great price.

Looking more like an expensive leather portfolio than a laptop computer, Lenovo's IdeaPad U260 mixes style and power. It's the smallest and lightest of these three thin notebooks but is tied for first place in cost.

At 0.9 x 12.4 x 8.0 in., the IdeaPad is slightly thicker than the others but an inch narrower from side to side, making it the easiest to pack. Frequent fliers take note: It leaves the most room on an airline tray.