To see how these thin notebooks compare to one another, I used them both at my office and on the road for work and play. I wrote, edited, prepared and gave presentations, did Web research and watched videos.

After measuring, weighing and examining every major aspect of each laptop, I placed each of them on a mockup of a typical airplane seat-back table tray to see if they fit. While on the road, I connected each to a public Wi-Fi network.

Then I tested the performance of each system. First I looked at overall performance with benchmark suite. The software exercises every major component of the system -- including processor, hard drive, 2D and 3D graphics, and memory -- and compiles the results into a single score that represents its performance potential. I ran the software three times and averaged the results. For the Asus U36JC, I ran it in both high-performance and extended battery life modes.

I also ran a copy of Auran's , a resource-heavy game that simulates a working railroad. With the train running at full speed, I checked for video choppiness and which background details were present.

Next, I measured each system's battery life. With the system's Wi-Fi on, Internet Explorer tuned to an Internet radio station and the audio set to three quarters of full volume, I ran each system down as PassMark's software charted the battery's capacity and recorded the time it shut down.