My test model came with Home Premium (also available: Windows 7 Ultimate, Professional and Home Basic), Office 2010 Starter and a lot of extra software, including a utility for tweaking the video settings. At $999, this model costs as much as the IdeaPad U260 and about $200 more than the Vostro V130.

The Asus U36JC is the best equipped of the bunch and provides the raw computing power needed to get the hardest tasks done on the road, but its size and weight make it less attractive for frequent travelers. It's the executive notebook to get if you need high performance and don't mind a little extra heft.

The Dell Vostro V130's 0.8-in. profile makes it the thinnest of this trio of executive-class notebooks.