Q. I'd like a slim, lightweight laptop that I can use primarily for Outlook, Internet access and word processing when I travel.

A. Finding a slim, lightweight laptop is no problem these days.

For Palm-like docking with your desktop, Sharp Electronics (www.sharpsystems.com) has a lightweight laptop that may fit the bill.

People want small, lightweight laptops that they can use for long periods.

That means in a few years, an Ultrabook will most likely be a thin, lightweight laptop with a detachable screen that can be used as a tablet.

My lightweight laptop, with its case and its baggage, means I'm lugging an extra 13 pounds.

But what, if anything, do you lose by choosing a lightweight laptop?

If the lightweight laptop is primarily a road machine, transferring data back to your main office computer may be a concern.

An internal disc drive was typically the first thing to go on these lightweight laptops, and that has benefited spine and shoulder health.

Netbooks are small, inexpensive, lightweight laptops with Internet connectivity and enough power to run the most common office software.