Lenovo's 3000 V series of portable computers are ultra-portable machines that still manage to deliver high-end performance. That is because they're powered by Intel Core Duo processors which feature twin execution cores on a single chip.

The baseline 3000 V100 ships with a 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo T2300e processor and 512MB of fast 667MHz DDR2 memory (with support for up to 2GB of RAM). That power core will be able to handle any office applications you throw at it.

And even though these portable computers weigh just over four pounds, there's a lot more on their tiny frame than you think Lenovo could fit. For instance, the full-sized keyboard is easier to type on than most ultra-portable systems. And these systems feature an integrated optical drive - something that many ultra-portable computer vendors leave by the wayside.

Of course, the default drive on the low-end V100 portable computer is only a combination CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive. This drive will let you watch DVD movies and burn your own audio and data CDs, but if you need the ability to burn to DVD, you will have to upgrade.

For $100, you can upgrade the baseline system to include a DVD writer and a fingerprint reader. The former is a Dual Layer drive, which not only lets you burn to traditional DVDs but to high capacity DL media as well, storing up to 8.5GB of data on a single disk. The latter adds another layer of security to the portable computer, ensuring that only you can logon to the system.

These systems also feature Intervideo's InstantON, a technology that allows for a shortened boot-up process when you just want to play multimedia files. It's a handy way to listen to music or watch a movie on a flight while saving on battery life.

Storage space is respectable with the 80GB 5,400rpm hard drive. You'll have a good amount of room for multimedia files and application installations on this portable computer.

The 12.1-inch widescreen display is par for a screen on an ultra-portable. It offers VibrantView technology to ensure bright and crisp images, and is large enough for most computing tasks. The widescreen format is handy for watching DVDs or viewing applications that are open side by side.

Graphics are integrated and don't offer any dedicated memory (all video memory is shared with the main system RAM), so these portable computers are more for general application usage than for running graphically-intense applications.

These portable computers include excellent connectivity. For hooking up to the Internet, you're given a modem, an Ethernet interface, and integrated 802.11a/b/g wireless, so you can get online nearly anywhere. And for connecting to peripherals, these systems feature a Firewire port, three USB 2.0 ports, and Bluetooth connectivity. Bluetooth technology allows you to synch up with a compatible cell phone or PDA as well as connect to Bluetooth peripherals such as printers and scanners without wires.

There's also a 5-in-1 media card reader on these portable computers that lets you transfer files and photos from your PDA or digital camera by popping in the flash memory card. And the Express Card/54 slot supports new and upcoming high-speed PC card peripherals.

As these portable computers are geared more toward small business users, Lenovo incorporates their Lenovo Care technology into the systems. Lenovo Care can streamline basic system maintenance, help you recover to a previous stable operating system set in the event of a virus attack, and make connecting to networks an easier task.

Higher-end models in the line also include an integrated 1.3-megapixel video camera for online videoconferencing, faster processors, more memory, and a larger hard drive. Of course, these portable computers also start out about $400 over baseline, so it's up to you to decide if the upgrades are worth the additional cost.

The baseline portable computer ships with a 3-cell battery that provides only around two hours of life for your system, so you might want to consider a configuration with a 6-cell battery. This will double your battery life, an important consideration in such a light and transportable laptop.

Lenovo offers a one-year limited warranty on these portable computers - not the best you can find for business-oriented systems. But they start out at under a grand with a current rebate - a great price for an ultraportable system with these components.

Lenovo's 3000 V series of portable computers offer excellent portability, great core power, and a compelling price - all in a tiny, easy-to-carry package.


Pros: Lightweight, powerful core
Cons: Low battery life at baseline

Warranty
1-year limited