KEY FEATURE: The 3.7-pound Sharp M4000 WideNote offers three power profiles to make sure you get as much as six hours of battery life.
Let the other poor saps in the airport terminal fight over the power outlet. The Sharp M4000 WideNote, a 3.7-pound brushed aluminum beauty, can last up to six hours on a charge. The secret to this ultraportable’s long battery life? Yes, the Pentium M processor helps, but there’s a single button above the keyboard that toggles between three different power profiles, including Max Mobile for the most runtime. Sharp’s Advanced Power Management software takes things a step further by tweaking these profiles’ 11 different parameters, from the screen refresh rate to the audio subsystem.
Unlike other sub-four pound systems, the M4000 doesn’t make any tradeoffs when it comes to comfort since it features a full-size keyboard and a bright 13.3-inch display that’s easy on the eyes. The sharp-fx software makes this system an ideal mini DVD player, and there’s an SD card slot if you want to transfer pictures to your portable in a flash on vacation. Other than the lack of a FireWire port to complement the DVD burner, this is the perfect notebook for work and play. Plus, it’s one that will do both for a long, long time.
