The most important aspects of laptop computers are that they do common tasks well, while being portable enough to go where you want to go, when you want to go there. Therefore, you want your system to be light, without lots of extra parts.

The Compaq nc2400 from Hewlett-Packard is an ultra-portable laptop PC that weighs in at 2.8 pounds, even though it has an integrated DVD drive that allows you to read or record DVDs. There are many laptops in the weight range -- but not many with the drive built in. That makes the light weight of the nc2400 more impressive -- because you don't have to carry the DVD drive with it, saving you the extra weight and inconvenience of the detached drive.

Sometimes lightweight means a smaller size -- and therefore smaller keyboard. The nc2400 has a nicely designed set of full-size keys that are as comfortable as any on desktop systems. The only distraction to that layout is that six important keys are reduced and pushed out of the way. For keyboard junkies, that could be very distracting. And novices will be constantly looking for the delete key, which should be oversized instead of shrunken.

One of the most intriguing features of my review unit was actually not part of the nc2400 at all. It was a prototype portable mouse that stores in the PC Card slot in the side of the system. This makes it convenient to always have your mouse with you. It also reduces the likelihood that you'll lose the mouse while you're traveling. And it is Bluetooth wireless, so you don't have to deal with cables on small surfaces.

When you're ready to work, push the button to release the mouse. Flip open the bottom; push your pen tip into a small hole to turn it on -- and start to use it wirelessly to control your cursor. Then when you're done with your work, flip the bottom closed and slip it back into the PC Card slot in your system. When you charge your system battery, the battery in the mouse also gets charged, so it's ready for next use. The weak point on the mouse is that you have to remember to use a light touch -- or risk turning it off by closing the flap by accident.

The nc2400 was obviously designed for business travelers. It includes a biometric fingerprint sensor for security as well as integrated wireless capabilities -- both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Plus, instead of making you put up with a full desktop of icons like most systems, it comes with a software setup routine that allows you to install the applications and utilities you want.

If you find that the compactness and utility of the nc2400 work for you, you'll probably also like the little touches -- like a touch sensitive strip to turn on/off the Wi-Fi or put the system into presentation mode for one or more monitors. I like the layout of the two USB ports -- one on each side of the case -- because it lets you better decide where on your table to place the laptop when a USB device is plugged in.

After a few weeks of using the system, I found it performed well on common tasks, including word processing and manipulating spreadsheets, but the cursor occasionally floated when I leaned the palm of my hand on the system case.

The nc2400 is available in a number of configurations, starting at $1,550. The mouse is not yet available.