Gateway 600XL: [2]

WHAT'S HOT: A gray yacht of a notebook, the Gateway 600XL measures 14 inches wide by 11.8 inches deep by 2 inches tall, including its towering 15.7-inch-diagonal screen. That size has its advantages: The keyboard is big, the connections--both standard and high-end (including 802.11b, or Wi-Fi)--are plentiful, and the configuration possibilities are seemingly endless thanks to two modular bays. The bays let you carry a total of three hard drives, three batteries, or two optical drives, depending on your needs and how much cash you have for extra-cost items. (One optical drive--a combination drive in our unit--and a floppy drive come standard with the notebook.) Using its standard battery pack, the 600XL runs for 3 hours without needing a charge.