One of the best features of a laptop is the ability to access the internet while on the road. Whether downloading material en route to a presentation, or handling e-mail from a park bench, the benefits are obvious.

There are two ways to get a laptop online wirelessly: a wi-fi connection or a 3G mobile phone network. Wi-fi is a proven technology but relies on the laptop being within range of a suitable hotspot or wi-fi zone (see InGear’s recent wi-fi guide). If, however, you need to surf while further afield, a mobile phone network can be more effective.

You no longer need to connect your mobile phone to a laptop, or plug in an expansion card to get online at near-broadband speeds. Computer makers are embedding 3G receivers into laptops, so you can log on wherever you find a mobile phone signal.

Connection speeds vary greatly according to locale. With a 3G signal (largely restricted to metropolitan areas) you are promised 384kbps, which is equivalent to a slow broadband link. But this rises to 1.8Mbps, or in some cases 3.6Mbps, if the 3G transmitter has been upgraded to the latest standard known as HSDPA but variously marketed as Super 3G or even 3G Broadband. Outside a 3G coverage area, speeds are slower than a dial-up connection, though in an emergency you’d be glad of even that.

InGear tested the first laptops to feature this technology. All contained a built-in 3G receiver apart from the Sony, which required a plug-in 3G card and was included for comparison. Given that this type of laptop is primarily designed to be used while out and about, a strong emphasis was placed on size and weight. Some are genuine ultra-portables. For example, the Panasonic and Samsung models weigh a mere 1.2kg, while even the heaviest machine on test – the HP– is only 2.3kg.

A smaller laptop chassis inevitably means compromises. Both the super-light machines have a 12in screen (as does the Dell), while the largest screen was the HP’s at 14in. The two ultra-portables both had more modest specifications, partly to eke out battery life and partly to reduce size. They featured lukewarm processing grunt and had the smallest hard drives: 60GB.

The other models each offered more impressive spec, with up to 100GB of hard drive space and far better firepower. These are handy for demanding tasks such as ripping a CD or running a virus scan in the background. The trade-off was increased bulk and weight. An exception here was the innovative and stylish Toshiba, which was neither ultra-light nor particularly powerful.

Some systems are intended as entertainment devices with a glossy screen to show off DVDs or photos. These screens suffer reflections from overhead lighting in offices, though they help with visibility in strong sunlight. The business-oriented machines offered a fingerprint scanner to stop unauthorised access and in general had more comfortable keyboards, on which we placed a high value.

Each laptop was tested in central London in an area of good 3G coverage. We assessed surfing speeds, did line-speed tests, and measured how long each laptop took to download a 269MB gaming patch, a large file chosen to even out short-term fluctuations. All models maintained an impressive average speed of 1-2Mbps.

Battery life was tested with the 3G feature on and included the large file download to assess how this drained the laptop of juice. With more judicious use, you could almost double the battery life.

This is a nascent technology. Two of the laptops – Dell and Panasonic – needed replacing before they would even find a 3G signal. There are also few models to choose between and none is cheap. If you don’t fancy paying a premium for built-in 3G, most laptops can be connected to a suitable mobile phone that then acts as a modem, though this is awkward to set up. Or you could add a plug-in 3G card and achieve much the same performance. However, this takes up a laptop’s expansion slot and the cards stick out annoyingly.

Finally, consider the cost of the 3G connection itself. Prices start from about £25 a month with a modest 250MB download cap. Our game download would exceed this alone, though some tariffs are “unlimited”. However, this is an exciting technology and when used in tandem with wi-fi access it unchains laptop-wielding road warriors from their desks.

JARGON BUSTER

3G (third generation) Newer generation of mobile phones, with faster internet speeds of up to 384kbps, which enables modest video-streaming

Dual-core Latest generation of processing chips; far better for multitasking or handling routine background jobs

GPRS Slow internet access using the old-school GSM (2G) mobile phone network connection. Often called 2.5G

Hard drive/hard disk Where software and data are stored. Capacity measured in gigabytes (GB)

HSDPA 3G upgrade that delivers faster data speeds of up to 3.6Mbps. Marketed as 3G Broadband, Super 3G, or 3.5G

Ram Live memory. Windows Vista needs 1GB but 2GB is better

Ripping Converting CDs into digital files for storage on computer or MP3 player

Wi-fi Wireless technology in computers (and some gadgets) for internet access or transferring files when in range of a hotspot

Reviews by David Phelan
Prices include Vat and delivery

THE ENTERTAINER

Samsung Q40 – typically £1,300, or £1,148 from www.webelectricals.co.uk

Stylish ultra-portable 3G laptop fit for the road

This weighs a mere 1.2kg when fitted with the smaller of its two batteries (though carrying the external DVD drive adds 700g). A power meter on each battery revealed how much juice was left even if the laptop was switched off, and the larger battery lasted 3hr 50min. The 12in glossy screen was bright and impressive and legible in strong sunlight. The 3G connection proved swift to set up and the 269MB test file downloaded in 90 minutes. There are gripes: the keyboard was uncomfortable for extensive typing, the trackpad buttons are small, and it runs hot. The specifications are unexceptional, but anyone hunting a fine-value 3G companion need look no further.

TOUGH COOKIE

Panasonic ToughBook CF-W5 – typically £1,680, or £1,500 from www.microanvika.com

Hard-living ultra-portable, but pricey

Ruggedised laptops are go-anywhere machines, ideal for surveyors or engineers. This is semi-ruggedised, which means its toughened case can take more knocks than a standard notebook. The CF-W5 weighs 1.2kg and includes a built-in DVD drive yet feels chunky because of its reinforced casing. The 3G feature was tricky to set up and it tended to lose its signal or default to old-school GPRS. However, switching from Orange to Vodafone helped, after which the CF-W5 performed better and downloaded the test file in 87 minutes. Battery life was the longest of the group at 4hr 53min. However, the keyboard and trackpad are cramped, it’s a bit sluggish and the low spec is poor value. That said, this is a versatile treat.

ALL-ROUND LUXURY

Sony Vaio SZ3XWP – typically £1,700, or £1,463 from www.dabs.com

Chic laptop that largely justifies its price

With a 13.3in glossy screen, stereo speakers and built-in webcam, this suave Sony is a genuine entertainer but has business credentials too. There’s a fingerprint scanner, and a sensor to protect the hard disk if dropped. The chassis is made of lightweight carbon fibre yet nevertheless tips the scales at 1.7kg. The Sony is the only model on test without built-in 3G, yet the supplied plug-in card launched without fuss and achieved consistently decent speeds, downloading the 269MB test file in 85 minutes. It runs Windows XP but a Vista version (the SZ4XWP) is available. The trackpad and its buttons are cramped and the screen bends easily. However, the keyboard was pleasant to type on and the Vaio boasts a premium spec to match its hefty price. The main trade-off was an unexceptional battery life of 2hr 52min.

HEAD TURNER

Toshiba Portege R400 – typically £1,600, or £1,524 from www.pcwb.com

Swanky tablet-style laptop but overpriced

With swish white casing and keyboard, the Portege R400 is a world away from the utilitarian styling of most Toshiba laptops. The 12in touchscreen swivels and lies flat to become a tablet PC, which can be operated by stylus or keypad. This trim Tosh weighs a slightly portly (by ultra-portable standards) 1.7kg and has a fingerprint sensor. There is an LED display on one edge that keeps track of unread e-mails and so on without opening the screen. The 3G feature was simple to set up and the test file downloaded in only 55 minutes. An 80GB hard drive and modest dual-core processor are unimpressive at this price, though fine for most tasks. Less excusable was the slightly flimsy casing and battery life of 2hr 20min.

GAMER’S BEASTIE

Dell XPS M1210 – typically £1,145 as tested from www.dell.co.uk

Blazing-fast performer but too chunky

Dell’s XPS range is aimed at ardent gamers, to which end the M1210 boasts high-end components, a bright, glossy screen and a built-in webcam. It even has dedicated playback buttons to quickly launch (or adjust) multimedia programs without booting up Windows. But the 12in screen is too small for proper gaming and the laptop itself is thick and heavy, weighing 2kg. Despite initial problems, setting up a 3G connection proved simple enough, and while speeds varied greatly, the test file downloaded in 98 minutes. The keyboard felt cramped, with overspringy keys, and the playback buttons were fiddly, but the battery lasted a reasonable 3hr 20min. This laptop offers good value, but has narrow appeal, and Dell’s business-oriented Latitude D420 is a better bet.

BOARDROOM BRUISER

HP Compaq nc6400 – typically £1,200, or £1,046 from www.misco.co.uk

Solid corporate performer but too bulky

This business-oriented beast looks drab but packs a decent 14in matt screen and a fingerprint scanner for security. It was the most painless to set up with a 3G connection and it maintained a decent signal, taking 64 minutes to download a 269MB file. HP gets the basics right: there’s a navigation nipple as well as a trackpad with buttons that were easy to hit – though spongy in feel – and the keyboard was the best on test. There is plentiful processing power and a battery that lasted 2hr 50min, but the 80GB hard drive is only acceptable, and you’d have to be dedicated to lug this laptop’s 2.3kg bulk around all day.