Tired of lugging a full sized notebook PC around? The ultra-portable mobile PC market, popularised by Sony with its Vaio machines, is one of the fastest-growing PC market segments. Now Compaq Computer, the PC market leader, has launched its own entry into this niche.

Compaq's Armada Ultra-portable weighs about 3lb thanks to its magnesium alloy case, is less than an inch thick and yet manages to squeeze in an 11.3in TFT (thin film transistor) display and keyboard that is 95 per cent the size of a standard desktop.

The machine uses either an Intel P11 333Mhz or Celeron processor and Compaq claims it will run for about two hours on a standard battery charge.

Compaq has also tried to reduce the need to carry around a bag full of peripherals, wires and connectors by building in a 56K V.90 modem communications device, integrating standard ports into the machine and offering a MultiBay expansion unit that can accommodate a second battery, CD or DVD drive and floppy drive. www.compaq.com