CTL 2Go PC

Last week, CTL released the specs of its new mini-notebook, the IL1PC. This morning the system arrived at our offices. According to CTL, the unit containing a 60GB hard drive, 1GB of memory, and Windows XP Home will be available through online retailers in the coming weeks for $449. But is the system worth the extra $50 compared with the 7-inch ASUS Eee PC 4G XP? Let’s find out.

Sleek Exterior, Small Footprint
Right out of the box we were impressed by the glossy black lid on the IL1PC. Though it gives the system a nice sassy look, it quickly became smeared in fingerprints. The 9.6 x 6.8 x 1.7-inch notebook had no shame getting up on the scale: It weighed in at 2.4 pounds, 3.0 pounds with the AC adapter. Though the system is slightly heavier and wider than the Eee PC 4G, it’s still very light.
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All week long, the light sound of clicking has emanated from the Mini-Dome–the battle ground for LAPTOP Magazine’s Mini-Notebook Type Off. Our typing gladiators have faced missed keys, cramped hands and punctuation frustration as they furiously typed Hamlet’s soliloquy on three mini-keyboards.

Avram “The ESC Artist” Piltch, Emily “Key Crusher” Kizer, Jeffrey “Hands of Steel” Wilson and TJ “Furious Fingers” Fink took on the ASUS Eee PC, the HP 2133 Mini-Note and the CTL 2Go PC to determine which keyboard is the best for typing.

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