There are only two directions the notebook-computer world can go: smaller and more powerful or larger and more powerful. A few weeks ago I looked at an example of the former - a Sony Vaio that was among the smallest and lightest notebooks I have ever seen. The disadvantage of small models is that almost everything we consider essential becomes external, including floppy-disk and CD-Rom drives. There also is so little room for printer and serial ports that the machines often come with a 'replicator' or device containing these ports. This is fine if your main concern is weight. However, there are others who want as much power as they can get, regardless of what this means in terms of size. Apple and Digital produce large notebook computers that are almost as powerful as a desktop. The latest from Digital is the HiNote VP 735. It has a 233 MHz Pentium with MMX, 4 GB hard disk, 13.3-inch XGA TFT colour screen capable of a 1024 x 768 pixel resolution and a 20X CD-Rom drive. The most impressive thing about this machine is the screen size. Until quite recently, the only way to get 1024 x 768 resolution was to buy a 17 inch monitor. At this resolution, the screen only supports 16-bit colour, but most people who want a PC will not mind. The majority of PCs use 8-bit colour, or 256 colours. The 65,000 colours that this machine provides should be quite welcome. Another feature of the HiNote VP 735 that is an interesting and needed addition is the CD-Rom/floppy combination. The CD-Rom drive has a built-in floppy underneath. This avoids the Kirkegaardian problem of having a floppy or a CD-Rom drive. Having both is particularly useful if you have to configure a major piece of software that is distributed on CD-Rom but requires a floppy to boot the machine. Weight aside, there is also the question of battery life. Battery power is used up depending on the way a machine is used. If the CD-Rom drive is active, power will be drained quite quickly. There are tips and tricks on how to get the most out of batteries and if anyone is keen to know about this, a search of the Internet would be well worth it. The documentation on the HiNote VP 735 states the batteries will last from two to five hours. I have no reason to dispute this. The weight question is another matter. The 233 MHz Pentium obviously is a fast chip and capable of performing like a desktop. However, can you make use of this machine without worrying about its weight? This machine will suit the user who wants the power of a desktop that will be moved occasionally or someone wanting pure desktop power in a notebook and not worried about the weight. If you have multi-media demonstrations to make and truly want the power, then this possibly is the machine for you. If all you require is a machine to write a few notes and work on a spreadsheet, then the HiNote VP 735 may not be the model for you. However, for those who know they need the best possible Windows notebook, this could well be just what the answer, with a little help from Arnold Schwarzenegger. PROS AND CONS Product: Digital HiNote VP 735 Notebook Computer Price: $41,249 Pros: Large, fast, desktop-on-your-lap notebook Cons: heavy