Enano Elf energy-efficient laptop

Why It's Good:

Consider this the Prius of portable computers—you hardly hear it running. Other goodies: It has built-in wireless, a webcam module, Skype and Bluetooth phone compatibility. And it's very carry-able in your purse or solar powered knapsack: It's small, tough, designed for shock, and weighs in at under two pounds, the ideal, healthy weight for lugging things around. And at prices starting at $599, they're cheap.

Why It's Green:

The goal was to give the consumer a sharp and energy-efficient portable laptop for all their computing needs, and Enano, an Energy Star partner, delivers. When you're on the go and your battery is low, plug the Elf into the foldable solar panel to charge it up!

Where To Get It:

http://www.enanocomputers.com | $599.00
The solar-power charger is sold separately. Click here to find a store near you.

Little Green Laptop

I need to get along better with my computer. I have a black Mac laptop (the finish cost me an extra 100 bucks—call me a sucker but I don't like smudges), and any additional program or extra power drives the price through the roof. Apple is a major player on the "planned obsolescence" product scene, and their Genius Bar is manned by smugness and a long wait; a recent appointment almost required a shot of restorative tequila (and I don't drink) as one of the most disturbing events for me so far in 2008. (I even can't stand seeing Drew Barrymore’s new boyfriend on TV—he's the Mac guy on those commercials.) Maybe next time I'll try something like this brand-new Enano Elf with its cool solar-paneled charger and its low-energy operating modules. Now that's genius!—Allison Reynolds