Some products appeal to logic. Others, such as the Apple iBook, appeal to the senses. Sure, the iBook is a hefty notebook with a price tag to match. But it looks pretty darn cool, and that fact -- along with a few nice features -- helps explain why the iBook is one the most popular laptops sold in retail, especially among students.

The iBook has a distinctive rounded clamshell case that measures 4.57 x 34.2 x 29.9 cms (HWD) with a sturdy handle. Apple says the iBook was designed specifically to stand up to life in a student's backpack. The lid snaps open and closed -- no latches required -- and the attractive, translucent case is coated with a tough layer of rubber. The system weighs 2.99 kgs on its own, and adds 3.17 kgs to a backpack with the AC adaptor thrown in.