Starts from $2,799
Get it from authorised HP dealers

This serious-looking HP Compaq NB6910 notebook has all the qualities to satisfy the needs of the security-conscious business user.

With its fingerprint reader, password protection facilities and two-factor authentication system (via USB tokens or smart cards), it gives those in information-sensitive industries peace of mind knowing that their data is protected.

The fingerprint reader is fast and sensitive. Upon registration of my index finger, the reader took less than a couple of seconds to verify, accept and allow me access to the notebook.

Slightly larger than an A4-size sheet of paper, and just over 2kg, this mid-size notebook makes for a bearable travel companion.

At its heart is an Intel Centrino Pro 2.2GHz processor coupled with 1GB DDR2 SDRAM. So no problems getting this notebook to carry out all the usual office applications including complex spreadsheet calculations.

The test machine also came with a 140GB hard disk.

With business and security emphasis, it is not surprising that movie and music buffs may distance themselves from the HP Compaq NB6910.

The fun element is not completely missing, though: A DVD-R/RW lets you play movies on the 14.1-inch widescreen display.

But the small built-in speakers may not satisfy the audiophile.

You may be also asking for too much from this notebook if you expect it to run graphics-intensive games.

This is because the machine is equipped with an ATI Mobility Radeon graphics chipset - a very basic chipset with only 64MB video memory that allows you to play just the basic desktop games like Pinball.

Battery life is fairly decent. The notebook ran for 130 minutes before it went flat.