Dialogue's Flybook is a lightweight ultraportable laptop with a swivelling display so it can be used as a standard laptop or in slate mode for pen input. It also has an integrated GPRS capability that enables mobile data connectivity and lets the Flybook double as a mobile phone.

The Flybook will appeal to many mobile workers thanks to its compact nature - it is about the same size as an A5 page and weighs 1.2kg. However, it has a short battery life and its 1GHz Transmeta processor results in poor performance compared with Intel-based laptops.

Despite its rotating display, the Flybook is not a full-blown Tablet PC. It uses a plastic passive stylus and runs the standard edition of Windows XP. However, the touch-sensitive screen allows users to hit on-screen buttons using a fingertip, unlike the active stylus technology of Tablet PCs.

In the Flybook's favour are extensive communications functions. With the addition of a SIM card, the integrated GPRS capability lets it connect directly to a mobile network. Though GPRS only allows speeds up to about 57kbit/s, users can link from almost anywhere.

The Flybook also has support for 802.11b wireless LAN, Bluetooth and 10/100 Ethernet. Oddly, Windows does not "see" either the WLAN or Bluetooth adapter until they are manually powered up by pressing a hot key on the keyboard.

Dialogue ships the Flybook with BVRP's Mobile PhoneTools software that allows users to make mobile calls using the GPRS hardware. The application also has buttons for single-click access to the web, email, SMS text messaging, and fax functions. In our tests we were able to make voice calls using the Flybook's external microphone and speakers, but found that a headset provided better sound quality.

The Flybook has a three-cell lithium ion battery pack that slots into the front of the case. In tests using our BatteryMark 4.0.1 benchmark, the Flybook lasted for less than two hours from a full recharge - one of the shortest battery life scores we have seen. This test was conducted with power management disabled, so buyers might see slightly more use in real life, but only if they carefully restrict their wireless use.

We also found the Flybook to be somewhat sluggish, and its Business Winstone 2004 benchmark score of 6.6 backs up this impression. By comparison, Dell's Latitude X1 ultraportable with a 1.1GHz Pentium M processor scored 16.8.

The Flybook's small size means that its keyboard is a little cramped for typing. It also has a TrackPoint pointer control instead of the more common TouchPad.

When rotated and folded back flat over the keyboard, the 8.9in widescreen display can be used with a stylus stored in the base of the Flybook. Dialogue includes EverNote's RitePen software to support handwriting recognition in Windows applications. Microsoft's on-screen keyboard can also be used to tap in text when in slate mode.