Panasonic, Averatec release world's lightest 12.1-inch tablet, 10-inch netbook

Laptops can never be too thin, so manufacturers keep trying to trim precious ounces off their systems. Today, two of them are touting new portables that are the lightest in their respective niches.

Panasonic has introduced the Toughbook C1, which is apparently the lightest 12.1-inch convertible tablet (in case anyone was wondering). It weighs in at 3.2 pounds with battery, but still boasts an Intel Core i5-520 processor, 2GB of DDR3 RAM, 250GB hard drive, LED-backlit and multi-touch-enabled screen, and optional mobile broadband integration. In keeping with the Toughbook approach, the C1 can withstand a 30-inch drop (thanks to the shock-mounted hard drive), 225 pounds of pressure, and up to 6 ounces of spilled liquid. Panasonic also claims that the tablet offers up to 10 hours of battery life. The C1 is due in June with prices starting at $2,499.

Averatec, meanwhile, has stuck around the laptop world focusing on slim systems, and its new N1200 is strutting its stuff as the lightest 10-inch netbook around. It's also the thinnest at under an inch thick. The 2.2-pound version comes in two configurations: The $329.99 model offers Windows XP Home and the $349.99 comes with Windows 7 Starter instead. There's also a slightly heavier model (2.46 pounds) that comes with an extended battery (doubling the battery life to roughly six hours) and a larger 250GB hard drive for $379.99. (The lighter models come with 160GB hard drives.) All three configurations are powered by the Intel Atom N450 CPU, and have 1GB of RAM, LED-backlit wide-screen displays, and integrated 802.11n Wi-Fi. The N1200 stays svelte thanks to a hard drive that's just 7 millimeters thick and a magnesium-alloy case. It will be available this month through online retailers like BestBuy.com and TigerDirect.