A diagram might explain this better, but let me offer up some conflicting criteria to choose from. I can probably make suggestions once you identify what's important in these categories.
cost v.s. weight/portability
screen & keyboard size v.s. weight/portability
battery life v.s. weight
performance v.s. weight
cost v.s. performance
Basically:
Small and fast = expensive
Small = slower unless you pay big bucks
Big and cheap = heavy
Big and fast = heavy
If you only need to get e-mail, web and take notes. Small and cheap will probably do fine. I have 5 year old Asus 3lb 12" that is dog slow but great to travel with. It sucks at big spreadsheets, but is otherwise fine. I don't play games so that automatically knocks off a costly need.
One thing I highly recommend you watch out for. Most of the mainstream brands in Canada ship with French keyboard layouts. These are OK double duty (they do it to have less variation of SKUs), but if you touch type in English they will drive you nuts. My wife ordered and returned two different laptops on line that didn't clearly state this before she found one without this issue.
Personally, when my current road warrior dies (or I deliberately kill it) I am eyeing this one.
http://www.dell.com/ca/p/xps-13-9343-laptop/pd?ref=wtn1
or maybe this. Pen input is intriguing me for note taking and I love using OneNote across my phone and computers.
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msc ... als_031315
Brands are for cattle.
Fans are cash cows.
The herd will consume until consumed.