Dell is trying out some new technology on their Latitude E4200 and Latitude E4300 laptops.  Instant On allows you to boot up your computer into a special mode.  In this mode you can access only email, calendar and contacts.  However this mode will boot fast and use hardly any battery life of the laptop.  Dell has said that you can go days on a single charge in this mode.  Instant on should be released sometime in November 2008.