Travel Technology - robust by light laptop for travel?

Anyone have recommendations? I'd like a fairly light, smaller laptop that will hold up under heavy use and travel. I've gone through two Sony Vaios who don't seem to be able to take the wear--would love recommendations on other good laptops. Thanks.

I just purchased 2 Lenovo X61s' today.

Lenovo Thinkpad X60 or X61

Lenovo Thinkpad X60 or X61

I have a new T61 and like it a lot so far but as for the X61 - no internal ROM drive and a pretty dim matte 4:3 screen [my T61 screen brightness is barely acceptable] make it unusable to me.

I have to have an internal DVD+/-RW drive and have been won over by the 16:9 widescreen format so for light weight travel I will keep my carbon fiber cased Sony VAIO SZ 13.3" LED 3.7 lbs laptop for another year or so and then look at the 2.5 lbs Sony VAIO TZ with 11.1" LED widescreen and integrated DVD+/-RW drive

I just don't see why Lenovo/IBM can't get a ROM drive into the otherwise excellent X61 without the expansion base. I will say though that the X61 Limited is one very cool laptop. ^