Four Favorite Netbooks

Four Favorite Netbooks

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Written By Eric Sandler

By Jamie Bsales

January 21, 2009

The ultraportable, affordable netbook class of PCs, on which Wi-Fi generally comes standard, just keeps getting better. We recommend four of our favorites under $550 (even less, if you prefer Linux) from the second generation.

In 2008, sales of laptop PCs outpaced sales of desktops for the first time, according to a report by market intelligence firm iSuppli. At least part of the credit for that growth belongs to a new class of portable that emerged during the year: netbooks.

These diminutive machines are notebooks writ small. They pack a usable screen, keyboard, and requisite Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity into three-pound packages you can slip into a bag and take with you everywhere. But unlike ultraportable-class laptops, netbooks don’t have all the features or performance of a full-scale laptop–or the high price. Whereas a three-pound ultraportable typically runs $1,500 to $2,000—miniaturization costs, after all—netbooks typically cost less than $500.

ASUS Eee PC 1002HA

First-generation netbooks had limited appeal. Since the keyboard can only be as wide as the screen, the original eight-inch displays meant that the keyboards were equally cramped.The limited screen real estate and resolution also meant you would have to scroll both horizontally and vertically to see a Web page or document, which quickly gets bothersome.

But the big stumbling block for mainstream buyers was the operating system. To keep prices and hardware requirements to a minimum, early machines used variants of Linux, not the more familiar Windows.

While many netbooks are still available with Linux, second-generation models offer good ol’ Windows XP. This not only gives you instant familiarity when using the machine, it also lets you run essential programs, such as Microsoft Office. Netbook makers have also moved their platforms to larger screens: ten-inch widescreen LCDs are now the norm. These typically provide 1024×600 resolution, so most Web sites fit fine side-to-side. The extra width also means that keyboards have more room to spread out; they still aren’t full-sized, but they are comfortable to type on at least.

Before you ditch your laptop or desktop PC, however, be aware that netbooks entail tradeoffs that don’t make them suited as your primary PC. For starters, their small size means there’s no optical drive on board. And while a ten-inch screen seems huge compared to the eight-inchers on the least expensive models, working on a screen that small for long stretches gets tiresome. You can use the VGA port that most netbooks include to attach an external monitor for desktop use, but then you’re still saddled with a relatively underpowered processor.

The Intel Atom and Via Nano processors that power most netbooks are fine for content consumption, such as Web surfing and reading e-mail and documents; but not content creation, such as working with multimedia files.

Yes, you can run typical productivity applications, but our tests show that heavier lifting, such as encoding an audio file in Apple iTunes, takes five times longer on a netbook than on a $599 budget laptop. Intel is rumored to be working on a more powerful dual-core processor for netbooks sometime this year, but it will be months before they work their way into production machines.

Still, a netbook might be a worthwhile investment if you often find yourself in need of a second, more portable system, on which to catch up on e-mail, polish up a document, or check the Web away from your desk. The larger screen and keyboard makes it more comfortable to use for such tasks than a smartphone, and the price is right. Below, we detail four of our favorite current models.

ASUS Eee PC 1002HA

ASUS pioneered the netbook market with the original Eee PC, and it offers a wider range of models than any manufacturer. One of its most recent, the Wi-Fi-enabled Eee PC 1002HA, is also one of the best. Priced at $499, it delivers a 10-inch screen, 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 160GB hard drive.

Whereas early Eee PCs had a somewhat toy-like appearance, the brushed-bronze finish of the 1002HA has a sophisticated look, so you won’t be embarrassed to use it at a client meeting. The machine weighs a scant 2.8 pounds and is just an inch thick, so you can carry it with you effortlessly.

The screen delivers a very bright, crisp image and even small text is sharp and legible. The keyboard has a comfortable feel, though the Shift key on the right is small and not in the standard place, which could slow you down if you’re a fast touch-typist. We were also impressed with the audio quality from the front-firing stereo speakers. The battery lasted nearly three hours when we played a video loop continuously, which should translate to about five to six hours of runtime for typical use. [Read a review of the Asus Eee PC 4G laptop here.]

Dell Inspiron Mini 12

If a 10-inch screen is still too small for your liking, consider a netbook like the Dell Inspiron Mini 12. Starting at $549 for the model equipped with Windows XP (or $499 if you prefer Linux), the Mini 12 has a 12.1-inch screen that is exceedingly comfortable to use. Other specs are similar to other netbooks: 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 60GB hard drive, and, of course, built-in Wi-Fi.

As you would expect, because of the larger screen, the Mini 12 isn’t quite as compact as other netbooks. But at 2.7 pounds and one inch thick, it still won’t weigh you down. The machine is available in sleek glossy black, white, red, or even pink, plus five designs by artist Tristan Eaton (though the latter scream “student” rather than business professional).

The sharp, bright screen has 1280×800 resolution, which makes it easy to see your work or the Web without a lot of scrolling. The keyboard is similar in size to those on 10-inch netbooks, which is a shame; while it feels fine, there seems to be enough room that a full-size keyboard would have fit.

The Mini 12 does have a larger touchpad than is found on most netbooks, which makes on-screen navigation much easier. The optional six-cell battery we tested adds $30 to the price, but delivered an excellent four hours of life on our harsh video rundown test, so you can expect nearly seven hours of life between charges with more frugal use.

HP Mini 2140

Good looks, an excellent keyboard and a sharp 10.1-inch screen combine to make the HP Mini 2140 a standout among current netbooks. Priced at $499, the Mini 2140 comes equipped with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive and Windows XP.

This Mini’s aluminum shell has the look of the company’s high-end EliteBook portables. The enclosure looks great, and it makes the case more resilient to smudges and scratches than the typical plastic wrap. Weighing just 2.6 pounds, the Mini 2140 is also one of the lightest 10-inch netbooks with integrated Wi-Fi on the market.

The bright screen and produces rich colors, though we did find small type to be a touch less crisp than on other panels we’ve evaluated. On the plus side, the keyboard is the best we’ve seen in a netbook, with a roomy layout that’s easy to type on.

The hard drive features HP’s DriveGuard technology, which features a system that parks the hard drive head to prevent data loss (and drive damage) should you drop or jostle the machine. The standard three-cell battery lasted just 2 hours 15 minutes on our tests, so road warriors will want to opt for the available six-cell power pack.

Samsung NC10

Samsung entered the branded notebook fray in the U.S last fall, and its netbook entry separated itself from the pack right out of the gate. Priced at $499, the NC10 delivers a 10.2-inch screen, 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, Wi-Fi, and Windows XP—yes, a formula common in the class.

Available in satin white or dark blue, the compact NC10 weighs 2.8 pounds. At 1.2 inches, it’s a little thicker than other netbooks, but just barely so; it’s still easy to slip in a bag. The keyboard is only seven percent smaller than a full-size laptop keyboard, which makes typing a pleasure. The bright screen delivers crisp, sharp text and rich colors. In real-world use, the standard battery delivered about six hours of runtime for Web surfing and the like before needing a charge.

Jamie Bsales is an award-winning technology writer and editor with nearly 14 years of experience covering the latest hardware, software and Internet products and services. Article courtesy of SmallBusinessComputing.com

Eric Sandler

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