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Top 5 Netbooks

By Darius Chang
Aug 06, 2008

Sub-notebooks with under 11-inch screen sizes have been around for a while. However, they used to command a price premium vastly disproportionate to their performance. Well, not anymore. Netbooks have been taking center stage ever since the 7-inch Asus Eee PC 701 was launched at an unheard of price of S$598 (US$440.28) for a full-featured laptop. This started a trend of low-cost sub-notebooks hitting the market.

However, after the initial excitement, most consumers realized that a 7-inch screen just doesn't cut it. As such, the new generation of Netbooks are sporting 9- and 10-inch displays which make them more feasible for work. With the launch of the new Intel Atom chipset, Netbook users no longer have to worry about performance issues when it comes to surfing and productivity tools. In fact, these little machines are even capable of multimedia entertainment. We take a look at five models which push the boundaries of this niche segment.

Click here for a feature comparison table.
1.  Acer Aspire One (Intel Atom N270 Processor 1.6GHz, 1GB RAM)
 
CNET Asia rating: 7.6 out of 10
The good: Secondary SD slot expands primary storage; slim and light form factor; inexpensive.
The bad: Limited 8GB SSD; poor battery life; no Bluetooth.
The bottom line: The Acer Aspire One may not be as feature-packed as the Eee PC 901, but the keyboard is certainly much better and could tip the scales in its favor.

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2.  Asus Eee PC 901 (Intel Atom N270 Processor 1.6GHz, 1GB RAM)    
 
CNET Asia rating: 8.1 out of 10
The good: Excellent battery life; spiffy performance; multitouch touchpad; solid state storage; Draft-N wireless radio and Bluetooth; built-in CPU overclocking/underclocking application.
The bad: Keyboard still hard to use; a little more hefty than the Eee PC 900; glossy finish attracts fingerprints.
The bottom line: With an excellent battery life and spiffy performance, the Eee PC 901 has matured into an exceptional Netbook capable of all-day computing.

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3.  Asus Eee PC 1000H (Intel Atom N270 Processor 1.6GHz, 1GB RAM)
 
CNET Asia rating: 8.8 out of 10
The good: Intel Atom CPU; 10.2-inch screen; keyboard.
The bad: Weight; lack of 3G.
The bottom line: The Eee PC 1000H is a fabulous machine. It precariously straddles the line between Netbook and ultraportable, but it's well-equipped, well-designed and great for those who need a laptop on the move.

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4.  HP Compaq 2133 (VIA Processor 1.6GHz, 1GB RAM)
 
CNET Asia rating: 7.5 out of 10
The good: Inexpensive; solid construction; stylish design belies its budget price; nearly full-size keyboard.
The bad: Weak performance; unimpressive battery life; tiny touchpad; misses out on new Intel Atom CPUs.
The bottom line: Despite an underpowered CPU, the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC offers the best balance of small size, comfort, and functionality we've seen in a mini-notebook, making it fast a favorite for on-the-go use. It also has the best keyboard we've seen on a Netbook.

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5.  MSI Wind (Intel Atom N270 processor 1.6GHz; 2GB)
 
CNET Asia rating: 8.8 out of 10
The good: Large screen; excellent keyboard; value for money.
The bad: Average battery life; no integrated 3G.
The bottom line: The MSI Wind is arguably the best netbook on the market. It's stylish, it's easy to type on and it's quick. The wireless connectivity could have been better and the standard battery life is relatively poor, but these are issues you can get around. With that in mind, this device comes highly recommended.

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