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This story was printed from CNET Asia.
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The quarterly IT shows in Singapore are a great time to buy laptops. Expensive models get cheaper, while budget portables go for even lower prices. So it's little wonder that, in August, most consumers waited for COMEX before buying a notebook.
The most popular and bestselling models seemed to be mainly budget laptops, with almost half of them Netbooks. This category of machines are the hottest this season, with new models from Dell, Lenovo and even LG joining the fray later in the year. For those looking for a conventional laptop, the decision seemed to be an even split between HP/Compaq and Acer, especially for the lower-end models.
To find out which were the hottest models last month, we polled what readers searched for on our site, as well as sales
figures from Singapore stores AAAs Com Solution and MC2
for our latest chart-busters.
The good: Good connectivity options; reasonable performance for the size.
The bad: Speakers aren't great; no digital video-out.
The bottom line: The Aspire 2920 should suit most people who are on a budget and like to stay portable, but who still need a bit of grunt. If this had an HDMI port, it'd almost be the perfect solution.
Outlook
The Compaq Presario V3000 delivers a strong set of components and decent basic features for a competitive price. Optional addons like the HP XB 3000 expansion base further expand the functionality of this series with more connectivity ports and a better speaker setup.
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.
The good: Attractive new "special edition" bronze theme; includes media remote control and an HDMI port; dedicated graphics.
The bad: Heavier than it should be; tinny speakers, unimpressive battery life.
The bottom line: The 14-inch HP Pavilion dv2700 Special Edition packs plenty of extra features and a cool new paint job into a slightly too-heavy package with an uninspiring battery.
Outlook
The Aspire 4920G may be cheap, but it's definitely not boring with its Gemstone design. Billed as a portable entertainment notebook, it sports a dedicated ATI graphics card for additional video performance. Users who frequently edit videos or produce presentations will appreciate this affordable Acer PC.
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.
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.
Outlook
The B1200 is a performance portable targeted at users who need a system primarily for work. As such, it eschews extras like Altec Lansing speakers and a mini-remote control, leaving only a Webcam and touch-sensitive multimedia control bar for video or music playback. In return, this 12.1-inch system puts in a water-resistant keyboard so the occasional spill does not spell disaster.
Outlook
In order to save cost, a last-generation Pentium Dual-Core processor is used instead of Core 2 Duo, while Bluetooth and Webcam are missing from the Lenovo 3000 G400. However, unlike other budget portables this laptop comes with the One-Key Rescue System, which allows you to backup and restore data on the notebook with a touch of a button. A great feature to have especially when the laptop crashes or is infected with a virus.
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.
Click here for a feature comparison table.
