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This story was printed from CNET Asia.
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The rapid increase in new Netbook has resulted in some stores selling off older models for a song. In some cases, you can score a decent Netbook from a major brand for under S$500. At this price point, Intel's original intent for Netbooks as a laptop companion is becoming more realistic. After all, for the price of an ultraportable (which usually don't come with a powerful platform), you can buy a midsized dual-core budget laptop with a discrete graphics card for the home and a Netbook for travel. But don't be too hasty in rushing out to grab a Netbook now, as we expect new platforms and models to be announced by Intel at the upcoming Computex Taipei 2009 tradeshow in June.
Note: Results are based on readership as well as data collected from retail outlets (Active Notebooks, ALIF and MC2)
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.
Outlook Granted at S$1,850 it's a little pricey, but this Aspire offers a competent entertainment experience with the latest Nvidia GeForce G105M graphics and generous 500GB storage.
Outlook Despite a price tag that rivals some Netbooks, the Extensa 5630 not only offers a full dual-core computing platform, but also comes with the latest Intel Centrino 2 chipset.
Outlook Possibly one of the cheapest 12.1-inch laptops in the market, this model is equipped with an integrated DVD burner on the latest Centrino 2 platform. With its multimedia entertainment focus, this Aspire even comes with the second generation Dolby Home Theater sound quality.
The good: Excellent battery life; improved keyboard; competitively priced.
The bad: Slightly faster Intel Atom CPU fails to impress; other Netbook makers have shown more innovation.
The bottom line: Asus practically invented the Netbook market, and the Eee PC 1000HE is an overdue overhaul that offers a new CPU and great battery life but misses some of the competition's bells and whistles.
Outlook Built for the budget crowd, the 14.1-inch Compaq Presario CQ40 is based on the Centrino 2 chipset with Intel's latest integrated graphics processor. The higher-end variant, the CQ45, costs a little more but will net you a discrete video card in the form of an Nvidia GeForce 9200M GS chip.
The good: Strong set of specs for price; performance almost matches that of more expensive laptops; attractive 14.1-inch display; dual headphone jacks and fingerprint reader; includes most of the ports and connections home users need.
The bad: Average battery life with the standard six-cell battery; opting for an HDMI port means sacrificing a USB port.
The bottom line: The HP Pavilion dv2500 delivers an eye-catching case, a strong set of features, and solid performance at a lower price than competing systems. We recommend it for home or school use.
Outlook At just under S$1,000, this Acer offers great value with a decent feature set for the basic user. Equipped with Bluetooth, USB ports, Wi-Fi radio, built-in Webcam, DVD writer and even an HDMI port, this Extensa should satisfy all your surfing and productivity needs.
The bottom line: HP may have arrived late to the consumer Netbook game, but by lifting the generous keyboard from last year's business-oriented model, the Mini 1000 easily joins the category's top tier.
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