Group test: Netbooks

When you talk about netbooks, you’re really after a few specific criteria: a laptop so small it won’t crush your thighs; a laptop that costs so little that it won’t rinse your bank account; and a laptop that’s so laden with features you wouldn’t know it was a netbook.

All that said, portability, ease-of-use, and battery life are the most pressing issues when it comes to rating a netbook and those are the factors we have taken into account here. A decent screen and storage space are also important, while decent aesthetics are a bonus. Now. Which netbook gets The Insider’s seal of approval?

Asus Eee PC 1000HE

Although this is yet another 10-inch Eee PC from Asus, it’s actually quite an update. Okay the specs on the indside aren’t as exciting as they could have been, but it looks stunning, and lasts sooooooooo long that you’ll be surprised when you do have to finally plug it in for a charge. It’s a shame that it’s so heavy, and where’s the 3G, eh Asus? But we can put up with those little grumbles, because we want this sexy, little beast with more stamina than the Duracell Bunny sitting on our lap.

Click to read the full review >>
Go to the Asus Eee PC 1000HE product page >>

Samsung NC10

This ten-inch netbook from Samsung is a bit like Marmite. It split the office: some said it looked great, others hated the bland design. Still, it’s not all about looks… size is important too, and the NC10 is one hefty mutha, weighing in at 1.33kg. All that said, it’s actually a pretty good all-rounder, with Windows XP Home making up the OS, 160GB of storage and a long-lasting battery proving the highlights. Built-in Bluetooth is another boon, but there are better alternatives out there…

Click to read the full review >>
Go to the Samsung NC10 product page >>

Lenovo Ideapad S10E

One of the best netbooks around for sheer feature/price ratio. Okay the Ideapad S10E is not that stylish when compared to some other netbooks, but it’s certainly not been bashed with the ugly stick. What’s important here, however, are the myriad features you get for not a lot of wonga (280-odd pounds to be precise). It has a 160GB hard drive that can be made even more capacious via the mini-PCI-E slot, a webcam, a handy “instant on” QuickStart feature, a decent keyboard (which is always a plus for a netbook) ad a great LED screen. Top netbook.

Click to read the full review >>
Go to the Lenovo Ideapad S10E product page >>

LG X110

The LG X110 was never going to win any awards with its bland, plasticky styling. Looks aside, this ten-inch netbook is pretty average. Its 160GB hard drive, decent performance and glossy screen are positives to shout about, but aside from those boons the LG X110 is distinctly lacking in discernible features. Add to that the fact that the battery life is shorter than the life of a gastrotich (that’s the animal with the shortest life span in the world in case you were wondering), and you’ve got a pretty average netbook.

Click to read the full review >>
Go to the LG X110 product page >>

PriceRunner recommended
Toshiba NB100

In a market that’s swelling up like an over-fed baby, the Toshiba NB100 is a classic netbook. The 8.9-inch screen may be smaller than we’d like, but it’s amazingly glossy and will attract attention from envious onlookers. The keyboard, equally may be small, but that’s almost a necessity to keep the size of the NB100 down. And talking of which, this is light at barely 1kg, saving your thighs from the pounding they take from other more hefty netbooks. Overall, then, the NB100 has a simple look, but that external appearance is just hiding a wealth of inner talent. But best of all… it’s cheap. A brilliant machine.

Click to read the full review >>
Go to the Toshiba NB100 product page >>

Like these netbooks? Why not get chatting about them on the PriceRunner forums.

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