A buyer's guide to the top 10 netbooks
Thinking about getting a netbook, but don't know where to start? We take a look at 10 of the most popular netbooks out right now.
If you can do without Bluetooth, it's probably all the netbook you need.
Asus Eee PC T-91 325 ex. VAT
The T-91 gets attention for its unique party trick - a touch screen display, which can be swivelled and rotated around to lie flat, enabling it to be used as a tablet PC.
Asus bundles a range of custom touch screen applications, for writing notes and drawing with a stylus on the screen. If you're creative or want to be able to take notes while walking around, the T-91 is an effective way of doing that - it's just that it's a rather expensive way of doing it.
To make it portable, the T-91 makes do with a now small-for-netbooks 8.9in display, and that means less space for the keyboard and room only for a smaller battery - with less than 4.5 hours in our tests. Still, if you want a tablet based netbook, the T-91 is your only choice.
Sony Vaio Mini W-series 306 ex. VAT
In our last netbook round-up we included the Sony Vaio P-series - a tiny, but overpriced mini laptop running Windows Vista.
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Since then Sony has seen sense and produced an actual netbook. It's affordable compared to the P-Series but it's still pricey compared to the competition but then you'd expect that from a Vaio.
The main advantages of going Sony are the superior styling and the quality HD resolution LED backlit display. The keyboard is something of a let-down compared to this though. We're not huge fans of the W-series compared to the likes of the Samsungs and Acer netbooks of this world, but if you're a Sony fanboy, this is the netbook for you.
Toshiba NB200-11M 233 ex. VAT
The Toshiba is something of a mixed beast. Firstly, if bling is your thing, you'll love it thanks to its garish looks. It's available in a range of colours, and our sample had a blue finish, with a diagonally striped rippled lid - a motif that's carried over around the bezel and the trackpad.
Benny Har-Even is a twenty-year stalwart of technology journalism who is passionate about all areas of the industry, but telecoms and mobile and home entertainment are among his chief interests. He has written for many of the leading tech publications in the UK, such as PC Pro and Wired, and previously held the position of technology editor at ITPro before regularly contributing as a freelancer.
Known affectionately as a ‘geek’ to his friends, his passion has seen him land opportunities to speak about technology on BBC television broadcasts, as well as a number of speaking engagements at industry events.
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