2009's Top Netbooks
Computing on the go
Kit of the Year 2009 was the year the netbook really took off, with vendors rushing to release model after model after model, and few of them ending the year with the same selection of machines that they were offering at the start. We looked at dozens of them, all largely matched on performance, but with very different battery lives, prices and builds.
Toshiba NB200-11L
Toshiba's second attempt at a netbook is a stunning success. The design's superb, the build quality good and the specs are decent too. You get a better-than-average software bundle. But what really does it for us is the class-leading battery life delivered without a huge mass of add-on battery. Only the awful colour schemes applied to the higher-end models let the side down - go for the cheaper, "cosmic black" models, is our advice.
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Reg Rating 90%
Price £265 Click for the best online price
Asus Eee PC 1000HE
It's a tad bulky by the standards of the latest netbooks - especially when compared to Asus' own Eee PC 1008HA - but the 1000HE is a very nice mini-laptop. It's eminently capable, with a good keyboard, the fastest Atom CPU, 802.11n Wi-Fi and, crucially for us, an enormous battery life.
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Reg Rating 90%
Price £285 Click for the best online price
Samsung NC10
Samsung's first foray into netbooks remains one of its strongest models. OK, it lacks the Nvidia graphics the newer N510 sports, but the NC10 is a solid, well-made machine that continues to impress as the release of new models has pushed it price down. We like its nice, big keyboard, and its long battery life. Others will love it for its non-glossy screen.
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Reg Rating 90%
Price £325 Click for the best online price
Best of the Rest
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Samsung N510
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Dell Latitude 2100
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Acer Aspire One D250
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COMMENTS
Still too expensive...
It's got to be sub-£200 to be worth considering. as far as I'm, concerned. My Acer Aspire One cost me £175 over a year ago, and I still use it more-or-less every day. But if I were to be thinking of spending over £300, I'd be looking for a "real" laptop.
@ Admiral Grace
I have an Acer Aspire One 531 that had Windoze 7 Starter pre-installed. Win 7 blue screened 3 minutes into first switch on. It got wiped (despite PCWorld telling I will void my warranty) and I put Ubuntu Karmic remix on. I have not looked back. Works a treat on a daily basis, is an addition to my car stereo (via auxiliary port), has a BT E180 dongle for anywhere internet via broadband. Does what it needs to do with ease.
Unfortunately it is not part of any of these reviews.
BTW. I don't use a touchpad as I prefer using a mouse.
Still more than happy with my U90
Runs OSX like a dream, Native with EFI, and essentially only needs graphics and audio drivers to work out of the box.. did replace the mini wifi for an N ready card though..
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