Asus Eee PC 1015BX
This Asus machine, which uses the 1GHz AMD C-60 chip, is different from many other AMD-based netbooks: it has a 10.1in rather than an 11.6in screen. That makes it compact, though at up to 26mm thick, it's one of the chunkiest netbooks here. But with an eight-hour busting battery life, it's a long runner. Only 1GB of Ram, of course, but then it's only £230. The choice if you want an Intel-size netbook with an AMD-CPU.
Reg Rating 75%
Price £300
More Info Asus
Asus Eee PC X101CH
The X101CH sports the standard spec for an Intel Atom-based netbook as listed in the Acer D270 entry, above. A netbook pioneer, Asus however differentiates this machine with a rather stylish, slim casing - it's just under an inch at its thickest point making it one of the thinnest machines here. The downside is a usable but unimpressive five-hour battery life - there are long runners here. Still you can't argue with the £200 price point.
Reg Rating 70%
Price £200
More Info Asus
Next page: HP Mini 210-4125sa
COMMENTS
Asus Eee PC 1015BX: "at up to 26mm thick, it's one of the chunkiest netbooks here"
Asus Eee PC X101CH: "just under an inch at its thickest point making it one of the thinnest machines here'
Seriously? 0.6mm between thinnest and chunkiest?
There's a reason for El Reg units, you know.
and while we're at it, where's the EEE girl?
How much of that price is the Windows tax?
Netbooks really shine when you put something like Linux on them. Just a pity you can't buy any without paying Windows tax.
Still too expensive...
When netbooks first came out three or four years ago, they were £229 or thereabouts. And they are STILL that sort of price. They've got slightly better specs - but that's all.
They seem to be the only form of computer life which doesn't go down in price. I cannot see any good reason why they shouldn't be sub-£150 these days.
It would be interesting to see what would happen if Asus or Acer were to produce a fairly minimal spec box for £149. I reckon it would fly off the shelves.
Not quite...
"I'm assuming the thumbs are mostly industry shills."
Everyone who disagrees with you must be an industry shill - couldn't possibly be because your writings are somewhat of the n00b could it.
Win7 Starter is limited to 2GB, Wikipedia would have told you that if you'd bothered to research before upgrade, it would also have revealed Starter is 32bit so if you did an in-place upgrade then the resultant Home/Pro will also be 32bit and thus not fully utilise your 4GB as "any fule no".
Try installing from a USB stick (very very easy to do, Google it) a 64bit version, you can pop the 64bit ethernet or wifi driver on the same USB stick and install it afterwards and then you can just visit Windows update or download whatever drivers you need direct. Simples?
Lin Line Lin Line Ux
I got my AAO for under £150 a few years ago.
Great wee machine, still gets a lot of use.
It's Linux distro allowed it to come in at such a low price, and with a fairly low spec still run very well. Boot up into Linpus is seconds, and you have your browser, office suite and documents in front of you.
(Of course I later upgraded the RAM and Wireless card and triple boot with XP and a certain OS that rhymes with Oh Ess Ex)
Windows 7 killed the Netbook through Windows tax, the need for notebook/desktop specs to run, and when they finally relented and released the Starter edition - it is so cut down that you can't even easily change the wallpaper! (there are tricks to get around this)
Sceptical about ChromeOS, I want my data on my machine, not in someone else's fog-- I mean, cloud.
