(Jun 10, 2009)
Dan Ackerman
Senior Editor
Whether you call them Netbooks, mini-laptops, or sub-notebooks, these small, low-cost, low-power systems are the hottest thing to hit laptops since the touchpad. We suggest an Intel Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM, a 16GB or larger SSD drive, and Windows XP, with Bluetooth as a preferred option for tethering a smart phone for mobile broadband access.
Asus Eee PC 1005HA
Asus hits nearly all the marks in the 1005HA, the latest version of its iconic Eee PC, highlighted by a 6-plus hour battery.
Price: $389.99 (check prices)
Review date: Jun 23, 2009
Excellent
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Acer Aspire One D250
For the price, it's hard to find fault with Acer's even cheaper version of the 10.1-inch Aspire One, as long as you're not expecting top-of-the-line features.
Price: $342.00 - $358.95 (check prices)
Review date: Jun 18, 2009
Very good
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HP Mini 110
While the new, less expensive, HP Mini 110 doesn't stray far from the Mini 1000 mold, there are some subtle changes--not always for the best.
Price: $329.99 (check prices)
Review date: Jun 1, 2009
Very good
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HP Mini 1151nr
The HP Mini 1151NR's marriage of 3G with a Netbook feels like an obvious mashup of two useful technologies, but the overall package ends up being somewhat expensive.
Price: $199.99 (check prices)
Review date: May 26, 2009
Very good
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Lenovo IdeaPad S10 4231
Lenovo fixes our main issue with the S10 Netbook by adding a larger six-cell battery.
Price: $409.00 (check prices)
Review date: May 4, 2009
Very good
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