Best Netbooks
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.
Dell Inspiron Mini 9
8.0 Excellent (reviewed 9/5/08)
Dell's entry into the Netbook market means it's time to take these low-cost, low-power PCs seriously. The Inspiron Mini 9 is an excellent example of the form, if not radically different from the competition.
Read review of the Dell Inspiron Mini 9
HP Mini 1000
8.0 Excellent (reviewed 10/28/08)
HP may have arrived late to the consumer Netbook game, but by lifting the generous keyboard from last year's business-oriented model, the Mini 1000 easily joins the category's top tier.
Read review of the HP Mini 1000
Asus Eee PC 901
8.0 Excellent (reviewed 6/30/08)
The long-awaited Asus Eee PC 901 is the best version of this inexpensive Netbook yet, but it's facing increased competition from the likes of HP, Dell, and MSI.
Read review of the Asus Eee PC 901
Lenovo IdeaPad S10
7.3 Very good (reviewed 9/30/08)
Lenovo's "me, too!" entry in the Netbook sweepstakes, the IdeaPad S10, gets the price and features right, but falls behind on battery life.
Read review of the Lenovo IdeaPad S10