Top 10 Notebooks

The notebook world has gotten progressively more crowded, and until the massive attractiveness of the form factor wanes this trend will only increase. away from Asus and Acer,

Major corporations like Dell, HP, Fujitsu, Toshiba, Samsung, Lenovo and others have in recent times jumped on the bandwagon. So how do you decide which one is best? In our opinion, any prospective notebook buyer should ask themselves these three questions:

* 1. Is it cheap? (Generally $350 or less.)

* 2. If it's not cheap, is it easy to use?

(This generally means 10" for a decent keyboard and resolution.)

* 3. If it's not cheap or easy to use, is it at least extremely portable? (Lightweight, WWAN.)

The answers to these questions are relative to an individual's needs and tastes, but we've used them

As the best we could to formulate for you a list of the top ten notebooks currently (or about to be) on the market.



10: Dell Inspiron Mini 9

Dell has done a well-brought-up job with their 8.9" (1024x600)

Entry in notebook markets. It comes with the customary Intel Atom 1.6GHz N270 and up to 1GB RAM. The storage is a little weak, with a max of 16GB SSD, and the battery life is just average. It also comes with the typical 8.9" cramped keyboard. Still, with options for WWAN and an initial price point of $349, this remains a notebook worth considering.

9: Dell Inspiron Mini 12

A little more inimitable than the Inspiron Mini 9 is the

Inspiron Mini 12, a 12" monster of a notebook. This makes for some obvious good points, like a incredible resolution of 1280x800. It also sports the newest Intel Atom processor, the 1.6GHz Z530, to go along with the standard 1GB RAM.

It's thin too, measuring less than 1". So it has some things going for it. unluckily, a lot of things go the other way too. The new processor is offset by the fact that the notebook is loaded with resource hungry Vista, and the keyboard, while excellent at 92% of normal, is little better than we've seen on smaller, 10" units. The 4200RPM 80GB HDD also plants something to be preferred, and the weight of a little over or a little less than 3lbs (depending on your battery) is a bit heavy for a notebook. It isn't contemptible either, starting at $549. If resolution is your king (and you're determined to buy a notebook for some reason), this is the notebook for you. or else, there are better options.

8: Lenovo Idea Pad S10

This 10.2" (1024x600) notebook is pleasant but lacks a few important facial appearances. It comes with the typical Atom N270 and 1GB RAM and a 160GB HDD. We've heard good things about the keyboard too, which is until the end of time a plus. It has Bluetooth, but there is no alternative for WWAN, and come to mention it, no SSD option either. The weight isn't bad at 2.64lbs and the price isn't either, starting at $350. Be forewarned though, the battery life is something less than impressive. Also check out our full review of the S10.

7: HP Mini 1000

The HP Mini is available in either an 8.9" or 10.2" form factor, but we suggest sticking with the 10.2" here. The motive for that is that it will come with a nice keyboard (92% of normal), which for us is worth the $50 upgrade (not to mention the increased screen real estate makes for less squinting). Out-of-the-way from the standard Atom N270 and 1GB RAM, you have the option of either a 16GB SSD or a 60GB HDD. Bluetooth is obtainable as is WWAN, although HP doesn't get as many points as it could here because the WWAN is so darned expensive ($200).

6: Eee PC 1000

The largest and most up to date entry in Asus' well known Eee line is the 10.2" (1024x600) Eee PC 1000. This notebook comes with a standard 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 but trumps the competition by offering up to 2GB of RAM. Also nice is the option for an SSD up to 40GB (or you can get an 80GB HDD). Other perks include a high-quality keyboard, 802.11n WiFi, and a highly regarded four hours of battery life. On the advantage, you’re getting a machine that weighs 2.9lbs and lacks 3G compatibility. But the price is right, starting at $400, making this a notebook to think about.

5: Samsung NC10

This 10.2" packs just about the whole thing you'd want into a notebook. To go along with the standard Atom N270 and 1GB RAM, you get a roomy 160GB HDD. The keyboard is 93% of standard and easy to type on, and although it doesn’t come with WWAN at the moment, we've heard rumors it will soon. For now you'll have to stick to Bluetooth and 802.11b/g WiFi. It's fairly light at 2.8lbs and most impressive of all, manages that weight while sporting a 6-cell battery easily capable of six hours of life. The track pad isn't nearly as remarkable as the rest of the unit is, but if you're looking for a high quality notebook with outstanding battery life, take a look at the $479 NC10.

4: MSI Wind U120

This successor to the popular Wind U100 is newly released and has a number of eye-catching features. The 10.2" (1024x600) display, Atom N270 processor and 1GB RAM is somewhat standard, but the 160GB DD is ample and the connectivity is great. It has 802.11b/g/n WiFi and 3.5G WWAN capabilities. The 6 cell battery will get you a respectable 5 hours of life, although it raises the weight to around 3lbs. The keyboard should be as nice as its predecessor's was too, so no complaints there. All in all it's a great notebook and a pretty decent value for around $450.

3: Acer Aspire One

There are no other 8.9" notebooks anywhere near this spot in our top 10, but the Acer Aspire One makes strong case for the form factor. It matches the WSVGA (1024x600) resolution found on most 10.2" units, although obviously you may have to squint a little harder because the display is smaller. It also offers a 120GB HDD to those for whom an 8GB SSD isn't enough, and it weighs a mere 2.2 lbs. It sports a standard Atom N270 with up to 1GB of RAM, and while there is no Bluetooth and only 802.11b/g, it is currently the easiest notebook to use mobile broadband with. The battery life is fair at around 3 hours and the mouse is strange (right and left click are literally to the right and left of the touch pad), but the keyboard is decent for such a small notebook and more importantly, the price is right. You can pick one up for $99 today with a WWAN commitment to AT&T, or else you can buy one straight up for as little as $300. If you're looking for a low cost portable notebook, this is as good as it gets.

2: Eee PC S101

This is truly a dazzling notebook. Thin and beautiful, this 10.2" notebook is lightweight (2.2lbs) enough to bring anywhere and elegant enough to be proud of in any environment. It's also obtainable with up to a 64GB SSD along with 20GB of free online "Eee storage" with purchase. The battery life is also strong, managing 5 hours without having to go to a heavy 6-cell battery. The rest of the specs are more normal, with an Atom N270 and 1GB RAM, but while the connectivity is strong (Blue tooth, 802.11n) it could be stronger (no WWAN). Still, this is an attractive and capable laptop, and the only reason it's not #1 on our list is that it costs as much as two average notebooks. It's still not bad bang for your buck, but expect to shell out as much as $699 if you want to call one your own.


1: MSI Wind U115

Ok, we're dishonest a little bit here, because this notebook isn't due to be officially sold for about another month. We're just a little excited. It's a 10.2" (1024x600) notebook that will feature the new Intel Atom Z530 1.6 GHz and the new low power processor is supposed to give up to 10 hours of battery life. Sure, and we heard the NC10 was hypothetical to have 8 before it wound up providing only 6, but if we end up with 7-8 hours of life on a single charge we'll be ecstatic. The U115 will also come with a hybrid SD/HDD makeup, with options of 8/80, 16/120, 32/160, with the ability to turn off the HDD and run just off the SSD, which is also designed to save battery. Throw in 2GB RAM, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and Blue tooth, and a weight of 2.4lbs, and you've got a notebook that might be the most capable on the market. It does seem to be absent in W WAN capabilities right now, which is the only downside. It's not cheap, but it promises to be "below $699" (which apparently is the bar set by the S101), and if you're in the market for a high end notebook this is something you should pay attention