01.Netbooks review and compare

Test results for nine netbooks priced from $549 to $899

When Asus launched the first tiny Eee PC notebook computer, aimed at the education market just over a year ago, it unwittingly created a whole new category of computing — netbooks.

Netbooks are mainly designed for web browsing, email and other 'light' programs while on-the-go. They lack some features of ultraportables and full-sized laptop computers, but their low cost and size makes them ideal for children and students.

We tested nine netbooks, looking at their:

• Performance
• Features
• Ease of use

All except one of the netbooks were tested with Windows XP as the operating system, with the exception being the Acer Aspire One AOA 110-Ab ZG5, which was designed as a Linux-based netbook and couldn’t be benchmarked alongside the Windows models.

The Linux version of the Acer came fitted with 512MB RAM and an 8GB solid state drive rather than a conventional hard drive. In other respects it was similar to the Acer Aspire One AOA 150-Bk that we tested, which had Windows XP, 1GB RAM and a conventional 120GB hard drive.

All but one of the netbooks tested used the same 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor. The netbook that bucked this trend was the HP Mini-Note PC 2133, which had Windows Vista Basic installed and used a processor by VIA. The Dell Inspiron 910 also differed from the crowd in that, like the Linux version of the Aspire One, it included a solid-state drive (in this case 16GB capacity).

Models tested

• Acer Aspire One AOA 110-Ab ZG5 (Linux)
• Acer Aspire One AOA 150-Bk ZG5 (Windows)
• Asus Eee PC 1000H
• Dell Inspiron Mini 9
• HP Mini-Note PC HP2133
• MSI Wind U100
• Pioneer DreamBook Light IL3
• Toshiba NB100
• Twinhead
• Twinmate X10