Find The Right Laptops

Nokia Booklet 3G (black)

Nokia's entry in the crowded Netbook field shows that the company's hardware know-how translates to computer design, but a poor choice of CPU should give you pause.

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1 GB DDR II SDRAM, 120 GB, Microsoft Windows 7 Starter, Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, 2.8 lbs, 10.1 in TFT active matrix

Samsung Go N310 (sunset orange)

Samsung brings a different look to a generic Netbook build with the N310, but is there any good reason this costs almost $500?

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 160 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, 2.9 lbs, 10.1 in TFT active matrix, EPEAT Gold, EPEAT gold

Gateway LT3103u

The 11-inch, AMD-powered Gateway LT3103u does well on price and performance, but drops the ball on battery life when compared with the competition.

Specs: Athlon 64 (1.2 GHz), 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 250 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, 3 lbs, 11.6 in TFT active matrix

Hannspree Hannsnote (pearl black)

The Hannspree Hannsnote doesn't set the Netbook world on fire, but it's a surprisingly usable and well-featured mini-laptop at a competitive price from a new manufacturer.

Hannspree Hannsnote (pearl white)

The Hannspree Hannsnote doesn't set the Netbook world on fire, but it's a surprisingly usable and well-featured mini-laptop at a competitive price from a new manufacturer.

Sony Vaio W111XX (pink)

Attempting to create a premium-priced version of a Netbook, Sony has added an HD display to the Vaio W. It's an attractive step-up package, but the internal components are the same as are in cheaper models.

Specs: Intel Atom (1.66 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 160 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, 2.6 lbs, 10.1 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, RoHS

Sony VAIO W111XX (brown)

Attempting to create a premium-priced version of a Netbook, Sony has added an HD display to the Vaio W. It's an attractive step-up package, but the internal components are the same as are in cheaper models.

Specs: Intel Atom (1.66 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 160 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, 2.6 lbs, 10.1 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, EPA Energy Star

Sony VAIO W111XX (white)

Attempting to create a premium-priced version of a Netbook, Sony has added an HD display to the Vaio W. It's an attractive step-up package, but the internal components are the same as are in cheaper models.

Specs: Intel Atom (1.66 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 160 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, 2.6 lbs, 10.1 in TFT active matrix, RoHS, EPA Energy Star

Asus Eee PC 1101HA Seashell (black)

Swelling the ranks of 11.6-inch Netbooks, the Asus Eee PC 1101HA impresses with its design and battery, but having to overclock a slower version of Intel's Atom CPU is a dodgy workaround.

Specs: Intel Atom, 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 160 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, 3 lbs, 11.6 in TFT active matrix

Asus Eee PC 1101HA Seashell (white)

Swelling the ranks of 11.6-inch Netbooks, the Asus Eee PC 1101HA impresses with its design and battery, but having to overclock a slower version of Intel's Atom CPU is a dodgy workaround.

Specs: Intel Atom, 1 GB DDR II SDRAM, 160 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, 3.0 lbs, 11.6 in TFT active matrix

Dell Latitude 2100 Laptop Computer (Intel Atom N270 16GB/GB)

Aimed primarily at school kids, the Dell Latitude 2100 is an interesting new take on the Netbook. It's worth a look if the unique features--including an especially rugged design and a touch screen--are important to you.

Specs: Intel ATOM (1.60 GHz), 1024 MB DDR II SDRAM, 16 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, SP3, with media, 2.8 lbs, 10.1 in TFT

HP Mini 5101 (Intel Atom N280 1.66GHz, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, XP Home Basic)

HP's biz-minded Mini 5101 is a successor to the Mini 2140 (one of our all-time favorite Netbooks). It looks and feels great, but for a premium-price Netbook, we expect to get more features, not fewer.

Specs: Intel Atom (1.66 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 160 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, 2.9 lbs, 10.1 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Gold

Lenovo IdeaPad S12 (Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, XP Home, black)

If you're looking for a comfortable Netbook with a 12-inch screen, the Lenovo IdeaPad S12 feels comfortable and light--but at this size, we wish it had an Intel CULV processor.

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 160 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, 3.5 lbs, 12.1 in TFT active matrix

Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 (Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, XP Home, white)

Lenovo's popular IdeaPad S10 Netbook has been slimmed down and its price reduced, making it a better Netbook--as long as you can live without ExpressCard.

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 160 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, 2.6 lbs, 10.1 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Gold, RoHS

Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 (Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, XP Home, gray)

Lenovo's popular IdeaPad S10 Netbook has been slimmed down and its price reduced, making it a better Netbook--as long as you can live without ExpressCard.

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 160 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, 2.6 lbs, 10.1 in TFT active matrix, EPEAT Gold, RoHS, EPA Energy Star

Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 (Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, XP Home, black)

Lenovo's popular IdeaPad S10 Netbook has been slimmed down and its price reduced, making it a better Netbook--as long as you can live without ExpressCard.

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 160 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, 2.6 lbs, 10.1 in TFT active matrix, EPEAT Gold, RoHS, EPA Energy Star

Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 (Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, XP Home, pink)

Lenovo's popular IdeaPad S10 Netbook has been slimmed down and its price reduced, making it a better Netbook--as long as you can live without ExpressCard.

Specs: Intel Atom (1.6 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 160 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, 2.6 lbs, 10.1 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Gold, RoHS

Asus Eee PC T91 (black)

Asus does a good job combining a Netbook and a touch screen in the Eee PC T91, even if the system hits a couple of first-generation snags.

Specs: Intel ATOM (1400 MHz), 1024 MB DDR II SDRAM, 16 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home, 2 lbs, 8.9 in TFT active matrix

Asus Eee PC T91 (white)

Asus does a good job combining a Netbook and a touch screen in the Eee PC T91, even if the system hits a couple of first-generation snags.

Specs: Intel ATOM (1400 MHz), 1024 MB DDR II SDRAM, 16 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home, 2 lbs, 8.9 in

Acer Aspire One 751h-1545

Acer's 11.6-inch Aspire One AO751h might usher in a new standard for Netbook sizes, but the slower-than-usual processor can lead to frustration.

Specs: Intel Atom (1.33 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 160 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, 2.9 lbs, 11.6 in TFT active matrix