ASUS Eee PC 1005HA Review

Meet ASUS’ latest netbook. ASUS netbooks need no introduction. If you are looking for a portable, yet powerful machine to take with you during your business trips or get your college work done, you won’t go wrong with ASUS netbooks. ASUS is known for manufacturing energy efficient laptops, but it has certainly outdone itself with 1005HA. The Super Hybrid Engine used in this laptop lets you get 10.5 hours of battery life out of each charge. That alone can be a great reason to get your hands on this netbook.

Key Features:

It’s not hard to know what to expect from an Eee PC. These gadgets have been around for a while, so you know you are going to get something very portable and powerful at the same time. Here is exactly what you get:

• Battery: Up to 10.5 Hours of Battery Life
• CPU: Intel Atom N280 Processor 1.66GHz (latest)
• RAM: 1GB DDR2 RAM which you can upgrade to 2GB;
• Networking: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
• Storage: 160GB SATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
• Webcam: 1.3MP webcam for video conferences and chat.
• Weight: only 2.8 lbs.
• Online Storage: 10GB Free Eee Storage
• OS: Windows XP Home Operating System
• Display: 10.1-inch WSVGA 1024×600 LCD Display

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Dell Inspiron Mini IM12-2868 Review

Dell is one of the top laptop manufacturers in the world. So it’s no surprise to see them enter the netbook market, and you can be sure that they are in it to win it. Mini 12 is a larger version of Mini 9 that is not only capable but very portable at the same time. The 12 inch screen that you get with your netbook is more than easy on the eye. Mini 12 is known for being the perfect netbook for tweeters. It’s the perfect gadget for those who spend a lot of time on the Internet. The CPU is more than capable and you get more than enough memory to get things done on your Dell netbook. The Intel Atom Z520 uses a brand new 45nm (nanometer) design structure with new hafnium-infused circuitry–which reduces electrical current leakage in transistors to conserve energy. You do get only 3 hours of battery but you can always buy a 6 cell battery.

I find the device to be very well designed. In addition to a 12.1″ screen, you also get TrueLife high-gloss technology that reduces the glare you get on this netbook. The Wi-Fi support and blue-tooth let you get more work done without worrying about wires. And if you want to conduct video-conferences while you are on the go, you can easily do so using the 1.3 MP camera available on this netbook. The 3 USB 2.0 ports make it easy to connect more accessories as you need them.

What I was impressed about with Dell Mini 12 is the online storage that you get with Box.net. You can expand your storage to 25 GB if you prefer. This feature allows you to put your precious files online and protect them against hard drive accidents. Dell Inspiron Mini 12 weighs only 2.72 lbs, which makes this netbook a dream come true for tweeters on the go.

Verdict: B+. Overall, Dell Mini IM12-2868 is cool netbook that makes a great Internet gadget. It’s light and very well designed. The battery could be much better. I also like to see a faster CPU. And the price is a bit on the high side. Nevertheless, Dell Mini 12 is a solid choice if you are looking for a top netbook.

MSI Wind U100-432US Netbook

MSI is known for making some of the best netbooks on the market. MSI netbooks are not only portable but are powerful as well. MSI Wind U100-432US is no exception. The Wind actually stands for something — Wi-Fi Network Device. MSI Wind U100-432US is a 10 inch netbook that is highly portable and perfect for business professionals on the go. The 10-inch LCD screen has a 1024 x 600-pixel resolution, which is decent for a netbook. And the screen quality is superb, especially with the LED backlit technology used on this device.

You get the standard netbook features that you get with the most popular netbooks. You get ATOM N270 CPU, 1 GB Ram, and 160 hard drive on this netbook. You also get wireless N capability, a web cam, and bluetooth. As far as connectivity features are concerned, you get a lot of options with this netbook:

• 4-in-1 SD/MMC/MS/MSpro Card Reader
• 3 USB 2.0 Ports
• 1 Mic-In Port
• 1 Headphone Port
• 2 Internal Speakers
• SoundBlaster Audio

Insert Mold Roller (IMR) technology used on this netbook is very interesting as it keeps your netbook looking new and without fingerprint marks for as long as possible. MSI Wind U100-432US also comes with text magnification technology that helps you read all kinds of documents without hurting your eyes.

You also get a 6 cell battery that lets you use your netbook for 6 hours between each charge. MSI Wind U100-432US weighs only 2.6 lbs. That means you can get more done on the road without having to carry a large weighty laptop with you around.

Verdict: A-. Overall, U100-432US is a portable netbook that is designed for small business owners. It comes with wireless N capability and a decent set of features for a netbook. It’s energy efficient too.  MSI Wind U100-432US Netbook is going to cost you about $300, making this netbook an affordable option for most folks. Having a faster CPU would have pushed this netbook over the top, but N270 is a decent enough CPU to let you get your work done without too much trouble.

*check our latest netbook ratings to find out where U100-432US stands.

HP 2140 Mini-Note Review

HP has been in the computer business for years now. Throughout these years, it has built a global brand with innovative laptop lines under Compaq and HP brand. HP’s latest target? The netbook market. HP 2140 Mini Note is a netbook that is designed to bring the HP design to the netbook world. Like most netbook these days, the device comes with an Atom N270 CPU (clocked at 1.6 Ghz). You also get 2 GB of Ram and a 160 GB HDD which should be plenty enough for most folks on the go.

Unlike most netbooks, HP 2140 comes with Windows Vista. In addition, you get a wireless N adapter that allows you to enjoy faster wireless speeds. And who wouldn’t like the web cam and the adequate 10.1″ screen.

HP 2140 Mini-Note weighs only 2.6 lbs, which is pretty portable. The design is sleek, and you can easily take this netbook with you on your travels. The keyboard is one of the best I have seen. Hp Drive Guide 3d technology is truly a life saver if you happen to drop your netbook.

I still would like to see a better screen resolution on this device. The battery lasted for about 3 hours for me, which is to be expected from a 3-cell battery. But the 6-cell batteries are not that portable, so you’ve got a dilemma on your hand.

Verdict: B+. HP Mini-Note is a decent solution for folks who are looking for a fully-functional laptop. The screen is big enough to get the job done without hurting your eyes. The design is impressive and doesn’t look cheap at all. And the keyboard is out of this world. Overall, if you are looking for an all-in-one portable solution, HP Mini Note is worth considering.