Best Netbook Reviews

It’s important to study reviews so that you know what to expect before buying an electronic product like netbook. Here, we collect all netbook reviews online and do a review roundup for every popular netbooks on the market.

HP Mini 210 Review Roundup

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HP Mini 210 Review Roundup

HP Mini 210 Overview

The HP Mini 210 is the latest generation of consumer class netbook from HP. This 2.7-pound netbook features Intel’s latest Atom N450 processor which gives it a longer battery life and a more unified design due to the N450’s smaller package size.

Here’s the run down of the specs for HP Mini 210:

  • Intel Atom Processor N450 (1.66 GHz, 512 KB L2 Cache)
  • 1GB DDR2 System Memory (1 DIMM)
  • A choice of 160GB or 250GB (5400RPM) Hard Drive (SATA)
  • Windows 7 Starter
  • A choice of 3-cell battery that supports up to 4.25 hours battery life or 6-cell battery that supports up to 9.75 Hours of Battery Life
  • 10.1″ Diagonal WSVGA LED Anti-glare Widescreen Display. 1024 x 600 resolution for standard version and 1366 x 768 for HD Edition
  • Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 (shared) with up to 256MB Total Available Graphics Memory

The starting price of the HP Mini 210 is just around $299.99, but will vary according to the configuration that you select. HP offers a ton of options to trick out your system, including a full HD display and Broadcom Crystal HD Enhanced Video Accelerator for smoother full-screen video playback on sites like Hulu.

HP’s commercial on the Mini 210:

Unboxing video of the HP Mini 210 by nDevil:

Review Roundup

In terms of design, the HP Mini 210 looks pretty stylish and are available in several color choices including white, black, silver, blue, and red. The chiclet style keyboard and large touchpad are both pretty comfortable to use. It has integrated touch buttons on the touchpad instead of real physical buttons which some people might not like, but according to Laptop Magazine, the Mini 210 is one of the better implementations of the integrated touch buttons that they have used on a netbook.

In terms of performance, the 1.66-GHz Intel Atom N450 CPU and 1GB RAM on the HP Mini 450 delivered a score of 1,365 on PCMark05, which is slightly lower than Toshiba mini NB305-N410 (1,383) and ASUS Eee PC 1001P (1,384). There’s no problem performing everyday computing tasks on the HP Mini 210 (eg. web surfing, email checking, word processing, etc..), but playing 1080 HD video is not be possible without installing Broadcom Video Accelerator. Below is a video from nDevil demonstrating HD video playback, gaming (Counter Strike), and running Abobe Photoshop on HP Mini 210. Note that the unit shown in the video is a standard version with no video Accelerator installed.

Here’s another video showing how World of Warcraft (WoW) runs on a HP mini 210 netbook.

In terms of battery life, the Mini 210’s six-cell battery lasted 6 hours and 37 minutes on Laptop Magazine’s battery Test. It’s shorter than other Pine Trail netbooks such as the Asus Eee PC 1005PE, 1001P, and Toshiba NB305, but should be enough to get most users through a full day of on-and-off use.

Customer Rating

3.5 out of 5

PLUSES: Takes 2gb memory module; SD card can be used for ReadyBoost; easy access to memory, PCI-e card slot, and hard drive via “pop off” bottom cover; available slot for PCI-e card (in my case, a Broadcom Crystal HD video accelerator, $25 mail order, but you may want to insert a 3G card etc.); MATTE SCREEN for glare free viewing; more ergonomic keyboard than most in this… (Read all reviews >>)

Availability

You can find the HP Mini 210 netbook with various configuration on Amazon. The lowest price that you can get for this netbook is $299.99.

Asus Eee PC 1001P Review

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Asus Eee PC 1001P Review

Asus Eee PC 1001P Overview

The Asus Eee PC 1001P is one of the Pine Trail netbook released early this year. It’s quite similar to the Eee PC 1005PE, which is currently the best-selling netbook on the market, but with slightly lower-end specification and price. The Asus Eee PC 1001P is available in 2 variation: 1001P-PU17 and 1001P-MU17. You may find the comparison between them along with the Eee PC 1005PE here.

Specification of Asus Eee PC 1001P:

  • 1.66 GHz Intel Atom N450 Processor
  • 1GB DDR2 RAM, 1 SODIMM Slot, 2GB Max
  • 160GB (for 1001P-MU17) or 250GB (for 1001P-PU17) SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
  • 0.3MP Webcam
  • 10.1-Inch Matte 1024X600 WSVGA LCD Display
  • 802.11 b/g
  • Bluetooth Enabled (for 1001P-PU17 only)
  • Windows 7 Starter Operating System
  • 6 Cell Battery for up to 11 Hours of Battery Life

Review Roundup

As mentioned, the Asus Eee PC 1001P is very similar to the Eee PC 1005PE but with lower specs. There are a few features that we find the 1001P to be better than the 1005PE though:

  • The Eee PC 1001P comes with a lid with textured checkerboard pattern of tiny concentric squares. This matte lid keep smudges at bay, and it makes the 1001P look more expensive than its price suggests.
  • The Eee PC 1001P comes with a matte screen so outdoor use won’t be a headache and fingerprints aren’t as prevalent.
  • The Eee PC 100P doesn’t come with an island style keyboard like the 1005PE does, but Laptop Magazine finds it easier to type on the 1001P as the keyboard size is relatively larger, and it has a full right shift key.

In terms of performance, the Eee PC 1001P held up well when performing everyday computing tasks. Conducting video calls over Skype while surfing the Web with multiple tabs open didn’t cause any system hang-ups. Most applications, like Internet Explorer and WordPad, opened rapidly. A downloaded high-definition 720p video clip played back smoothly with no hiccups, but when playing a 720p video from YouTube, the performance will suffer. Here’s a video from Ndevil demonstrating various application (including Youtube HD, 1080p, 720p and DivX Videos, photoshop CS4 and Counterstrike 1.6) running on the Asus Eee PC 1001P.

The battery life for the Eee PC 1001P is not as good as the 1005PE, but is still better than most other netbooks out there. Laptop Magazine manage to get it running for 8 hours 23 minutes from their battery test. Another feature that the Eee PC 1001P is lacking compared to the Eee PC 1005PE is the N compatibility in its Wi-Fi card. According to Laptop Magazine, the 802.11b/g Wi-Fi card on the Eee PC 1001P provides a slightly slower throughput of 20.3 and 19.3 Mbps at 15 and 50 feet from our access point, respectively.

Customer rating

Asus Eee PC 1001P-PU17: 4.5 out of 5

” I was absolutely surprised by how well fabricated this little netbook is.
The Quality is excellent, the keyboard, takes almost zero getting used to from a full size keyboard. I am typing this review from the unit itself, and I can type to 95% full speed…”  (Read all reviews >>)

Asus Eee PC 1001P-MU17: 4 out of 5

” I’m very pleased with this netbook! I’ll break my review into different aspects of the device, to try to keep things relatively organized.

AMAZON PACKAGING
No issues here, perfect. I ordered mine overnight, so it came via FedEx. The box was easy to open, and there was sufficient packing material inside.

APPEARANCE
Very attractive case…”  (Read all reviews >>)

Related Videos

Asus Eee PC 1001P Unboxing:

Asus Eee PC 1001P Splashtop Instant On OS Demo:

Asus Eee PC 1001P Ram Upgrade and How to take it apart:

Availability

The availability of the Asus Eee PC 1001P is as following:

Asus Eee PC 1001P-PU17:

Asus Eee PC 1001P-MU17:

Conclusion

The Asus Eee PC 1001P is a great choice for those with tight budget. If you don’t mind getting a netbook with lower storage capacity (160GB), you can get the Eee PC 1001P-MU17 for only $299.99. If not, you can still go for the 1001P-PU17 with 250GB hard drive for $339.99. Both models have a great design, comfortable keyboard, and a 6-cell battery that provides more than 8 hours of battery life. The Eee PC 1001P is definitely one of the netbook that gives the best value for the money.

Source: Amazon, LaptopMag, Ndevil

Toshiba Mini NB305 Review Roundup

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Toshiba Mini NB305 Review Roundup

Toshiba Mini NB305 Overview

Toshiba NB305 is the updated version of NB205. It comes with the new Pine Trail platform and Intel Atom N450 processor which supposedly give a better performance and battery life to this new model. Similar to the NB205, Toshiba NB305 is available in 2 variation:

  • The black version (NB305-N310) that comes with lower price, Fusion Finish casing in Black Onyx, normal keyboard, 160GB HDD, and Windows XP Home.
  • The colorful version (Toshiba NB305-N410) that comes with higher price, Textured finish casing in multiple color option (blue, white, and brown), chiclet style keyboard, 250GB HDD and Windows 7 Starter.

In this review, we are looking at the higher-end NB305-N410. The detailed specification of Toshiba NB305-N410 is as following:

  • 1.66GHz Intel N450 Atom Processor
  • 1GB 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM Memory
  • 250GB Serial ATA Hard Disk Drive (5400RPM)
  • 10.1″ LED (16:9) 1024×600 Display
  • Intel Graphics Media Accelerator GMA3150
  • Windows 7 Starter Edition 32-bit

Review Roundup
While the NB205 has everything that we would recommend for a netbook (i.e. ergonomic metal keyboard, large touchpad & touchpad buttons, excellent battery life, unique textured lid that’s anti-smudges, etc..), the two biggest complains on the Toshiba NB205 are the bulky battery that sticks out from the back of the machine, and the weak speaker that hide below the front edge of the system. Not only Toshiba has retained all the good features of NB205 on the NB305, they have also solved those 2 issues on the new model. Instead of jutted out from the rear, the battery is now tucked in underneath, causing the keyboard to be slanting towards the user and giving a more ergornomic angle for typing. Also, the speaker on NB305 is much louder compared to the one in NB205. Another improvement that the NB305 has over the NB205 is weight. Toshiba NB305 is slightly lighter than its predecessor at only 2.6 pounds.

In terms of performance and battery life, there’s not much difference between NB305 with its predecessor. Laptop Magazine manage to get 8:37 hours from their battery test (continuous Web surfing over Wi-Fi), while Engadget gets 6:30 hours from their battery drain test (video rundown test with brightness set to 65 percent). In terms of performance, the Toshiba NB305 is similar to other Pine Trail netbooks – good for daily tasks such as web surfing, checking email, document processing, etc.. but not suitable for HD video playback. This is the

The only drawback of the Toshiba NB305 is that it’s more expensive than other Pine Trail netbooks such as the Asus Eee PC 1005PE and Acer Aspire One 532h. However Engadget note that they still prefer the NB305 over the other two because it’s “more comfortable to use”; while Laptop Magazine has once again awarded the NB305 as one of their “Editor’s Choice”.

Customer rating on Toshiba NB305 is pretty good as well. Check out all customer reviews here.

Related Videos

Take a closer look at Toshiba NB305 in the following video:

Brief introduction of NB305 netbook by Toshiba:

Availability
Toshiba NB305-N410 is available in 3 colors:

All of them are currently available for purchase on Amazon at $399.99; while the black version, NB305-N310, is available for $349.99.

Conclusion
The Toshiba NB305 is still one of the best netbook in the market. Although the price is slightly higer than other Pine Trail netbooks, it’s keyboard and especially its touchpad are second to none, and to us that’s worth the premium.

Source: Engadget, Laptop Magazine

Asus Eee PC 1005PE Review Roundup

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Asus Eee PC 1005PE Review Roundup

Asus Eee PC 1005PE Overview

The Asus Eee PC 1005PE is one of the latest netbook from Asus that comes with the new Intel Atom N450 processor, and the next-generation Pine Trail platform. It’s also said to be the updated version of the popular 1005HA Seashell netbook since both models are having almost similar design and specification.

The detailed specs for the Asus Eee PC 1005PE is as below:

  • 1.66 GHz Intel Atom N450 Processor
  • 1GB DDR2 RAM, 1 SODIMM Slot, 2GB Max
  • 250GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM) + 500GB Free Web Storage
  • Chiclet Keyboard
  • 0.3MP Webcam
  • 10.1-Inch Color-Shine 1024X600 WSVGA LCD Display
  • 802.11 b/g/n
  • Bluetooth Enabled
  • Windows 7 Starter Operating System
  • High Capacity 6 Cell Battery for up to 14 Hours of Battery Life

Here’s an introduction video for the Eee PC 1005PE from CNet:

Review Roundup
As mentioned, other than the Intel Atom N450 processor the rest of the internal components for the Eee PC 1005PE are almost similar to its predecessor, the Eee PC 1005HA. And if you are wondering if the new Intel processor is giving any performance boost to the netbook, the answer is no. From the performance test from most review websites such as Engadget, CNet, Laptop Magazine, etc., the performance of the Eee PC 1005PE is barely different to what we have seen on N270/N280 Atom-powered netbooks. What you will get from the new Intel Pineview processor though, is a much longer battery life. Overall, the Eee PC 1005PE is good for 10 to 12 hours of usage, which is around 25% increase in battery life compared to the Eee PC 1005HA.

In terms of design, the Eee PC 1005PE looks very much like the Eee PC 1005HA. Its glossy lid is covered in a scratch-resistant Infusion finish. The look is sleek, but you’ll have to be willing to put up with fingerprint smudges. What’s different from the Eee PC 1005HA, is the chiclet style keyboard. While the keys may seem smaller than those on the 1005HA which have a more traditional layout, the 1005PE keyboard is found to be easy and comfortable to type on.

So far, customer reviews on the Eee PC 1005PE is pretty good. Check out all the customer reviews here.

Related Videos

Unboxing videos:

Performance Test:

Availability
The Eee PC 1005PE (1005PE-PU17) is currently available on Amazon for $379.99. Two colors are available for the moment: black and blue.

There’s also another lower-end model, 1005PE-PU17, which is cheaper at $339.99, but with less battery life.

Conclusion
While there’s not much improvement in terms of performance between the Eee PC 1005PE and its predecessor, the battery life of the new model is significantly longer. This certainly makes the Eee PC 1005PE an even more attractive netbook compared to the 1005HA. At $379.99, we think this netbook is definitely worth considering!

Source: Amazon, Engadget, CNet, Laptop Magazine

Asus Eee PC 1201N Review Roundup

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Asus Eee PC 1201N Review Roundup

Asus Eee PC 1201N Overview

The Asus Eee PC 1201N is the first netbook on the market that comes with Intel dual core Atom N330 CPU and NVIDIA Ion graphics. Its specification is by far the best in the netbook market, listed as below:

  • 1.6GHz Intel Atom Dual Core N330 Processor
  • 2GB DDR2 RAM, 2 x SODIMM Slot, 8GB Max
  • 250GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM) + 500GB Free Web Storage
  • NVidia ION Platform
  • Windows 7 Home Premium Operating System (32 Bit)
  • Bluetooth; Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n
  • 0.3MP Webcam

Review Roundup

As expected, the performance of the Eee PC 1201N is very good, especially when it comes to video processing, due to the NVIDIA ION graphics and a good list of components being put together in this netbook. The dual core Atom processor also provides a boost when it comes to multitasking or running applications that can take advantage of multiple cores. According to Hot Hardware test, the Eee PC 1201N outperforms the lower cost HP Mini 311 in graphics and overall performance thanks to the dual core Atom CPU.

In terms of design, the Eee PC 1201N is similar to other Eee PCs with ASUS’s Seashell design. The only difference is that it has a comfortable full-size chiclet keyboard. The touchpad support multitouch and is extremely accurate and pleasant to use.

There is one drawback for this netbook though – it has a shorter battery life. While the netbook has an excellent performance, it’s draining up the battery much faster than other netbooks. The Eee PC 1201N’s 6-cell battery helped it last 3 hours and 53 minutes on the LAPTOP Battery Test, which involves continuous surfing over Wi-Fi. Engadget gets 2.5 hours in their video playback test. This is considerably shorter than most other netbooks out there.

Video Review

Engadget’s test on the Eee PC 1201N:

Gaming test on Asus Eee PC 1201N by blogee:

Availability

The Asus Eee PC 1201N is currently available for pre-order on Amazon for $499.99, and will start shipping on 15 January 2010. It’s available in 2 colors: black and silver.

Conclusion

The Asus Eee PC 1201N is currently the most powerful machine in the netbook range. If battery life isn’t your top priority, it could be the best choice for those who’s looking for a netbook capable of playing HD video and games like World of Warcraft.

Source: Amazon, Engadget, Laptop Magazine, Hot Hardware, Notebook review

Asus Eee PC T91MT Review Roundup

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Asus Eee PC T91MT Review Roundup

Overview

The Eee PC T91MT is the second generation of touchscreen convertible netbook from Asus. Compared to the first generation, the T91MT comes with the following improvements:

  1. A multitouch display which wasn’t available in the T91
  2. A larger 32 GB Solid State Drive (SSD)
  3. Pre-installed with Windows 7 Home Premium instead of XP

Here’s the specification and introduction video for the Asus Eee PC T91MT:

  • 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520 Processor
  • 1GB of DDR2 RAM, 1 Slot, 2GB Max
  • 32GB Solid State Drive + 500GB Free Eee Storage
  • 8.9-Inch Touch LED LCD Display
  • Multi-Touch Functionality
  • Bluetooth
  • Windows 7 Home Premium (32 bit) Operating System; 5 Hour Battery Life

Review Roundup

The overall customer rating for the Asus Eee PC T91MT is 3 out of 5. There are customers who are very happy with this machine, but there are also some who complain that the multitouch screen is not responsive to fingers. This is because the touchscreen of the T91MT comes shipped uncalibrated, and the ASUS calibration utility does a poor job of calibration. You will need to use Windows 7 calibration utility which works better, and makes touching much more accurate. You can read all of the customer reviews here.

Summary of good and bad about Asus Eee PC T91MT:

Good

  • Low-priced multitouch tablet
  • It’s very thin and light, measuring just one inch thick and weighing two pounds
  • Solid build quality
  • Great Keyboard – the keys are somewhat stiff and provide an improved typing experience over any previous 7-inch or 8.9-inch model in the Eee lineup
  • Easy access to upgrading the memory
  • Color accuracy at various horizontal and vertical viewing angles improved compared to the T91
  • GMA500 capable of some HD video decoding (with a few tweaks)
  • Great battery life even with 3-cell: 5 hours, 10 minutes with Windows 7 power mode set to Power Saver, and Super Hybrid Engine set to Power Saving Mode (WiFi and Bluetooth enabled, screen brightness at around 40%). Under constant use, you can expect better than 4 hours of battery life

Bad

  • Does not provide access to the SSD or WiFi modules. You will have to completely disassemble the netbook to access those components
  • Poor speaker quality
  • Slightly slower experience with 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520 processor compared to other netbooks that run 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270
  • Battery is not removable or consumer upgradable
  • Stylus collapses during use.

Availability
The Asus Eee PC T91MT touchscreen convertible netbook is currently available on Amazon for $532.00 (free shipping).

Conclusion
If you are looking for a low cost tablet without the need for an active digitizer or powerful hardware, the T91MT is certainly worth checking out. But if you need higher speed or performance, you might want to go for other netbooks that run on Intel Atom N270 or faster processor.

Source: Amazon, myt91.info

Samsung N140 Review Roundup

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Samsung N140 Review Roundup

Samsung N140 Overview
Samsung N140 is another refined model of the popular Samsung NC10. The biggest differences between N140 with its predecessor is that it runs on Windows 7 Starter Edition, and it comes with a larger 250GB hard drive.

Here’s the run down of Samsung N140’s specification:

  • 1.66GHz Intel N280 Atom Processor
  • 1GB Memory
  • 250GB Hard Drive
  • 10.1″ LED Widescreen Display
  • Intel GMA 950 Graphics
  • Microsoft Windows 7 Starter Edition
  • Up to 7.5 Hours of Battery Life

In terms of appearance, it’s hard to tell the differences between NC10 and N140 without looking at the two models side by side. The case profile has been tweaked ever so slightly and it has a silver trim running around the edge of the keyboard. The mouse and keys feel even more tactile than before.

In terms of specification, other than a larger 250GB hard drive, another improvement that it has over its older sibling is the Wi-Fi wireless card, which is now 802.11n compatible. Other than that, everything remain the same. This gives the Samsung N140 a standard netbook performance. CNet reported that they are able to play full-screen, high-definition YouTube videos smoothly on the N140, but QuickTime video playback is limited to 480p.

Another good thing about Samsung N140 is the excellent battery life. Several battery tests indicate that this netbook has a battery life of around 9 to 10 hours.

Samsung N140 Video review:

Samsung N140 Unboxing:

Performance test – Samsung N140 with Windows 7 running Counterstrike (game), Youtube HD, 1080p & 720p videos, and Adobe Photoshop:

Using Samsung N140 outdoor:

Availability
Samsung N140 is currently available on Amazon for $375.99. There are 2 colors available: Burgundy and Sapphire Blue. Check out the price comparison from various online retailers here.

Conclusion
There isn’t much changes on the Samsung N140 compared to Samsung’s earlier N series netbook such as the NC10, N110, and N120. But the improvement like longer battery life, larger hard drive, and 802.11n compatible Wi-Fi definitely makes it an even better netbook.

Source: Amazon, CNet, PC Advisor

HP Mini 311 Review Roundup

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HP Mini 311 Review Roundup

HP Mini 311 is the first 11.6-inch netbook with NVIDIA ION graphics to hit the market.

Specification of HP Mini 311:

  • 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor (512 KB L2 Cache, 533 MHz FSB)
  • 1 GB DDR2 RAM (1 Dimm), Max supported 2 GB
  • 160GB (5400RPM) SATA Hard Drive
  • 11.6-inch Diagonal HD LED BrightView Widescreen Display (1366 x 768) NVIDIA ION LE for Windows XP with up to 319MB total graphics memory
  • Genuine Windows XP Home (SP3)
  • Up to 6.25 Hours of Battery Life

HP Mini 311 Overview

Just like many other netbooks out there, the HP Mini 311 comes with Intel Atom processor, 1GB RAM, and 160GB HDD. So for daily tasks like web surfing and document processing, it’s expected to perform just as well as many other 10.1-inch netbooks which comes with similar specs.

What’s special about this netbook is the NVIDIA ION graphics.

When it comes to tasks that really take advantage of the NVIDIA GPU like watching HD video and transcoding video (using software with GPU acceleration), the HP Mini 311 outperforms all of the netbooks which come with Intel Integrated graphics.

In terms of design, the Mini 311 has a pleasing swirly pattern in the glossy HP Imprint finish on the lid. It’s available in either black or white colors.

HP Mini 311 Review Roundup

The summary of good and bad about HP Mini 311:
Good:

  • Nvidia Ion graphics give excellent graphics performance, providing HD video and basic gaming functionality to this netbook
  • Stylish design and 92 percent of full size keyboard
  • Great battery life even with a discrete graphics card (more than 5 hours)
  • Loud speakers
  • Big 11.6-inch wide screen with high resolution (1366 x 768)
  • Reasonable price

Bad:

  • Touchpad has too much friction
  • Slow boot time
  • Mouse buttons are noisy

Customer reviews:
As this netbook is just released recently, there’s no customer review available yet.
Update: Customer reviews start coming in.. As expected, this netbook is getting great customer feedback!

Professional reviews:
The HP Mini 311 scores pretty good rating from most professional reviews:

  • Laptop Magazine: 4 out of 5 (Editors’ Choice)
  • Cnet: 4 out of 5
  • PC Mag: 3.5 out of 5

Video reviews:
HP Mini 311 quick overview:

Various video playback and gaming test on Mini 311:

Availability
The HP Mini 311 is currently available with a starting price of $399. It’s worth noting that the default color is black, and if you opt for the white color option, there will be extra $20 charge. Also, the current version still comes with Windows XP but will be available with Windows 7 on October 22 with a higher price tag.

Conclusion
HP’s Mini 311 adds a larger, high-definition display and advanced graphics to a basic netbook, while still offering long battery life and reasonable price. It’s definitely one of the best netbook around, especially after Windows 7 is made available on this netbook.

Source: Amazon, LaptopMag, CNet, PCMag

Samsung N120 Review Roundup

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Samsung N120 Review Roundup

Samsung N120 Overview
From Samsung NC10 to N110 and now N120, the 10-inch netbook from Samsung is getting better each generation.

Inside this machine, you will find the exactly same components as in N110: an Intel Atom N270 processor running at 1.6GHz, 1 GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive, and other standard features such as the standard 802.11g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0, integrated 1.3-megapixel webcam, etc..

What makes the Samsung N120 different from its predecessor are:

  • Extended Chasis: The Samsung N120 is about half an inch wider than the N110 model, but almost identical in depth and height.
  • Larger Keyboard: The wider Chasis allowed Samsung to implement a full-size keyboard, with similarly-sized keys to those on a 12-inch ultaportable notebooks
  • Better Audio: Samsung has moved the speakers to either side of the 10.1-inch screen and added a subwoofer on the left side edge of the body, making the N120 the first 2.1-speaker netbook we know of.
  • Visual changes: The glossy design of the N110 is now replaced with the semi-matte finish that’s more fingerprint proof. It requires less maintenance and won’t show up scratches as easily.

Below are the detail specification of Smasung N120:

  • Intel Atom N270 processor (1.60GHz)
  • 1GB RAM
  • 160GB 5400RPM hard drive (Samsung HM160HI)
  • 10.1-inch widescreen display (1024×600) with LED backlighting
  • Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics
  • 6-cell Li-ion battery (5200mAh)
  • 1.3 Megapixels Webcam
  • Ethernet, 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
  • VGA port, headphone/microphone jacks, 3 USB 2.0, SD card reader
  • Windows XP Home Edition
  • Dimensions: 10.71 x 7.4 x 1.17 inches (W x D x H)
  • Weight: 2.8 lbs

Samsung N120 Review Roundup
The average rating given by customers on this netbook is 4.5 out of 5. A very good rating indeed. You can read all of the reviews here.

The summary of good and bad of Samsung N120:

Good:

  • Full-size keyboard is a first for 10-inch netbooks
  • Matte exterior means no risk of fingerprint marks on lid
  • Great battery life that last up to 7 hours plus of typical netbook use
  • Great audio quality
  • Crisp, bright and vibrant display
  • Easy access to RAM

Bad:

  • Large screen bezel may annoy some
  • Glossy display is not suitable for outdoor use

Video review of Samsung N120:

Unboxing video of Samsung N120:

Availability
The Samsung N120 with 6-cell battery is currently available on Amazon for $366.16 (lowest price among all other online retailers). There are 2 colors available: black (Samsung N120-12GBK) and white (Samsung N120-12GW).

Price comparison for Samsung N120 netbook is available here.

Conclusion
The Samsung N120 has everything that we would recommend for a netbook: thin, light, large keyboard, long battery life, and great system performance. It’s definitely one of the best 10-inch netbook around.

HP Mini 110 Review Roundup

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HP Mini 110 Review Roundup

HP Mini 110 Overview
HP Mini 110 is the second generation of 10-inch netbook from Hewlett-Packard. Compared to its predecessor, the HP Mini 110 has added more style to the mix with new color options, and also comes with a bigger, faster hard drive. Here’s an introduction video for the HP Mini 110 netbook:

Specification of HP Mini 110:

  • 10.1-inch Diagonal SD LED Anti-glare Widescreen
  • 1.60GHz Intel Atom Processor N270
  • 1 GB RAM
  • 160 GB 5400 rpm SATA Hard Drive
  • Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (shared) with up to 128MB total available graphics memory
  • 6-cell Lithium-Ion Battery
  • Wireless: 802.11b/g WLAN
  • Ports: Ethernet; Headphone; Microphone; VGA; USB x 3
  • Dimension: 10.3″ x 6.77″ x 1.04″/1.29″ (w x d x h)
  • Weight: 2.89lbs
  • Genuine WindowsR XP Home Edition with Service Pack 3

As we can see above, the HP Mini 110 comes with a standard set of Netbook components, including an Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM, 160GB of hard drive, and Windows XP OS. The biggest advantage of this netbook is that it’s very competitively priced at $329. Also, the Swirl Imprint lid design that’s available in multiple colors (black, white, and pink) does make it stands out of the crowd in terms of styling.

HP Mini 110 Review Roundup
First, read the customer reviews on the HP Mini 110. You will see that most of the feedback from customers are positive, while only a few are dissatisfied with its performance and the battery that protrudes beneath the back of the computer.

The HP Mini 110 netbook is not perfect, but is definitely the company’s best netbook for consumers yet. HP has addressed the biggest complaints with the earlier Mini 1000 (no VGA port, small and slow hard drive), and has added more style to the mix with new color options, making it a much better netbook compare to its predecessor. However there are still a few drawbacks on this netbook, including the awkward vertical touchpad button, and a slightly thicker and heavier body compared its predecessor. Here are the summary of pros and cons on the HP Mini 110:

Good:

  • Excellent keyboard with wide, and flat keys
  • Stylish design with multiple color options
  • Bigger, faster hard drive than Mini 1000
  • Full-size VGA port and added USB port
  • Loud speakers
  • Reasonable price

Bad:

  • Awkward mouse buttons
  • Thicker and heavier than previous versions

Unboxing video of HP Mini 110:

Video review of HP Mini 110:

Availability
The HP Mini 110 with 6-cell battery is currently available on Amazon for $329.99. There are other merchants that offer this model of netbook such as J&R, Tiger Direct, Target, etc., but at a higer price than Amazon. Price comparison for HP Mini 110 is available here.

Conclusion
The HP Mini 110 is not the best netbook, but offers great value for the money.

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