It seems that more people than ever before are asking the same question when it comes to netbooks: which one is the best buy for this summer? Though the history of the netbook is a short one – the first one just came out in 2007, after all – the technology has continued to evolve at an amazing pace. As a result, if you looked at netbooks six or seven months ago and thought you knew which one you wanted to buy this summer, you might want to look again. It is pretty much a sure bet that whatever you looked at last winter is a relic of the past by now. So how do you decide which netbook is the best one to buy right at this point in time?
Go with the ten inch
The most obvious thing to do is also the easiest in this case: simply imitate what everyone else is doing. The most popular netbooks in the world right now continue to be the ten inch units. Their display is just good enough to satisfy almost every user, and the keyboard and overall design of these small units make them easy to manipulate and still nearly as light as the seven inch netbooks. Of course, there is still a lot of variety in the ten inch category, as different manufacturers have managed to cement different types of reputations within this industry.
The budget is best
Since this is your first netbook, there is no reason for you to go all out in the area of price. Companies like ASUS still produce netbooks that sell for under $300. These netbooks have an average of 160GB hard drive space, but can operate for the better part of eight or nine hours on nothing but battery power. Acer has a similar model that really differs only in the small change in battery life. The Acer’s only real competitive edge is that it offers wireless N Wi-Fi capability rather than the lesser network standards. Can you store all of your movies, music, and pictures on one of these models? Of course you can’t. But then again, that’s not the reason why you get a netbook, is it?
How to compare
Of course, there is no reason to limit your search for the best netbook of 2010 to just these two manufacturers. HP, Dell, Toshiba and other companies have also made their indelible mark on the industry, and have their own versions of these tiny computers – each with its own distinctive flair. The best way to choose the best netbook of 2010 is to compare the things that matter most to you.
If you want the best performance and longer battery life, go with the latest Intel Atom N450 or higher processors, at least 1GB of RAM, a 160GB or larger hard drive, Intel GMA 3150 integrated graphics, 8 hours battery life and Windows 7 Starter. If you plan to do some multimedia work and play gaming applications then look for a high-end netbook. Higher-end options are becoming more prevalent, with 11.6 or 12.1-inch displays, higher screen resolutions, dual-core processor and new graphics hardware, such as Nvidia’s Ion GPU.
In the end, only by comparing features and prices on an apples-to-apples basis can you begin to make sense of the various differences between all of the available netbooks on the market.
To compare netbook specifications, our netbook comparison tool will be a great help. It allows you to select some models of netbooks and then display the specs, user reviews, and prices for each model in a table so you can compare them side by side. Most of the latest popular netbook models can be found in this comparison tool.
Netbook Comparison Tool »
Our Recommended Netbooks
Best Budget Netbooks (10.1 inch)
| Brand | Model | Display | OS | Processor | RAM | HDD | Graphics | Wireless | Blue tooth |
Dimensions (W x D x H) |
Weight | Battery | Color | Retail Price |
Amazon Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 ASUS |
1001P-MU17-BK 1001P-MU17-BU 1001P-MU17-PI 1001P-MU17-WT (Jan 2010) |
10.1″ 1024×600 matte |
Windows 7 Starter | Intel Atom N450 (1.66GHz) |
1GB DDR2 |
160GB | Intel GMA 3150 | 802.11b/g | No | 10.31×7.01×1.02 ~1.44 |
2.8 lbs. (1.27 kg) |
6-cell 11hrs |
Black Blue Pink White |
$299.99 | See Price See Price See Price See Price |
| #2 Toshiba |
NB255-N245 (Jun 2010) |
10.1″ 1024×600 glossy |
Windows 7 Starter | Intel Atom N455 (1.66GHz) |
1GB DDR2 |
160GB | Intel GMA 3150 | 802.11b/g/n | No | 10.55×8.3×1.27 | 2.8 lbs. (1.27 kg) |
6-cell 8.3hrs |
Black | $299.99 | See Price |
| #3 HP |
110-3030NR (Jun 2010) |
10.1″ 1024×600 matte |
Windows 7 Starter | Intel Atom N450 (1.66GHz) |
1GB DDR2 |
160GB | Intel GMA 3150 | 802.11b/g/n | No | 10.55×7.64×0.93 ~1.26 |
2.95 lbs. (1.34 kg) |
6-cell 8.5hrs |
Black | $299.99 | See Price |
| #4 Acer |
AO532h-2588 AO532h-2223 AO532h-2730 (Jan 2010) |
10.1″ 1024×600 glossy |
Windows 7 Starter | Intel Atom N450 (1.66GHz) |
1GB DDR2 |
160GB | Intel GMA 3150 | 802.11b/g/n | No | 10.17×7.28x.99 | 2.76 lbs. (1.25 kg) |
6-cell 8hrs |
Blue Silver Red |
$299.99 | See Price See Price See Price |
| #5 Lenovo |
S10-3 0647-2AU (Jun 2010) |
10.1″ 1024×600 glossy |
Windows 7 Starter | Intel Atom N455 (1.66GHz) |
1GB DDR3 |
160GB | Intel GMA 3150 | 802.11b/g/n | No | 10.6×6.6×0.96 | 2.76 lbs. (1.25 kg) |
6-cell, 7hrs |
Black | $299.99 | See Price |
| #6 Acer |
AO533-23571 AO533-23923 (Jun 2010) |
10.1″ 1024×600 glossy |
Windows 7 Starter | Intel Atom N475 (1.83GHz) |
1GB DDR3 |
160GB | Intel GMA 3150 | 802.11b/g/n | No | 10.2×7.4×1~1.1 | 2.76 lbs. (1.25 kg) |
6-cell 8hrs |
Black Red |
$329.99 | See Price See Price |
|
Overall Rating: |
| Customer Reviews: 90 | |
| Retail Price: $299.99 | |
| Amazon Price: $290.99 | |
| You Save: $9.00 (3%) |
|
Overall Rating: |
| Customer Reviews: 99 | |
| Retail Price: $299.99 | |
| Amazon Price: $279.99 | |
| You Save: $20.00 (7%) |
|
Overall Rating: |
| Customer Reviews: 8 | |
| Retail Price: $299.99 | |
| Amazon Price: $271.20 | |
| You Save: $28.79 (10%) |
Best Netbooks in terms of performance, battery life, and price (10.1 inch)
| Brand | Model | Display | OS | Processor | RAM | HDD | Graphics | Wireless | Blue tooth |
Dimensions (W x D x H) |
Weight | Battery | Color | Retail Price |
Amazon Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 ASUS |
1015PED-PU17-BK 1015PED-PU17-BU 1015PED-PU17-RD 1015PED-PU17-WT (Jul 2010) |
10.1″ 1024×600 matte |
Windows 7 Starter | Intel Atom N475 (1.83GHz) |
1GB DDR3 |
250GB +500GB Web Storage |
Intel GMA 3150 | 802.11b/g/n | Bluetooth 3 + HS |
10.31×7.01×0.93 ~1.43 |
2.76 lbs. (1.25 kg) |
6-cell 13hrs |
Black Blue Red White |
$379.99 | See Price See Price See Price See Price |
| #2 ASUS |
1005PE-PU17-BK 1005PE-PU17-BU 1005PE-PU27-BK (Jan 2010) |
10.1″ 1024×600 glossy |
Windows 7 Starter | Intel Atom N450 (1.66GHz) |
1GB DDR2 |
250GB +500GB Web Storage |
Intel GMA 3150 | 802.11b/g/n | Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR |
10.31×7.01×1.02 ~1.44 |
2.8 lbs. (1.27 kg) |
6-cell 14hrs |
Black Blue Black |
$379.99 | See Price See Price See Price |
| #3 ASUS |
1005PE-MU17-BK 1005PE-MU17-WT (Jan 2010) 1005PE-MU27-BK 1005PE-MU27-BU 1005PE-MU27-PI 1005PE-MU27-WH with Kindle for PC (May 2010) |
10.1″ 1024×600 glossy |
Windows 7 Starter | Intel Atom N450 (1.66GHz) |
1GB DDR2 |
250GB +500GB Web Storage |
Intel GMA 3150 | 802.11b/g/n | No | 10.31×7.01×1.02 ~1.44 |
2.8 lbs. (1.27 kg) |
6-cell 11hrs |
Black White Black Blue Pink White |
$339.99 | See Price See Price See Price See Price See Price See Price |
| #4 Toshiba |
NB305-N410BL NB305-N410WH NB305-N410BN (Jan 2010) |
10.1″ 1024×600 glossy |
Windows 7 Starter | Intel Atom N450 (1.66GHz) |
1GB DDR2 |
250GB | Intel GMA 3150 | 802.11b/g/n | No | 10.47×7.57×1.43 | 2.6 lbs. (1.18 kg) |
6-cell 11hrs |
Blue White Brown |
$399.99 | See Price See Price See Price |
| #5 MSI |
U160-006US U160-007US (Jan 2010) |
10.1″ 1024×600 glossy |
Windows 7 Starter | Intel Atom N450 (1.66GHz) |
1GB DDR2 |
250GB | Intel GMA 3150 | 802.11b/g/n | Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR |
10.2×7.1×0.7 | 6-cell, 15hrs |
Black Brown |
$379.99 | See Price See Price |
|
| #6 HP |
1150NR 1160NR 1170NR 1180NR 1190NR (Jun 2010) |
10.1″ 1024×600 glossy |
Windows 7 Starter | Intel Atom N455 (1.66GHz) |
1GB DDR3 |
250GB | Intel GMA 3150 | 802.11b/g/n | No | 10.55×6.9×0.9 ~1.11 |
2.99 lbs. (1.36 kg) |
6-cell 9.75hrs |
Silver White Black Blue Red |
$349.99 | See Price See Price See Price See Price See Price |
| #7 Dell |
iM1012-571OBK iM1012-738CRD iM1012-738IBU (May 2010) |
10.1″ 1024×600 glossy |
Windows 7 Starter | Intel Atom N450 (1.66GHz) |
1GB DDR2 |
250GB | Intel GMA 3150 | 802.11b/g/n | Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR |
10.55×7.74×1.26 | 3 lbs. (1.36 kg) |
6-cell 9.5hrs |
Black Red Blue |
$349.99 | See Price See Price See Price |
| #8 Toshiba |
NB305-N440BL NB305-N440RD NB305-N440BN NB305-N440WH (Jun 2010) |
10.1″ 1024×600 glossy |
Windows 7 Starter | Intel Atom N455 (1.66GHz) |
1GB DDR3 |
250GB | Intel GMA 3150 | 802.11b/g/n | No | 10.47×7.57×1.43 | 2.6 lbs. (1.18 kg) |
6-cell 8.75hrs |
Blue Red Brown White |
$379.99 | See Price See Price See Price See Price |
|
Overall Rating: |
| Customer Reviews: 163 | |
| Retail Price: $379.99 | |
| Amazon Price: $399.95 | |
|
Overall Rating: |
| Customer Reviews: 39 | |
| Retail Price: $369.99 | |
| Amazon Price: View Sale Price | |
|
Overall Rating: |
| Customer Reviews: 196 | |
| Retail Price: $399.99 | |
| Amazon Price: $347.95 | |
| You Save: $52.04 (13%) |
Best Mutimedia Netbooks (11.6 or 12.1 inch)
| Brand | Model | Display | OS | Processor | RAM | HDD | Graphics | Wireless | Blue tooth |
Dimensions (W x D x H) |
Weight | Battery | Color | Retail Price |
Amazon Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 ASUS |
1201N-PU17-BK 1201N-PU17-SL (Dec 2009) |
12.1″ 1366×768 glossy |
Windows 7 Home premium | Intel Atom 330 dual-core (1.60GHz) |
2GB DDR2 |
250GB +500GB Web Storage |
NVIDIA ION | 802.11b/g/n | Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR |
11.54×8.11×1.30 | 3.22 lbs. (1.46 kg) |
6-cell 5hrs |
Black Silver |
$499.99 | See Price See Price |
| #2 Acer |
Ferrari One 200 (Dec 2009) |
11.6″ 1366×768 glossy |
Windows 7 Home premium | AMD Athlon 64 X2 L310 dual-core (1.20GHz) |
4GB DDR2 |
250GB | ATI Radeon HD 3200 | 802.11b/g/n | No | 11.2x8x0.9~1.2 | 3.3 lbs. (1.5 kg) |
6-cell, 5hrs | Red | $599.99 | See Price |
| #3 MSI |
U230-040US (Feb 2010) |
12.1″ 1366×768 glossy |
Windows 7 Home Premium | AMD Athlon Neo X2 L335 dual-core (1.60GHz) |
2GB DDR2 |
320GB | ATi Radeon HD 3200 | 802.11b/g/n | No | 11.69×7.4×1.2 | 3.3 lbs. (1.50 kg) |
6-cell, 4hrs |
Black | $479.99 | See Price |
| #4 ASUS |
1201PN-PU17-SL 1201PN-PU17-RD 1201PN-PU17-BK (Jun 2010) |
12.1″ 1366×768 glossy |
Windows 7 Home premium | Intel Atom N450 Single Core (1.66GHz) |
2GB DDR2 |
250GB +500GB Web Storage |
NVIDIA ION2 | 802.11b/g/n | Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR |
11.54×8.11×1.30 | 3.22 lbs. (1.46 kg) |
6-cell 6hrs |
Black Red Silver |
$499.99 | See Price See Price See Price |
|
Overall Rating: |
| Customer Reviews: 111 | |
| Retail Price: $499.99 | |
| Amazon Price: Too low to display | |
|
Overall Rating: |
| Customer Reviews: 15 | |
| Retail Price: $599.99 | |
| Amazon Price: $599.99 | |
|
Overall Rating: |
| Customer Reviews: 0 | |
| Retail Price: $479.99 | |
| Amazon Price: $488.99 | |
Best Netbook for Kids
| Brand | Model | Display | OS | Processor | RAM | HDD | Wireless | Blue tooth |
Dimensions (W x D x H) |
Weight | Battery | Color | Retail Price |
Amazon Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS | Princess Pink Magic Blue (Jul 2009) |
8.9″ 1024×600 glossy |
Windows XP | Intel Atom N270 (1.60GHz) |
1GB DDR2 |
160GB | 802.11b/g/n | No | 9.76×6.81×1.13 | 2.65 lbs. (1.2 kg) |
5hrs | Pink Blue |
$349.99 | See Price See Price |
Best Beautiful Netbooks
| Brand | Model | Display | OS | Processor | RAM | HDD | Graphics | Wireless | Blue tooth |
Dimensions (W x D x H) |
Weight | Battery | Color | Retail Price |
Amazon Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP | 1099SE Vivienne Tam Edition (Mar 2010) |
10.1″ 1024×600 glossy |
Windows 7 Starter | Intel Atom N450 (1.66GHz) |
2GB DDR2 |
250GB | Intel GMA 3150 | 802.11b/g | Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR |
10.55×6.9×0.9 | 2.69 lbs. (1.22 kg) |
3-cell 4.25hrs |
Gold | $708.00 | See Price |
|
Overall Rating: |
| Customer Reviews: 19 | |
| Retail Price: $349.99 | |
| Amazon Price: Too low to display | |
|
Overall Rating: |
| Customer Reviews: 19 | |
| Retail Price: $349.99 | |
| Amazon Price: $249.00 | |
| You Save: $100.99 (29%) |
|
Overall Rating: |
| Customer Reviews: 14 | |
| Retail Price: $708.00 | |
| Amazon Price: $578.61 | |
| You Save: $129.39 (18%) |
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- Comparison of Available Netbooks in 2010
- Netbook Comparison Tool
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- What is the best netbook to buy
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