A netbook retains certain laptop features like Internet connectivity and basic mobile computing.  It fits the needs of a travel-hungry computer user just as well as it fits in a small luggage.  More importantly, most netbooks come at prices below $400, which can easily fit anyone’s budget.

With netbooks dominating the mobile PC market despite the worldwide economic downturn, computer manufacturers have started venturing into creating faster and bigger capacity small thinking machines.

Aside from the absence of an optical drive, a prevalent disadvantage of a netbook is its lack of storage space.  It is understandable that netbooks’ disk space is only a fraction of laptops and notebooks since bulky data download and large file storage are usually done not on the run.  The general public would rather have cheap but very portable PCs that contain the essentials rather than bring expensive laptops that serve as desktop replacement or gaming machines or graphic editors.

Below are five must have netbooks that we think have topped the small thinking machine category in 2009.

5. Dell Inspiron Mini 10

The Dell Inspiron Mini 10 is one of the netbooks that fall in the upper price range of more than $500.  It may be priced higher than the other dell laptops but the extra hardware explains the additional cost – it comes with a TV antenna and tuner that allows its users to watch shows while traveling.

The Dell Inspiron Mini 10 comes with a Z-series Intel Atom processor, which features a chipset that supports better video playback.  This netbook is run by an Intel Atom Z530 processor clocked at 1.6 GHz.  This processing power is supported by an installed memory of 1 GB DDR-800.

Weighing 3.4 lbs, the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 has dimensions of 10.3 inches x 7.2 inches x 2 inches.  Despite its size, this netbook has a small and light layout that makes it stylish.  The Dell Inspiron has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, higher than most netbooks’ 1024 x 600 pixels.

4. Acer Aspire One AO751h

While most netbooks have 10.1 inches of display, the Acer Aspire One AO751h is bigger by an inch-and-a-half at 11.6 inches.  This beefs up the resolution size to 1366 x 768 pixels, which is slightly larger than its competition. It is also a bit more expensive than other netbooks in the market.  The Acer Aspire One AO751h has full dimensions of 11.2 inches x 8.5 inches x 1.3 inches. It weighs 3.6 lbs.

Due its larger size, the Acer Aspire One AO751h features more media slots than other netbooks at three.

The Acer Aspire One AO751h is powered by an Intel Atom Z520 processor that runs at a speed of 1.3 GHz.  It is  backed by 1 GB of DDR2-667 SDRAM.

3. Asus Eee PC 1005HA

The Asus Eee PC 1005HA can pass off as the twin of the slightly older Asus Eee PC 1008HA.  The Asus Eee PC 1005HA contains almost the same technical specs, namely: a processor of Intel Atom N280 clocking 1.6 GHz, a memory of 1 GB of DDR2-800, a display size of 10.1 inches and a maximum resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels.  Both also have the capacity to store 160 GB of digital files.

The difference comes in size and price.  The Asus Eee PC 1005HA is slightly bigger at dimensions of 10.3 inches x 7 inches x 1.5 inches.  The reason for this is the location of the VGA port – the older Eee PC has it on a space-saving dongle while this version has it grafted on the side.  This is why the Asus Eee PC 1005HA is designed to be slightly bigger than the Asus Eee PC 1008HA, and why it’s cheaper too.

The Asus Eee PC 1005HA comes with a Bluetooth, 802.11n, a three-cell battery, and two USB ports.

2. Asus Eee PC 1008HA

Like its predecessors, the Asus Eee PC 1008HA comes in a sleek, stylish and fairly solid design.  It is powered by an Intel Atom N280 that clocks at 1.6 GHz and is supported by 1 GB of DDR2-800 SDRAM.

With a display measuring 10.1 inches, the Asus Eee PC 1008HA offers a maximum resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels.  The Asus Eee PC 1008HA weighs just around 2.9 lbs, thanks to its sleek dimension of 10.3 inches x 7 inches x 1.1 inches.

However, unlike its small-capacity ancestors, the Asus Eee PC 1008HA comes with a higher disk space of 160 GB, which is more than enough for storage for typical office files as well as a moderate amount of multimedia files.

The Asus Eee PC 1008HA also comes with a Bluetooth, 802.11n, and a three-cell battery that has a life of four hours. This makes it ideal for people who frequently  travel with their mobile PCs.

1. HP Mini 5101

The HP Mini 5101 is a netbook that almost feels like a laptop to most users. Aside from being powered by an Intel Atom N280 that clocks at 1.6 GHz, this netbook’s 1 GB DDR2-800 SDRAM support could be upgraded to 2 GB, giving it a faster performance when switching between applications.  That speed is relatively good for a netbook, and is actually not that much different from a laptop in that aspect.  Other netbooks offer only 1 GB of memory.

Another feature that makes the HP Mini 5101 comparable to a laptop are its layout and design.  It has a sleek aluminum-magnesium alloy frame with a box measure of 10.3 inches x 7.1 inches x 1.5 inches.  With a weight of 3.6 lbs., the HP Mini 5101 also offers a near-full size keyboard, and neatly positioned mouse buttons.

The HP Mini 5101 comes with a 10.1-inch anti-glare display and a 1366 x 768 pixel resolution.  It has a storage space of 160 GB.  All these features and its similarities to a laptop are what makes the HP Mini 5101 number 1 in our list.

Related posts:

1. Top 5 Netbooks of 2009

But netbooks have found a niche in the market and that market is rapidly growing. In fact, as we slowly leave the clutches of the global economic downturn, it is noteworthy that netbooks have more than withstood the recession. They dominated the laptop market.

Netbooks are bare counterparts of laptops and notebooks. They are very cheap but they cover the essentials like wireless connectivity and basic mobile computing features. Though they are not desktop replacement laptops nor gaming or video editing devices, the general public has found its values to be satisfactory.

The Asus Eee PC is largely credited as the pioneer in this niche. But, much has happened since the Eee PC invaded the market in 2007. Every significant manufacturer now has its own netbook to offer to the public. And, for this reason we came up with what we think are the top 5 netbooks for 2009.

5. Asus Eee PC 901

The Asus Eee PC 901 features a nice 8.9-inch display with 1024 x 600 resolution. A 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor is at its core and it has 1 GB of RAM (DDR2). The Eee PC 901 features 802.11n Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth. There are also three USB ports, integrated Ethernet, a webcam and stereo speakers.

The Asus Eee PC 901 offers snappy performance and great battery life. It is a budget notebook with features found in its more expensive counterparts. We certainly like its gesture-compatible mouse controls and the availability of 802.11n Wi-Fi.

4. The Acer Aspire One D150

The Acer Aspire One D150 is an improved version of the original Acer Aspire One. The D150 comes with a 10-inch screen – an improvement from the original 9-inch offering. It has the customary Intel Atom N270 processor at 1.6 GHz with 1 GB of RAM. Disk space is at 160 GB and operating system is Windows XP.

We like the Acer Aspire One D150 because it has the features offered by other netbooks at a relatively lower price. The build quality is good, the internal memory is expandable, the 10-inch screen is more than adequate for a netbook and the processing speed is faster than we had expected. There’s a reason why it is one of the best selling netbooks around – because it works well.

3. The Asus Eee PC 1000HE

The Asus Eee PC 1000HE is run by an Intel Atom 280 processor at 1.6 GHz, with 1 GB of RAM and a 160 GB of storage. A 6-cell battery keeps it on and running up to 9.5-hours. Keyboard is 92 percent near full size and it has a 10.5-inch LED-backlit display. Also offered are three USB ports, a webcam, a 4-in-1 card reader and Ethernet and WiFi connectivity.

What we like about the Asus Eee PC 1000HE is its price, its build quality and the ease by which it can be upgraded. The easy-access panels are well thought out and we love the Super Hybrid Engine feature, which allows one to choose combinations of speed and battery life. The 1000HE does not pretend to be what it’s not; it is still a netbook and a great one at that.

2. HP Mini-Note 2140

The HP Mini-Note 2140 is targeted for the business user. It is built around a solid aluminum/magnesium alloy chassis and is certainly built to withstand the regular abuse of mobile computing. Standard features include an Intel Atom 270 processor (1.6GHz), 1 GB of RAM (can be upgraded to 2 GB), a 160 GB of disk space, an 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and a 10.1-inch display. Keyboard is 92 percent of regular-sized keyboards.

The HP Mini-Note 2140 is in our list of top five netbooks for 2009 for a number of reasons. We like its durable yet tasteful design. The user would find the spill-resistant keyboard comfortable to work on. The HP Mini-Note 2140 also has an accelerometer that detects when the computer is in freefall and automatically shuts off the hard drive to prevent damage. The ExpressCard slot offers fantastic expansion possibilities and there are multiple configuration options. The well-built HP Mini-Note 2140, in our eyes, is a step ahead of most of its peers.

1. Lenovo IdeaPad S12

The Lenovo IdeaPad is blessed with a 12-inch brightly-lit screen, a full-sized keyboard, and an ExpressCard slot. This netbook comes pre-loaded with Windows XP and runs up to five hours on its six-cell battery. It runs on an Atom N270 processor at 1.6 GHz, has 1 GB of RAM and a storage capacity of 160 GB.

We rated the Lenovo IdeaPad S12 as our top choice for Netbook for 2009. It is one of the very few netbooks on the market that has bravely challenged our notion of what a netbook should be. The 12-inch screen, the better typing experience, the ExpressCard slot, and, on the whole, a well-packaged product that has won great reviews among its users, the Lenovo IdeaPad S12 is definitely a winner. And it definitely earns our nod as the top netbook for 2009.

Related posts:

1. Top 5 Netbooks.
2. Should You buy a Netbook?
3. Lenovo IdeaPad S10 – Netbook Review

In terms of design, The Lenovo IdeaPad S10 comes in various colors to choose from without compromising build quality. The construction is mostly plastic, definitely strong enough to handle being tossed around inside a book bag or a large purse. The IdeaPad S10 is perfectly solid for a netbook of this size and weight at 2.64 lbs.

The Lenovo Idea Pad S10 is a netbook that is extremely easy when it comes to upgradeability. Unlike other similar netbooks in the market, the Lenovo Idea Pad S10 includes a convenient access panel on the back of the laptop, which allows easier access for RAM or hard drive upgrades. Getting that performance boost is always an arm’s reach.

Though compact, the keyboard in the Lenovo IdeaPad S10 is certainly large and tactile enough, most definitely less crammed than other similar netbooks in the market, supporting its matte 10.2-inch screen featuring 1024×600 display in nice and vibrant rich colors and good contrast, rendering it cozy enough for movie watching, internet browsing, or getting some work done in between. The touchpad on the IdeaPad S10 is larger than what’s found on other netbooks, and there are proper left and right click keys, very convenient. The touchpad also offers a drag-to-scroll feature.

The Lenovo Idea Pad S10 also comes with an ExpressCard slot for additional expansion alongside its 2 USB ports, which gives any user the option to add extra port or features anytime, such a standout.

The Lenovo Idea Pad S10 is available at 3-cell or 6-cell Lithium-Ion batteries. Under normal use, backlight at 50 percent and using wireless for web browsing and listening to streaming audio at normal volume levels, the new 6-cell battery can deliver up to six hours of battery life.

With its built-in Bluetooth capability, its bright screen design, ports advantage, and usability ease, the Lenovo IdeaPad S10 is a highly recommended netbook with superior features than netbooks of similar size and weight. Many users also stress on the fact of the portability option and the decent screen size along with its firm built structure and its power to run most daily tasks make it a special netbook worthy of purchase. A winning combination of mobile technology and exceptional engineering at a fantastic price. All at your fingertips.

Related posts:

1. Should You buy a Netbook?
2. Dell Vostro A860 – Netbook Review
3. Lenovo Laptops

The Dell Vostro A860, in its delicate and smooth black design, follows the contemporary trends of laptops. For a business user’s laptop, this netbook was designed to be a very stylish one. Not only is it an affordable solution that meets the needs of daily business computing activities, the Vostro A860 also possesses a 15.6 inch wide screen for easy viewing.

Balancing between technology, advanced features, and affordability, the Dell Vostro A860 is said to be the perfect choice for the business professionals looking for a laptop to meet their business needs while being mobile and highly flexible.

The Dell Vostro A860 is optimised for everyday productivity. The user can enjoy the pre- configured software and features needed for his/her everyday business tasks. Further going, the Vostro A860 is easy to arrange and manage when it comes to installing software.

The user may choose from a set of operating options; Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Home Basic after purchasing the Vostro A860. Those options are designed to deliver to the user a high business efficiency level along with superior performance while maintaining a medium size budget.

In terms of connectivity, the Dell Vostro A860 allows the user to connect the way he/she wants! The user may choose the intergrated wifi, the optional Bluetooth connectivity (for small local networks), or the simple cable plug. Those diverse methods allow the user to choose whatever method he/she desires and give the user more flexibility in adapting to the available connectivity network.

Having a huge network of authorized sellers and a channel of distributors too, purchasing a Dell Vostro is now facilitated. The Dell Vostro A860 is thus available whether the user decides to stay at home and order online or whether the client decides to purchase it from a local store. This business class netbook possesses a system that is reliable and that has been tested repeatedly before being issued in the markets. As trusted as the name Dell is in the netbook market and industry, the Dell Vostro is also a netbook that can take on rigorous activities on it and last for a long time.

The Dell Vostro A860 also comes with a fine exterior black coating that is scratch resistant along with a dust free sealed keyboard that will protect the laptop and keep it clean too. What also makes this laptop stand out is the support services accompanying it; a one year after-purchase warranty.

As per many users’ comments, the Vostro A860 can be used to connect with friends, give presentations, research, perform business activities, and purchase online. Many current users also comment about how easy it was to set up the laptop; a process that took less than 20 minutes! We can finally note that the Dell Vostro is a high quality business laptop that is an excellent match for small and medium business users.

Related posts:

1. Dell Vostro – Review
2. Lenovo IdeaPad S10 – Netbook Review
3. Dell Inspiron 1525 – Review