Smaller than a laptop and bigger than a PDA, these compact computers are ideal for working on the go. Mark Prigg reveals all.
A relatively new invention, the netbook was designed as a mini-laptop primarily for basic word processing and the odd bit of web surfing. However, as technology has advanced, it has become a viable alternative to carrying a full laptop around with you.
Generally coming with a nine- or ten-inch screen, netbooks let you do pretty much everything you would need to during an average day at the office. For home users they fall down on gaming and video editing, but for nearly everything else they are more than adequate, and the fact you can take them anywhere makes up for most limitations.
As netbooks don’t have DVD drives built in, it’s also worth investing in a USB memory stick as this is a quick and easy way to get data from machine to machine.
There is one computer-maker noticeably absent from the arena – Apple. While the iPhone can lay claim to being a tiny computer, Apple has so far claimed the netbook market isn’t big enough to merit developing a product. However, as with all things Apple this is almost certainly smoke and mirrors, so don’t be surprised if the company launches a “big” version of the iPhone with a keyboard at some point.
Until then, it’s up to machines running either Windows XP or Linux, a free operating system, to contest the market. Here are some of the best netbooks around.
HP Mini 2140 Notebook PC
£413
Never one to miss a niche, Hewlett-Packard’s entry into the netbook market is impressive and the company has brought its considerable manufacturing skills to the smaller form.
The Mini 2140 is an exceptionally well thought-out piece of kit and looks great. Its rounded edges and superb design give it a more solid, dependable feel than almost all of the other machines on test here.
The Mini has a 10.1-inch screen, which is clear and sharp, and a decent-sized keyboard measuring 10.3 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches – 92 per cent of a normal keyboard’s size.
In use it’s very nippy, thanks to a relatively quick Intel Atom processor. My version had 2GB of RAM and ran Windows Vista well, although I’d recommend loading it with Microsoft’s Windows 7 if you can – you’ll find it’s quicker, even though Windows 7 is still only in test form.
The mouse trackpad is a little more annoying and hasn’t changed much from the previous incarnation – the buttons still seem to be in the wrong place at the sides rather than above.
Despite this, the superb build quality and good all-round performance make it a decent choice for corporate users – the Mini looks likes it means business.
Pros Slick and well thought-out design features
Cons It is a little on the chunky side
Advent 4213
£279
Advent has always been a good budget choice and the 4213 is no exception. It’s far slicker than Advent’s previous netbooks and boasts a 160GB hard drive and 10.2-inch screen, which makes it closer to a real laptop than many of its rivals.
However, although the screen is big, the rest of the machine isn’t. The keyboard feels very cramped and the trackpad is also a tad on the small side, although you get used to it fairly quickly.
The 4213 also has built-in 3G, which is simple and effective and lifts the machine above the rest of the budget pack. Set-up is straightforward and Windows XP ran well on my test machine. Powering it is an Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor with 1GB of RAM and wireless internet.
Battery life is adequate at best, especially if you are using the 3G connectivity a lot. Despite this, the larger screen and big hard drive give it a boost, and overall the Advent 4213 is a good lower-cost choice, so is definitely worth a look.
Pros Good budget choice, big hard drive
Cons Cramped keyboard
Dell Inspiron Mini 9
£299
Dell’s Inspiron Mini 9 is one of the best-looking netbooks you’ll find. Its glossy case gives it an Apple-like edge, and it’s even possible to order it in limited-edition versions with artwork printed on it.
Apart from the cool appearance, this is a solid, dependable netbook that feels like a “real” computer rather than the toy-like netbooks some of Dell’s competitors are selling. The 8.9-inch screen is easy to read, although the large plastic panels on either side make it seem a little squashed.
The keyboard is exceptional, and probably the best here – it really captures the feel of a normal keyboard, although some of the keys are smaller and the function buttons have been abandoned altogether. There’s also a full complement of ports, with three USB slots, headphone and mic jacks, a VGA out, an SD-card slot, and an ethernet jack. As with most Dell products it is heavily customisable, with various memory capacities, colours and hard-drive options available.
The Inspiron I used ran Microsoft’s Windows XP very well, with no obvious lags or slowdowns. Overall this is a great all-round netbook – it’s small, slick and simple to use.
Pros Great design and built-in 3G
Cons Screen is a little small
Lenovo Ideapad S10e
£299
One of the latest arrivals at the netbook party, Lenovo’s Ideapad S10e is a great choice for corporate users. The 10.2-inch screen means you won’t be too compromised in terms of working with large spreadsheets or web pages, and the now almost standard Intel Atom processor means the S10e zips along during all but the most intensive tasks.
The 1.1kg machine boasts the most solid design here. It’s incredibly sturdy, and feels like it will stand up to being jostled about in bags and rucksacks. Lenovo has also added a bit of bulk to the screen panel, making it seem like it will last longer than some of the competition.
Storage is impressive, with a 160GB hard drive and 1GB of RAM, making Windows XP speed along. The built-in wireless connection was also quick and held the signal well. The only big disappointment was the battery – it had about 138 minutes of use, hardly enough for more than a few meetings.
Overall, although the S10e isn’t going to win any beauty contests, the superb screen and corporate looks will win it many hearts. (If the design looks strangely familiar, it’s because the firm bought IBM’s PC brand.) For the more serious end of the market, it’s a winner.
Pros Superb build quality
Cons Chunky design, poor battery life
Samsung NC10 Netbook
£299
Samsung’s NC10 netbook is widely regarded as one of the best around, and despite being one of the first generation it still manages to pack a big punch. The specification is very much a netbook standard, with an Intel Atom processor and a 160GB hard drive. It runs Microsoft’s Windows XP, and does so very well – this is a quick, responsive machine even when coping with big office documents. It also features a 1.3 megapixel camera, which is useful for video-conferencing.
Measuring in at 10.2 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches and weighing 1.3kg, it’s a svelte unit but has a protruding six-cell battery at the back that adds to the overall depth. The Samsung NC10’s looks are possibly its only flaw – it is a first-generation netbook – so up against the Sony Vaio P (see facing page) it looks rather archaic.
Despite its relative age, Samsung’s offering is still among the top contenders here. As an everyday machine it is close to perfect, as long as you’re happy to be just behind the latest fashion for shiny gloss plastic.
Pros Superb all-round performance and great price
Cons Design is showing its age a little
Sony Vaio P
£1,369
Sony’s Vaio P is without a doubt the slickest implementation of the netbook idea (at least until Apple makes one). No larger than a clutch purse, it measures 4.7 x 9.6 x 0.8 inches, weighs only 638 grams and fits easily into the smallest of manbags or handbags.
The eight-inch display is superb, although cramming an entire Windows desktop on to a screen this size means small objects can be hard to spot – you might find yourself using a slightly larger font, for example. However, put a video on and all is forgiven – the colours are excellent and there is none of the jagged movement seen on other netbooks. (For sound-enhancing headphone options to match, see panel above.)
Overall, the Vaio works exactly as a full-sized laptop would, and this is something Sony stresses – it has pointed out that this is a “real” laptop, and not strictly speaking a netbook, something the price tag reflects.
Still, it’s inevitable that comparisons will be made, and it’s more clever marketing on Sony’s part than an indicator of the real performance of the Vaio P. It’s fast enough for most tasks but you wouldn’t want to play games or edit your first blockbuster on it.
A base model is available at £849, but the version I used, costing £1,369, had a 128GB hard drive and a faster processor. Battery life is impressive at eight hours and 25 minutes, meaning you should, in theory, get a full day’s work out of it.
The Vaio also includes every feature you could want, from a webcam and GPS to a built-in 3G modem allowing you to get online simply by inserting a mobile phone SIM card. The keyboard, a sticking point on many other small laptops, is excellent.
Overall, the Vaio P is a triumph of engineering. The small screen might not be suitable for all-day use, but for web surfing and most day-to-day tasks it can do anything a desktop machine can. The biggest problem is the amount of attention it gets – take it out in public and someone is guaranteed to strike up a conversation about it.
Pros Incredible design and size
Cons Screen is a little cramped
HEADPHONES
A good pair of headphones can greatly improve your experience of watching films on laptops and netbooks. Here are some of the best available on the market.
Apple in-ear headphones
£54
Apple is trying to make up for the fairly awful earphones it gives you with every iPod, and it’s done a pretty good job here. These in-ear headphones are supplied with three different-sized ear buds, and it’s worth trying them all to find the most comfortable fit.
The sound quality far exceeds expectations, with rich, powerful bass and clean vocals. There’s also a mini remote control on the cable, so you can adjust the volume and change tracks without having to fish your iPod or iPhone out of your pocket.
Denon D7000
£800
At the absolute top end of the market are these stunning handmade headphones. Sporting mahogany casing and individually tuned, they cost an eye-watering £800.
Unsurprisingly, they are probably the best-sounding headphones I’ve ever used – the level of detail was jaw-dropping, to the extent that it was impossible to concentrate on anything else while listening to them. But there are drawbacks, other than the price. They are solidly built yet seem a little fragile, and come in a rather over-the-top presentation box rather than an infinitely more useful case you could use every day. That said, if money is no object you won’t find anything better.
Shure SE530
£330
Shure’s headphones are a slightly unusual design, with the cord looping over your ear, giving you a rock star feel – unsurprising, since many musicians use these while on stage.
They’re not cheap but are superb for regular travellers. They fit tightly yet are comfortable, blocking out almost all of the surrounding sound – so much so that I’ve started using them on the tube to block out noise even if I’m not listening to music. The bass response is incredible, and vocals and classical music are amazingly clear and precise. It’s possible to wear them throughout a whole transatlantic flight without any problems, and they are so comfy you quickly forget they are in.
The only flaws are that they are a bit on the fragile side, and there is definitely an art to putting them in and taking them out. Even though they’re a big investment, keep them in the supplied hard case and they could be the best pair of headphones you’ll ever own.
Mark Prigg is science and technology correspondent for London’s Evening Standard.
