Top netbooks - 14 of the world's greatest netbooks reviewed

When netbooks first arrived on the scene, no one – manufacturers or consumers alike – expected them to take the world by storm. We’d seen tiny laptops at What Laptop before, so were quite surprised at the whirlwind success and the online flurry caused by the first Asus Eee PC netbook.

Since then, we’ve seen netbooks from nearly every major manufacturer – several in some cases – which is great for the consumer. It also presents a conundrum, however, as with similar sizes and specifications throughout the market, it makes choosing the right netbook for you even more difficult.

These tiny laptops won’t replace your conventional laptop or PC, but as an additional mobile companion they’re an ideal and affordable solution. We’ve gathered together fourteen of the best from the current crop and put them to the test, highlighting which netbook is best for you. All weigh under 1.5kg, and you’ll be able to put one in your bag and easily stay productive and entertained wherever you travel. Better yet are the prices. Our cheapest machine costs just £150 (inc. VAT), and even the most expensive comes in at £449 – considerably less than a regular ultraportable. You’ll even find battery lives impressive, with over five hours available on some of the machines here. In short, we’re certain we've got the best netbook for you.

Acer Aspire One (Linux) netbook
£180 (inc. VAT)
A competent machine at a good entry-level price
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Acer Aspire One (Windows) netbook
£269 (inc. VAT)
Windows and good functionality from this costly Aspire
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Advent 4211 netbook
£280 (inc. VAT)
A great machine with a highly usable keyboard and screen
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Advent 4213 netbook
£350 (inc. VAT)
A heavier design, but with 3G built-in it’s a little more versatile
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Asus Eee PC S101 netbook
£449 (inc. VAT)
Gloriously high-end, this is the best looking netbook yet
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Asus Eee PC 701 netbook
£150 (inc. VAT)
The very first 7-inch netbook and now something of an icon
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Asus Eee PC 904 HD netbook
£269 (inc. VAT)
This small screen in a large design netbook is a good all-rounder
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Dell Inspiron Mini 9 netbook
Free on contract
With 3G/HSDPA built-in, this is a great all-round netbook
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Elonex Webbook netbook
Free on contract
Compact and flexible, this is a great choice for students
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FSC Amilo Mini UI 3520 netbook
£280 (inc. VAT)
Small and compact, this feels like a miniature laptop
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HP 2133 Mini-Note PC netbook
£351 (inc. VAT)
Does the HP really have the best keyboard out there?
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MSI Wind U100 netbook
£299 (inc. VAT)
The first 10-inch netbook and still one of the best
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Samsung NC10 netbook
£299 (inc. VAT)
The latest contender for the throne, but how does it stack up?
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Zoostorm Fizzbook Go netbook
£269 (inc. VAT)
This child-friendly machine has its own carrying handle
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Download the entire group test:
High-resolution PDF (9MB)
Low-resolution PDF (744KB)

Group test first featured in What Laptop Issue 118