2009 Editor's Choice Award

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. Here we take a look at the best, making it easy for you to pick your perfect portable.