The Netbooks were first launched in 2007. These are low-power, low-priced mini-laptops. If you are looking for a portable, handy computer which fits into a small bag, the Netbook is best for you. We have got a list of the 5 best netbooks here:

• ASUS Eee PC 1001P
• Samsung NF310
• Acer Aspire One 532h
• HP Mini 100e
• ASUS Eee PC 1215N

Let us have a better look at each of these.

1. ASUS Eee PC 1001P: – Though this netbook is priced at $299, it looks like a premium model. It lasts more than 8 hours on a single charge which is 3 hours more than average. You may have to compromise on some of the premium features on the more expensive netbooks, but otherwise it is quite a bargain. The ASUS Eee PC 1001P has curved panels and a sharp look. The dimensions are 10.3 x 7.0 x 1.4 inches and at 3.4 pounds with the charger, it doesn’t really strain your shoulder muscles. The keyboard is comfortable and easy to type. The touchpad supports multi-touch gestures so you can use two fingers to pinch and zoom on a webpage. The 10.1-inch, 1024 x 600-pixel screen provides a decent image. The ASUS Eee PC 1001P runs on 1.66 Ghz Intel Atom N450 processor and performance is on par with other similar netbooks. It handles video, graphics and multimedia content decently well.

2. Samsung NF310: – This netbook is in the premium range with a pricing of $399. It runs on a 1.5 Ghz dual core Intel Atom N550 processor, 1 GB RAM and offers 1366×768 pixel high resolution display on its 10 inch screen. The elitist nature of the Samsung NF310 is evident in its color and design. Weighing 2.8 pounds, it is easy to carry around. The keyboard is large enough and well spaced. The touch pad is also of comfortable size with a strip metal border. The high resolution display quality and the rich colors of the screen makes it feel like a regular laptop. On closing the lid, the Samsung NF310 goes to sleep conserving battery life and on opening the lid, wakes up within 3 to 4 seconds. The battery lasts 6 hours on a single charge and in this respect, it is behind other netbooks using the dual core processor. Overall, it is a good performer in the 10 inch segment.

3. Acer Aspire One 532h: – Acer has refreshed its netbooks with the new 1.66 Ghz Intel Atom N450 processor, 1 GB RAM, enhanced endurance, large keyboard and a light weight body. It has also reduced its price to $299 much less than its competitors. The Acer Aspire One 532h lid has refreshing color options like Oynx Blue, Garnet Red and Silver Matrix making it look far more refined. At 10.2 x 7.3 x 1.0 inches and 2.8 pounds, its dimensions are the same of its competitors. The keyboard is smaller with lesser space between the keys making typing a bit more difficult. It has got a fairly large multi-touch enabled 2.6×1.4 inches touchpad. The 10.1 inch screen with a 1024×600 pixel resolution is also comparable to other netbooks in its range. The battery lasts for 8 hours, 36 minutes on a single charge which is higher than netbook average and it takes 4 hours to completely recharge. Acer is also selling a $299 Aspire One 532h with a reduced 160 GB hard disk and a lower capacity battery. The Acer is comparable in all parameters to other netbooks, however, they have beaten the others in price. If you do not need more storage, the $299 version is a real bargain.

4. HP Mini 100e: – The HP Mini 100e is priced less than $300 but it is only available to students and not to general consumers. However it provides decent performance and long battery life at a reasonable price. The dimensions of this netbook are 10.9 x 9.9 x 1.6-inch and weighing 3.4-pounds, making it bigger than other netbooks. The design is simple with rounded curves and white matte plastic body case. The lid only has a HP logo and a LED light on top which is activated when the netbook is connected to the Internet. Being a student-centric netbook, there are additional safety features such as a spill resistant keyboard, large carrying handle and a hard drive accelerometer. The keyboard is large enough and comfortable. The touchpad at 2.5×1.5 inch was also big enough and the split mouse buttons at the bottom work responsively. The 10.1-inch, 1024 x 600 pixel screen has very wide viewing angles to facilitate a group of students to view it together. The HP Mini 100e runs on the 1.66Ghz Intel Atom N455 processor and 1 GB RAM. The battery lasts for 6 hours and 32 minutes on a single charge and takes only 2 hours and 58 minutes to recharge completely. Given the price, it is a great option for students.

5. ASUS Eee PC 1215N: – This is an awesome netbook in the sub $500 category offering power and portability in an inexpensive package. It packs a great processor and graphics technology, performing like costlier systems and yet providing greater endurance. The ASUS Eee PC 1215N is slightly heavier than its previous versions at 3.4 pounds. The matte finish does not attract smudges easily. The keyboard is comfortable and responsive. The multi-touch enabled touchpad is changed and it is now on the same smooth surface as the rest of the keyboard deck. At 3.3×1.9 inches, it is larger than the previous version. The screen is bright and sharp with a 1366×768 pixel display. The new dual-core 1.8-GHz Intel Atom D525 processor has improved its performance vastly. Nvidia’s Ion 2 graphics Optimus technology has vastly improved the graphics handling leaving its competitors biting the dust in this area. The battery lasts 5 hours and 40 minutes on a single charge which is lower than netbook average and it takes a long 3 hours and 52 minutes to charge fully. If you are looking for a powerful netbook in the sub $500 price range, the ASUS Eee PC 1215N provides the best value for your money.