You might be very interested in this review, if you’re hunting for a new ultraportable laptop, that’s not as flashy or expensive as an ultrabook, but it’s significantly better than a regular netbook. Basically, the 1225B fits right in the middle of the consumer spectrum, where most buyers eventually decide to venture.

The 1225B comes with a new AMD Fusion APU, namely the E-450, which incorporates a dual core processor clocked at 1.65 GHZ and built in HD graphics, namely Radeon HD 6320 with Turbo Core.  You also get 4 GB of RAM, a 320 GB HDD and an 11.6 inch display with an HD resolution of 1366 x 768 px. To sum it up fairly quickly, Mike from netbooklive.com observed that the new design has slimmer edges than the middle, so kind of mimicking a flare, while the Seashell design was thicker towards the end and slimmer towards the edge.

Moving on, the display on the 1225B is quite a problem, as it has bad viewing angles and reflects light, being on par, negatively, with the 1215B, which had a similarly problematic display. On a more positive note, if you find a good angle, in a rather dark room, the display is very bright and lively, offering vivid colors, particularly pleasing when watching HD content.

The 1225 comes with a brand new design and hardware platform

As for performance, the 1225B does well what it was designed to do: basic tasks with a seasoning of HD playback and mild gaming. The dual core processor and slightly pumped up graphics will offer an experience that’s better than the one on the 1215B, but it’s nowhere near what an ultrabook can do. The laptop will be able to deal with HD playback, both streamed and directly from the HDD, and can run older games at good frame rates and detail levels, but newer titles will see you play them with minimum detail and even lower resolution.

Anyway, for an entry level machine, the 1225B seems to do just fine on this front. As for pricing, the 1225B starts at $399, but that will buy the base model, powered by a slower C-60 APU, while the model packing the E-450 goes for 479 bucks.  Stay tuned for the detailed video review below or hit the source link for the written review.

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Powered by a 2.7 Ghz Intel Core i7-2620M, the B23E-XH71 will certainly not be on top of the casual technology enthusiast’s shopping lists, but should draw attention from those of you who need a solid, snappy and portable laptop to carry around.

Weighing in at 3.2 pounds, the Asus B23E is clearly not a lightweight device, but it’s made out of magnesium-alloy, so the aim is to provide ruggedness and strength. The all-black exterior, with matte surfaces, might seem old-fashioned for some of you, but once again this 12-incher is aimed towards a certain kind of people and those people appreciate elegance and plain, but sophisticated looks.

It's robust, solid and sturdy, which is exactly what you need on the road!

Aside from the very snappy dual-core Sandy Bridge processor, the B23E also comes with 4 GB of RAM, a 500 GB 7200 rpm hard drive, a DVD burner drive, Bluetooth 3.0 and WiFi connectivity. The laptop runs, of course, Windows 7 Home Premium, and the 3-cell battery, while it still has an unspecified autonomy, should come with enough power to go around.

The 12.1-inch screen is another technical detail that should draw your attention, featuring a 1366 x 768 pixels resolution and offering protection against sunlight or any kind of powerful light source. There’s also a spill-resistant comfortable keyboard, as well as a fingerprint reader, so all in all I for one am really impressed with this netbook’s features and tech specs.

It doesn't look spectacular, but it packs a lot of power under its hood!

As you might expect, this kind of power and build doesn’t come cheap and the 12-incher currently starts at 922.43 dollars on Amazon. You can pre-order it right now and it should be delivered to you in a matter of weeks, even though there’s still nothing official on that front.

There it is, the new 12-inch business-oriented netbook from Asus, dressed to impress and ready to accompany you on the road anywhere, anytime! What do you think, are you willing to pay almost 1,000 bucks for this 12-incher?

Source: Laptoping.com

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Of course, there are premium netbooks around that stand out of the crowd and we’re going to talk about them in this article. These machines range from 10 inch to 12 inch in size and pack features usually encountered on larger computers, but you’ll have to pay extra for them. This goes against the ultra cheap, ultra portable credo of the netbook, but if you want more than just browsing the web and watching the occasional Youtube video, you might be willing to spend a little extra. Taking it slow…

Powerful 10 inch netbooks

We start right at the bottom. The 10 inch netbook. It’s the type of mini laptop that packs very basic hardware, conceived to deal with browsing, very light productivity work, like a text editor or an Excel sheet and listening to some music. You can buy a new 10 inch netbook for as little as $199, but now we’re going to talk about those that set different standards when it comes to performance. And by different we mean higher.

The 1015B goes just over the mediocrity edge, being the less impressive of the awesome 10 inchers It packs a C-50 AMD Fusion APU that comes with integrated HD video, namely ATI’s Radeon HD 6250, which will be able to share up to 256 MB of system memory and decode HD content. Think more 720p running decently rather than flawless 1080p, but it’s still a major step forward from the single core Atom processor which were able to run 480p. The netbook also has 2 GB of RAM (can support up to 4 GB) and a 6 cell battery, wrapped up in a package going right now for 279 bucks on Amazon. If you like it, order fast, as stocks are almost depleted right now.

Asus 1015B

The Toshiba NB550D packs the same hardware as the 1015B, but comes with a great set of speakers, namely stereo Harman Kardon speakers. It’s probably the best audio system to ever land on a netbook and will complement the HD playback the C-50 on board can deliver. Also, you get a battery able to go on a single charge for around 8 hours and a very appealing patterned design on the lid, something like a granulated wallpaper. Not all surprising, this setup costs a little more, namely 329 pounds on Amazon.

Toshiba NB550D

The Asus 1015PX changes the game a little and ditches entertainment for productivity. While AMD’s APUs are good for playing videos, they’re not very solid when it comes to multitasking. The 1015PX comes with a dual core, Atom N570 CPU, which can deal with multiple open apps better than most processors in its class, like the N550 or entry level Brazzos CPUs.

As for video playback, we found the 1015PX able to play 720p video, both local and streamed, pretty well, while 1080p played decently only streamed from Youtube in Flash format. The 1015PX goes for $298 right now, but consider investing in a supplementary 1 GB of RAM alongside the stock 1 GB you get out of the box.

Asus 1015PX

The Samsung NF310 brings to the table one of the most interesting designs to ever appear on the netbook market. It has a curvy design, similar to the curves of a shark’s body, and comes with a distinctive HD screen, which has a resolution of 1366 x 768 px. Pair that with the dual core N550 Atom CPU and you’ve got yourself a very suitable netbook for both work and play.

Samsung NF310

A less stellar Samsung netbook is the NC110, which comes with a N455 single core CPU and 1 GB of RAM. It balances the rather modest processor with premium SRS sound and a 10 hour battery, which make it more suitable as a fancy (and big) music player If you really want this netbook, make sure you have $329.99 to spare.

Samsung NC110

We’re finishing this section on a high note with the 1015PN. This netbook is still one of the best choices you’ve got when shopping for a strong 10 incher, even almost a year after launch. The dual core Atom N570 processor is backed up by dedicated ION 2 graphics, a setup that surpasses the C-50 APU on the 1015B, being a decent solution for HD playback and some very light gaming.

Add to that the 9.5 hours battery and you’ve got a netbook that kind of has it all. The 1015PN goes for $299 right now, which is 20% less than the usual price.

Asus 1015PN

Top 11.6 to 12 inch netbooks

Bigger means better, as larger netbooks pack better hardware, better batteries and use better displays than 10 inchers. The top models in this section are able to compete with mid range laptops when it comes to performance, but don’t cost as much and won’t take too much room in your bag.

The 1215N is one of the luxury entries in the EEE PC series. Although the quality plastic finish and the sleek body make this netbook also a looker, but the true hot stuff is on the inside. The netbook packs the D525 dual core Atom processor clocked at 1.8 GHZ and a dedicated ION 2 video card, which you can switch on or off using Optimus technology. The 1215N supports up to 4 GB of RAM and comes with Windows 7 Home Premium pre installed, all this in a package worth 400 bucks right now on Amazon.

Asus 1215N

The kid brother of the 1215N, the EEE PC 1215B, also offers a very decent experience for a significantly lower price. The 1215B packs the E-350 Zacate APU, which is a dual core processor bundled with on board HD graphics from ATI, a setup able to deal with 1080p video playback and some light gaming, helped by the stock 2 GB of RAM. If you’ll grab this, you should know it works better as an entertainment machine rather than a productivity mini laptop, hence the smaller asking price of $299.

Asus 1215B

The HP dm1z packs the same hardware, but you get an extra 1 GB of RAM out of the box- so 3 in total and a faster, 7200 rpm 320 GB HDD in comparison with the 5400 rpm on the 1215N. The Zacate APU is the same, but you also get the class of the dm1 (it’s basically the same machine, but there’s the “z” inside), which will cost you significantly more, as the dm1z goes for $574.99 on Amazon right now.

HP dm1z

Lenovo’s X120e is a business oriented 11.6 inch netbook that packs that great, traditional Thinkpad design that’s been around for ages, while having on the inside AMD’s Zacate E-350 APU and a very solid 4 GB of RAM out of the box. Add to that a fast 7200 HDD and Windows 7 Professional and you’ve got yourself a top notch netbook worth spending 467 bucks on.

Lenovo X120e

And if you’re willing to spend twice as much on a brand new toy, you should know that the MacBook Air 2011 is out for some time now. It’s still one of the thinnest netbooks around, being 0.68 inch thin, partially thanks to the SSD inside. There’s no HDD option, so expect lighting fast boot times and a better battery life (around 10 hours), as well as a second generation Core i3 or Core i5 dual core processor, 2 GB of RAM and a HD screen with a native resolution of 1366 x 768. As for the price, you won’t too surprised to know that the base model goes for a little under 1000 bucks.

MacBook Air 11.6 inch

The natural anorexic competitor for the MBA is the 11.6 inch version of the Samsung Series 9, which is just as slim- 0.68 inches, but packs less impressive hardware, namely the first generation Core i3 dual core ULV processor and can accommodate a maximum of 2 GB of RAM. You get a similar 64 GB of initial storage like on the MBA, but there’s also the perk of a WIMAX 4G optional module and a USB 3.0 port. This doesn’t sell cheap, as the 11.6 inch Series 9 goes for around $899 on Amazon.

Samaung Series 9

We saved the beast for last and we’re of course talking about the Dell Alienware M11X R3, which is just formally a netbook. It has a 11.6 inch display with a 1366 x 768 resolution, but on the inside it packs hardware worthy of desktop PCs. It features either a Core i3, Core i5 or Core i7 processors, up to 16 GB of DDR3 RAM and video card with dedicated 2 GB of memory. This mini laptop is capable of running newer games at decent frame rates and can deal with any kind of apps you might throw at it. The R3 starts at around $800, with the breathtaking configurations costing well over a grand.

Alienware M11x R3

Final thoughts

We hope at least a couple of the netbooks we’ve talked about caught your imagination and entered on your list of options if you’re shopping for a netbook. We had in mind netbooks with above average performance and features like good battery, better screens and perks like USB 3.0 ports or better connectivity. There are solid entries in any size category, from the C-50 powered 10 inchers to the battleship 11.6 inch Alienware. Whether it’s productivity or entertainment, these netbooks can take you through a decent experience and, as long as you keep in mind that these small laptops are not meant to replace a desktop computer, these little weasels won’t disappoint you.

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Asus launched their first netbook, named Eee PC 701, in late 2007, as a mastermind response to the OLPC (One Laptop per Child) and Intel’s Classmate PC. Asus boss Jonney Shih realized that a small, ultra light notebook, capable of basic computing, is a great idea for adults as well, not only for kids. The Eee PC 701 was an instant hit in Asia and was quickly shipped to the US and Europe. Since then, many other models appeared under the Eee PC monicker.

And from the days of the 7 inch screen, Celeron M single core processor and 4 GB of SSD storage, we have today Eee PCs with dual core processors, 320 GB of storage, dedicated video card, HD screens ( even touch screens) and 3G modules, just to name a few features.

Asus's first EEE PC. We've come a long way

Easy to play, Easy to learn, Easy to work, the slogan behind the EEE PC revolution is true even today. There are many types of EEE PCs to choose from, according to your needs and budget. If you just want a cheap netbook for browsing the web and sending emails, you got it. If you need a decently equipped netbook for office productivity and serious battery autonomy, that’s also available. Or, if you’re after a powerful entertainment driven netbook, with its own video card, you can get that as well from an EEE PC labeled netbook.

This flexibility helped the line being the most popular netbook series in the US and Europe, which is not small stuff, considering that virtually any relevant computer manufacturer has at least a dozen netbooks out there. Next, we’re going to take a look at the best Asus EEE PCs of 2011, from entry level models to premium netbooks.

Entry level EEE PCs

For browsing the web, the occasional Word document and getting rickrolled on Youtube, a cheap, entry level EEE PC is sufficient. These models usually have a plastic, but robust finish, decent battery and a single core processor.

Asus EEE PC 1001PX. This netbook was launched back in 2010, but it’s still fairly popular thanks to the attractive design and low price. The netbook runs on an Intel Atom N450, clocked at 1.66 GHZ, packs 1 GB of RAM and a 160/250 GB HDD, as well as having WiFi connectivity. The battery can go on a single charge for only 4 hours, but if you’re willing to spend a little more for a battery slice, you might get around 8 hours of autonomy. One of the highlights of the 1001PX, which goes for $249 is the carbon fiber like finish, that is both tough and good looking and won’t attract any finger prints and smudges.

Asus EEE PC 1011PX. The 1011PX is basically an update for the 1001PX. It comes with either a single core, N455 processor or the dual core N570, but the later will cost a little more. You can also configure the battery, with the default juice maker offering a maximum of 5 hours of autonomy (3 cell version), but you can get as much as 11 with the 9 cell version. In terms of design, the $300 priced 1011PX has the same seashell design as the 1001PX and, of course, the same matte chassis finish.

Asus 1011 PX EEE PC

Mainstream EEE PC netbooks

Let’s take it up a notch. You want a better netbook, with a better battery, improved performance and maybe more aesthetically appealing than entry level machines. If you’re willing to spend a little more, Asus might have exactly what you need.

The 1015PEM comes with a dual core N550 Atom processor and 1 GB of RAM, but you can upgrade to 2 GB. The dual core version offers better performance and power management than the N450/455, so you’ll be able to rely more on this 10 inch netbook for productivity apps- more of them open at the same time. The netbook comes with a hybrid battery management system, that can get as much as 13 hours of autonomy, and newer connectivity options, namely Wireless N and Bluetooth 3.0.

The 1015PX packs the even newer N570 dual core processor, everything else being basically identical to what you get from the 1015PEM. A nice additional feature is Express Gate, which is an alternative boot OS that gives almost instant access to the internet and entertainment apps. Also, for the first year, you get free access to Asus’s web storage service, where you have your own 500 GB to fool around with, a good deal for a $279 netbook.

The 1015PN pairs the N550 dual core chip with dedicated ION 2 graphics, which comes with 512 MB of video memory. This means you’ll be ableto use this 336 bucks netbook for full HD playback directly on the display or on a HDTV via the HDMI port, and also some decent gaming. If you want to fully take advantage of this platform, make sure to upgrade to 2 GB of RAM.

Asus EEE PC 1015PN

Unlike the previous entries in this section, the 1015B is powered by a AMD Fusion chip, namely the C-30. It’s a single core processor with a rather modest speed of 1.2 GHZ, but has the advantage of being completed with HD integrated graphics, namely Radeon HD 6250. While this is not a netbook to consider for too complicated office work, it will be great for playing HD video. You even get a HDMI port for hooking up the netbook with a HDTV. The 1015B is available from Amazon for $289, but unfortunately that’s the version with a single-core C30 APU; the more powerful one with a dual-core C-50 processor is mainly available in Europe and that’s the one I would recommend.

The 1015PW is maybe the most spectacular entry in this category, at least when we talk about design. Dubbed Syrocco, the netbook has a waved pattern on the lid, being a welcomed change in the all too bland netbook world. Specs wise, the 1015PW, going for $314, packs a dual core N550, 1 GB of RAM, while the battery is said to run on a single charge for about 10 hours max.

Premium EEE PC netbooks

As always, there’s a luxury section, so to say, which consists of high end netbooks that also look quite good and offer a different experience that mainstream entries. Our picks are:

The 1018P  has a brushed aluminum finish, being one of the classiest 10 inch netbooks out there. It looks great (think Samsung 9 Series, but smaller and less posh), is very tough and is also quite thin and light for a machine with a metal finish. On the inside, you get a mainstream configuration, namely a dual core N570 processor, 1 GB of RAM and a 250 GB HDD,a decent configuration for just 418 bucks. The OS is Windows 7 Starter, while ports include, surprisingly, 2 USB 3.0 slots. Chapeau.

Asus EEE PC 1018P

Here’s a nice one. The 12.1 inch 1215N packs a pimped up Atom chip, namely the dual core 1.8 GHZ D525, which is, at least for now, the fastest Atom around. Pair that with 512 MB of dedicated ION 2 video memory, 2 GB of RAM (maximum of 4) and Windows 7 Home Premium, and you’ve got yourself a very decent HD capable machine, both for gaming and video playback.

The 1215B is a similarly powerful 12.1 inch netbook. It packs the AMD C-350 dual core processor, that’s at least a class over the C-50. The chip runs at 1.5 GHZ and comes with Radeon HD 6310 graphics. The setup is completed by 2 GB of RAM (with a supported maximum of 8 GB ) and a battery said to run for about 8.5 hours on a single charge, making this $436 priced netbook a top choice for this class.

Final thoughts

The netbooks we gathered in this article all offer decent performance and are pretty affordable when looking at the specs and features. If you built it, they will come- Asus was able to build netbooks for all types of users, covering from basic computing needs to HD gaming and serious multitasking.

And the future looks just as bright, as Asus will be one of the companies to build Ultrabooks, which is said to be the next paradigm in terms of ultra portable gadgets. But until then, if you’re thinking about shopping for a netbook, keep an eye on Asus EEE PC entries, as these machines represent good value for money and offer a very vast array of models to choose from.

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From all of them, the best balance between mobility, performance and price is offered by the 10 inch mini laptops and this is why they are the most appropriate picks for the majority of users. However, there are lots of different 10 inchers available right now on the market, some better, some worse. That’s why I’ve decided to write this post and tell you a couple of words about the models that stand out from the crowd.

You will notice that specs are pretty much the same for all the devices present in here, because most of them use the same Intel (or AMD) platforms. However, there’s more about picking a laptop than specs. You will want to know how well they look, how reliable they are, how comfortable is the keyboard, what to expect in terms of battery life or whether or not they get noisy or hot.

This is why i made this list of recommendations, so you’ll know that these devices are good and can meet most of your criteria. The list is based on my experience with these netbooks (I’ve been around them since early 2008) and reviews/opinions from regular buyers, gathered from various online sources.

So, let’s see what are right now the best 10 inch netbooks.

Affordable and cheap netbooks

If on the market for such a small computer and on a tight budget, here you can find the top picks you can get for under $300. All these devices are brand new, come with warranty and managed to score good marks and reviews with professional testers and regular users, despite their low price point.

So they are good and should be enough for most of your tasks, as long as you don’t expect them to be lightning fast or cope well with multitasking, playing HD video content or games.

Asus EEE PC 1001PXD – $249.99

The 1001P line of netbooks has been around for a while and the 1001PXD is one of its latest members. This Asus manages to provide an excellent price/features ratio. Comes with standard specs (N455 processor, 1 GB of memory, 250 GB hard-drive) and is also very solid built, with a matte textured casing that will deal perfectly with fingerprints or scratches.

However, unlike more expensive devices, this one only offers a standard flat keyboard, which is good but not as comfortable as an ergonomic chiclet one. Also, in terms of connectivity, you only get Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Fast Ethernet, so no Bluetooth.

There’s one bad point though: this 1001PXD only packs a 3 Cell battery, so should be enough for only 3 to 4 hours of life and that’s low for a netbook.

But does sell right now for only $249 an is available in white, black or blue. That’s with Free Shipping included so it sounds pretty good.  Of course, the EEE PC 1001PXD does have its weak points, but is overall a sturdy and worthy little machine and considering its price, it’s for sure a great buy.

Asus EEE PC 1001PXD - good value for the money

Toshiba NB505 – $299 $279

As a Toshiba netbook owner i must say they are one of my favorite netbook producers and for good reasons. The NB505 is what they have to offer these days in the affordable range of 10 inch mini laptops and this is a very appreciated product, as it combines solid construction, good performance, ergonomics and battery life in an overall great netbook for its price tag.

In terms of hardware this one is standard: Atom N455 processor, 1 GB of RAM, 250 GB hard-drive, Wireless N, Windows 7 Starter. But unlike other cheap netbooks, comes with a big 6 Cell battery that will last around 6 hours in daily use.

The exterior is covered in some smooth rubbery plastic and feels great; will also deal well with time, scratches and fingerprints. And you have 6 different colors, from the classic Blue and Brown to the funky Orange and Turquoise.You also get a proper sized trackpad and the new Full-size keyboard the guys at Toshiba developed for their 10 inchers, which should be great for those with bigger hands, but will take some time getting used to.

More details are available via this link, where you can find the NB505 on sale, for only $279 with shipping included (list price is $299, so you get a nice discount). You’ll also find the marks and reviews from those who already bought one of these, plus more pics and info.

Toshiab NB505 - best affordable netbook these days

Asus EEE PC 1015B – from $289

The 1015B is the first 10 inch Asus to hit the market with AMD’s new Fusion hardware on board. New platform won’t make the device faster in everyday tasks, but will make it capable of dealing with HD content (including 1080P) and even some popular but older games, like Word of Warcraft or Counter Strike.

There are several configs you can get for the 1015B, starting with the C30 Ontario APU and ending with the dual-core C50, plus 250 GB storage, 1 GB of memory (expandable to 4 on a single slot) and Windows 7 Starter. And a 6 cell battery on top, that should get you around 5-6 hours of daily use every single charge.

Not much to say about exterior and keyboard, as they are identical to the ones you will find on all higher end EEE PCs these days: matte rubbery finish, chiclet keyboard with a good layout, accurate and proper sized trackpad. And there’s also the 10.1 inch matte display, which you’ll mainly find only on EEE PCs these days in this class.

The Asus 1015B goes for $289 right now, for the black version with AMD C30 APU (that’s the entry level AMD platform) and is for sure a great pack if you want a small, portable multimedia companion. More powerful and better equipped versions go above 300 bucks and you can check them out via this link.

Asus 1015B - the cheap multimedia 10 incher

Acer Aspire One AO255E – from $329 $287

While not a big fan of Acer, based on my previous encounters, we’ve seen their devices come a long way in the last years and the portables they have to offer these days are actually very very good, able to compete with devices from Asus, Samsung, HP or Dell, while being cheaper.

The Aspire One AO255E is their most popular model. It comes in a couple of different versions but we’re mainly interested in the top one, boosting a dual-core Atom N550 processor, 1 GB of memory, 250 GB hard-drive and Windows 7 Starter OS. You don’t however get Bluetooth and there’s only a smaller 6 Cell battery installed, capable of around 5 hours of life (8 on paper).

But you only have to pay less than 300 bucks for it, as the AO255E goes online now for only $287 and that makes it the cheapest good netbook with a dual-core Atom N550 processor. See the link for details.

Of course, you will have to stick with the glossy exterior, which actually looks amazing and is available in several different colors, but will scratch and catch fingerprints like crazy. And there’s also the glossy display. Plus, while keyboard is pretty good, trackpad is kind of narrow and sometimes imprecise.

Still, if you want a fast but cheap netbook, this is the one for you. Of course, there are other netbooks that can outmatch it in terms of looks, ergonomics, build construction and features, but none can compete with the Acer Aspire One AO255 in terms of pricing.

Acer AO255E - cheapest option if you want a fast Atom N550D equipped 10 incher

Best 10 inch netbooks

Here are the true best 10 inchers you can get these days with prices ranging from 300 to 400 bucks, although some will pop over the $400 mark because they pack some extra features (see details below).

Still, if you want a solid 10 incher, these are the devices you should consider these days.

Toshiba NB305 -  $379 $329

The Toshiba NB305 is right now one of the most popular netbooks in the US and my personal favorite. It brings similar hardware to the best other 10 inch netbooks available, with Intel Atom N550 processor, 1 GB of RAM, 250 GB hard-drive and top notch connectivity. And while some might not consider it as good looking as the EEE Seashells, the Toshiba Mini NB305 is very solid built. Plus, based on my experience with the previous generation, it is also very reliable.

And last but not least, the Toshiba is the most comfortable of all. The lightly textured casing is available in a multitude of colors and is resistant to scratches, the screen is good, although still glossy and the metallic-feel keyboard plus trackpad with two click buttons is the best combo present on a 10 inch netbook at the moment.

The Toshiba NB305 is available for $329 these days, with a nice discount and free delivery included. And while this is an older generation 10 incher from Toshiba, it still remains one of the best picks in the class, especially now as it benefits from the hardware upgrade and the price cut. However, I doubt it will last in stocks for long, so better grab one fast.

Toshiba NB305 - most popualr and my favorite

Acer Aspire One AO522 – around $325

Acer also paired with AMD to launch a Fusion based 10 incher and that’s the AO522 we have here. This particular model however ships with the fastest AMD APU designed for netbooks, the C50 (unlike the Asus 1015B presented above), the ones that merges a dual-core 1.0 GHz processor and AMD 6250 graphics on a single chip.

These make the little machine quite snappy in everyday tasks (not snappier than Atom N550 equipped netbooks though), but the real difference is noticeable when dealing with HD content and games. This one can play 1080P video, both streamed and self stored, and can even output it via HDMI. Plus, can handle older but still popular games like WOW, Call of Duty, Counter Strike or Starcraft.

Acer Aspire AO522 - multimedia 10 incher with MD hardware inside

On the outside, the AO522 is identical to all the other Acer 10 inchers available these days, with the glossy exterior, slim body and island keyboard. Boosts the same 6 Cell 4400 mAh battery and the AO255E model, but is only rated at around 6 hours of life, so we should expect 4-5 in real life use.

All these for $329 sound nice. And it’s even cheaper on Amazon.com , where it goes for $325 with Shipping included. See the link for reviews, more and bigger pics and extra details.

So, the AO522 packs AMD Fusion and that should make it a feasible choice if you need a more versatile 10 incher with a nice price tag. Won’t see any differences in every day tasks from a dual-core Atom N550 device, in fact I found the C50 slightly slower, but when dealing with multimedia content and games, this one is far superior. Thus, if you plan on using your 10 inchers for such stuff, the Acer Aspire One AO522 won’t let you down.

Asus EEE PC 1015PEM – $379 $368

The EEE PCs is for sure the most notorious line of netbooks on the market. The 1015PEM is their top mainstream model right now, a device meant to merge design, ergonomics and power in a single perfect laptop.

This one is a bestseller all around the globe, but especially in the US and Europe, as it is a little pricier than most of its competitors. Comes with Atom N550 dual-core processor, 1 GB of memory, 250 GB storage + 500 GB online, Windows 7 Starter, Wireless N and Bluetooth 3.0. Plus, you get a huge 6 cell battery capable of around 10 hours of life on a single charge (13 based on Asus’s tests).

Design wise, this one is nearly perfect. It comes with a soft rubberized exterior available in a bunch of different colors, allowing great grip and capable of dealing well with smudges and scratches. Opening the lid you get the ergonomic trackpad and chiclet keyboard, plus the 10 inch matte display, a feature not very common on netbooks.

All these make the 1015PEM a little bit more expensive than most of the competitors, but we’re sure it is worth every penny of the $379 bucks you’ll have to pay for it. And if you’re living in the US, you can find it online on Amazon.com with a small discount, for only $368, with Shipping included. And there’s also a cheaper model, with a smaller battery and no Bluetooth, going for around $315 . See the links for details, pictures and reviews from owners.

Overall, the 1015PEM is for sure one of the best 10 inchers you can find these days. Too bad though the big battery model is only available in the States.

Asus EEE PC 1015PEM

Asus EEE PC 1015PN – around $430 $350

The 1015PN is for sure the most powerful 10 inch netbook, as it boosts the dual-core Atom N550 processor and Nvidia ION graphics (this makes it capable of handling HD multimedia content and games). It’s even overall better than those devices with AMD Fusion inside.

Asus 1015PN - most powerful 10 inch netbook

Everything else is identical to the 1015PEM, but the powerful hardware will take battery life expectations to only 9.5 hours on paper, so more like 6-7 in real life use.

Price wise, the 1015PN is listed at $430, but you can find it online in the States for as low as $349, and that’s a great deal for sure. See the link for more details.

You will notice it’s even cheaper than the 1015PEM and you’ll ask yourself why, since this one is faster? Well, most users don’t need the better graphics capabilities of this one, as they don’t plan on running 10180p content or games on 10 inchers. They do however need battery life. Plus, in order to properly use this one, you’ll need to upgrade Windows to at least Home Premium version, as the Starter bundled with it prevents the ION graphics from functioning properly (won’t allow Optimus to kick on so you’ll have to change between graphic boards manually). That takes the overall price of the 1015N above 400 bucks, considering the OS update costs.

Still, if you want the fastest 10 incher, this is the device to consider, as long as you upgrade the operating system, get 2 GB of memory on it and replace the hard drive with a faster 7200 rpm one or even an SSD. All these however make the 1015PN a netbook for enthusiasts, rather than one meant for average users.

Samsung NF310 – $399 $384.99

Samsung is known for their electronic products, but not that much for their laptops. With the new series they seem to have struck gold though, as they managed to get them as close to perfection as possible.

The NF310 is their top device in the 10 inch segment and it’s a great mini laptop, starting from design and ending with features. Yes, the exterior is glossy and only available in black (so will scratch and catch fingerprints), but it looks very nice, with that curvy shape.

Opening the lid you’ll notice a very comfortable chiclet keyboard and a proper sized trackpad, plus a matte 10 inch display. However, unlike most 10 inch display found on netbooks, this one boosts HD resolution: 1366 x 768 px so everything will look smoother on it. Also packs decent viewing angles and good brightness levels.

Punchy Atom N550D processor is used, so this device will handle 720p content flawlessly. Of course, 1080p content is still a not match, but you won’t need it anyway since the NF310 lacks an HDMI port. Excellent 3D SRS speakers were also thrown in the mix, alongside a 6 cell battery that can go for 6-7 hours on daily use (up to 9.4 hours on paper).

Now, you probably expect this one to be expensive, but its $399 list price is actually quite good. And Amazon.com even sells it discounted, for $384.99 these days, with Shipping included. See the link for extra info.

All in all, the Samsung NF310 is a great bundle and offers something almost no other 10 incher does: a 10 inch matte HD display. Add the excellent keyboard, powerful hardware, great speakers, nice design and good battery life and you’ll get a winner. Reviews and almost perfect marks scored by the NF310 with experts and regular users also stand prove of its quality. Of course, it could have had a matte plastic or metallic body or Nvidia ION, but those would have made it probably too expensive.

Samsung NF310 - the closest to perfection 10 incher you can find right now

Asus Touch EEE T101MT – $550

Unlike all the other netbooks above, the Asus T101MT is a netbook tablet PC, with a convertible touchscreen. Thus, it can be used like a standard netbook, as it comes with a keyboard and all, but also the screen can be swiveled in order to transform the device into a slate.

Having this function adds a lot to your everyday experience with the device, browsing or watching movies being an absolute pleasure while in tablet mode. Also, you can use it to take notes or sketch different things with the included pen. Besides this, the Asus T101MT looks very nice, with a black matte finish and incredible attention to details.

However, it is sometimes sluggish, as the poor Atom hardware inside can’t really keep pace with all the demands of the touch interface. Still, for every day tasks, it should do just fine. It packs 2 GB of memory and Windows 7 Professional, but these two to add to the final price.

The Asus T101MT goes for around $550 w/ Shipping included in the US these days. You can get it from here, where you’ll also find more details, pics and reviews from regular users who bought it and posted their opinions about it online.

Asus T101MT tablet with covertible toushcreen

Special mentions

These are some of the netbooks that didn’t quite made it here, mainly because they are not available worldwide, but only in some parts of the globe (mainly in Europe and not in the US) or because we considered them too expensive to actually recommend them. These are great picks as well and should be also considered:

• Toshiba NB520 and NB550D – the superior exponents of Toshiba’s new line of netbooks. First one comes with dual-core N550 Atom processor while the second does come with ADM C50 hardware and a big 6 Cell 61 Wh and is for sure a power horse, especially capable of handling all kind of multimedia content and output it towards and external display. The NB520 is mainly available in Europe for around 300 euros, while the NB550D is only on sale in the UK and some particular eastern European countries for now and goes for around 330 pounds .
• Samsung NF210 – another great looking 10 incher from Samsung, with some excellent keyboard and build quality. Goes for around 250 euros in Germany/France/Italy and packs Atom N550 processor, 6 Cell battery and all the other standard features.
• Dell Mini 1018i - although available in the US with prices starting at $299, I’m not really a fan of Dell 10 inchers, as I (and many others, based on reviews) consider them overpriced and overall poor built. They do have two advantages though: can be configured to your own preferences on Dell’s US site and benefit from Dell’s extensive support and services chain available in the States, just in case something goes wrong with them.
• HP Mini 210 – the Mini 210 is actually a pretty good netbook and is available in the US. However, I find HP’s netbooks to pricey to actually recommend them. For instance, for $329 you can only get the single core N455 processor, black finish and a small battery, while all the devices listed above offer more for a smaller price. You do get to pick your own config on HP’s official site if you’re living in the US, but expect to pay 10-20% extra for one of those configured 210s. And that’s just no worth it in my eyes.

There are other good picks on netbooks as well

Of course, being able to configure your own mini laptop can make them much more versatile. You can equip them with dual-core processors, HD 10 inch display, more memory and faster hard-drives, plus bundle them with extended warranty and software. But these can easily get prices for these above 500 bucks. And who would actually pay that much for a netbook when you can get way better and still portable devices in the 11.6 and 12 inch classes?

Conclusions

That’s about it for now. These are at the moment the best options for quality 10 inch netbooks and mini notebooks. As you can see, there are cheaper and more expensive versions, matte or glossy ones and many color options, so theoretically there’s something for everyone’s taste in here.

Still, this list will suffer changes in time, as new and better devices will enter the market. Thus, don’t forget to check it out from time to time I’f you looking to get a 10 inch mini laptop in the near future.

I can’t recommend any particular device as they are all good, but if you need help and info on any particular models and situations, don’t hesitate to leave a comment or contact my be email. I’ll be glad to help you.

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You heard it right, the MeMo ME370T is set to be the world’s first ever 7-inch tablet to feature a Tegra 3 chipset. That means all the power you could ever imagine on such a tiny slate and probably more and it means that you can play games, HD video clips, you can surf the web and you can do pretty much anything you want at the flick of a switch.

Sporting a 7-inch IPS panel with 1280 x 800 pixels resolution, the Asus Eee Pad MeMo 370T is set to rock the tablet world as we knew it so far with a very competitive price. According to rumors (with emphasis on ‘’rumors), the 7-incher might go for as less as 249 bucks in Q2 of 2012, when it should be made available in the US.

Nvidia Tegra 3 on a 7-incher? That's badass, man, badass!

That’s pretty darn affordable, if you ask me, especially taking into consideration the other features known so far, which include an optional capacitive pen stylus, the running of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box, an 8MPx rear-facing shooter with auto focus and 1080p recording capabilities, a 1.2 MPx front-facing camera, as well as WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, a microUSB port, a microSD card slot and microHDMI.

As far as internal storage space goes, the Asus MeMo 370T will come in the already classic two versions, with 16 and 32 GB of on-board memory, while the battery should be able to run for up to eight and a half hours between charges.

A nice rubbery finish on the back, a great rear-facing camera and this tablet looks like a winner already!

All in all, the Asus Eee Pad MeMo 370T looks pretty great on paper, providing power like you never saw it coming, a strong battery, all the ports you could wish for and a pen stylus. Oh, right, and the 7-incher is pretty slim and attractive too, measuring a mere 0.5 inches thick and having some nice curves along with a couple of straightforward lines on its body.

I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty excited to see this little beast in action, which is why I viewed this following hands-on preview from Las Vegas at least three times already. Oh, heck, I’ll see it one more time alongside you just for kicks:

Via TabletBite.com

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Until we saw it at the 2012 CES in Las Vegas and were promised by the guys at Asus that we will in fact see the tablet launched this year. More exactly tablets, because there are two Eee Pad MeMos after all and more exactly in Q2 of 2012, meaning sometime between April and June.

The first of the MeMo line-up, the ME171, will run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and will offer plenty of raw power under its hood. No, it doesn’t feature an Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor, nor a Tegra 2 dual-core chip, but the next best thing, a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8260 clocked at 1.2 GHz.

The Eee Pad MeMo is finally official and ready to hit the market.

There’s also 1 GB of RAM and all in all this 7-incher should perform well in both gaming and multimedia playing. The Asus Eee Pad Memo ME171 will sport a pretty nice screen as well, measuring 7 inches in diagonal and featuring a 1280 x 800 pixels resolution.

Other features include dual cameras (a 5 MPx rear-facing shooter with LED flash and 1080p HD video capabilities and a 1.2 MPx front-facing webcam), as well as a large 4,400 mAh battery, reportedly capable of up to eight and a half hours of autonomy.

Not too shabby, if you ask me, and the Asus Eee Pad MeMo ME171 should also come with the works in terms of ports and connectivity, including a microUSB connector, microHDMI, a microSD card slot, Wireless, Bluetooth and optional 3G.

Sexy, sexy, sexy, that's how this 7-incher could be described in three words!

The 7-incher’s design is yet another one of its strongest points, as well as the capacitive pen stylus, which could be optional, but might just be integrated into the ME171’s final price.

And talking about pricing, we know nothing official right now, which means that we can only wait and see what Asus has in store for us… What do you think, does this 7-incher look like an appealing tablet? And if so, how much money would you be willing to pay for this latest Asus gadget?

For a closer look at the Asus Eee Pad MeMo ME171, check out this following hands-on preview from Las Vegas, brought to you by our good friends from TabletBite.com:

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First off, we have the Asus 1025C, packing a 1.66 GHz Cedar Trail N2600 dual-core processor and featuring 1 GB of RAM. That won’t offer exactly the gaming experience of a lifetime, but then again if you need a computer for video games and HD content, the 10-inch netbook market niche should definitely not be your target.

The Asus 1025C sports a 10.1-inch screen with 1024 x 600 pixels resolution and, while we aren’t that surprised by this display in question, we won’t hide the fact that we’re a bit disappointed by it. Other features include a 320 GB HDD, three USB 2.0 ports, WiFi, Ethernet, HDMI and an 0.3 MPx webcam.

The Asus 1025C looks pretty decent and will feature some nice tech specs as well.

In terms of design, this netbook is pretty sleek and slim, weighing in at just 2.7 pounds and measuring 1.3-inches thick. That’s not exactly ultrabook material right now, but it’s pretty darn close and should be easy to carry around. We should also mention that the netbook will be made available in no less than five different models, in gray, blue, red, pink and black.

The Asus 1025C is set to feature a 56 Wh battery, capable of an estimated autonomy of up to ten hours (not bad, not bad at all!) and will hit the market in a few short weeks for 299 dollars.

The second 10-inch netbook from Asus you can check out from the hands-on video below is the X101CH, featuring pretty much the same specs as the 1025C, including the N2600 dual-core processor, 1 GB of RAM and all those ports and connectivity options.

The X101CH is lighter, cheaper, but comes with a poorer battery.

The Asus X101CH will also sport a 10.1-inch screen with 1024 x 600 pixels resolution, but will in fact be a tad lighter and thinner than its sibling. On the other hand, that six ounces difference in weight is due to the using of a smaller, three-cell battery, only capable of up to four hours of autonomy.

As the Asus 1025C, the X101CH will be up for sale starting next month and will only cost 269 bucks, which is quite decent, if not more affordable than we had hoped.

Don’t forget to check out this short hands-on video of the two 10-inchers from Asus, brought to you exclusively by the guys at netbooklive.com:

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The design is one of this laptop’s strongest points and the aluminum case makes this 12-incher look nice and solid. The keyboard/trackpad combo is another thing the 1225C has going for it, providing comfort while looking stylish and fashionable.

In terms of hardware and performance, you should expect a pretty snappy overall computing machine, giving the fact that the Asus Eee PC 1225C will be powered by a dual-core 1.6 GHz Intel Atom Cedar Trail processor. There’s also 2 GB of RAM, integrated HD graphics and an HDD with either 250 GB or 500 GB of storage, depending on your needs and the exact model you will go for.

The Asus 1225C features a very nice design, as well as an elegant and functional keyboard.

The 12-inch screen sported by the 1225C should be pretty capable too, featuring a 1366 x 768 pixels display. While it’s not ideal for playing full HD 1080p clips, you should easily run 720p clips, which I would expect to be enough for the target customers of such a netbook.

As for the ports and connectivity, Asus hasn’t disappointed us, coming with all the basics, including HDMI, USB 3.0, an SD card reader, Bluetooth 3.0 and WiFi. The operating system of choice is of course Windows 7 Home Premium and there’s also a low-res 0.3 MPx webcam on the device’s front.

Pretty aerodynamic and slim, isn't it?

No pricing details have been announced just yet, but we should find out something sooner or later, because the Asus 1225C is set to be made available in the US, as in other markets, in the second quarter of 2012, according to official statements.

Here’s a short hands-on video of the 12-incher as well, brought to you straight from Las Vegas by the guys at Netbooklive.com:

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That’s all smoke and mirrors, folks, as the power and versatility of a Flare doesn’t match the one on a Zenbook. But still, it’s nice that Asus gives it a try. The Flare line is apparently based on a couple of designs Asus introduced during last year’s Computex, so the Flare is in a way the replacement line of the current bunch of netbooks the Asian company has to offer. After all, it was about time that Seashell netbooks would be called back to their hangars.

At a first glance, Flares are indeed nice, with low profile hinges and an overall slimmer design than previous netbooks, while the ports seasoning won’t have to suffer because of the limited available space- you’ll still get all the normal ports and connectivity options you’re used with from previous Asus netbooks.

Flare netbooks from Asus are slim and pack chiclet keyboards

As for hardware, the Flare line will come either with Intel Cedar Trail chips or AMD Fusion APUs, probably the newer C-60 and E-450 entries. So expect a boost in performance in comparison with current netbooks, but nothing too spectacular, mind.

Software is Windows 7 as usual, with more solid hardware configured versions probably packing Home of Professional, while the rest might have to settle for Starter. As I see it, Flares are here only to keep netbooks alive and kicking a little longer, until some sort of revolutionary design or hardware gimmick will come and save the slowly decaying netbook niche.

With tablets turning better and better thanks mainly to Nvidia’s Tegra 3 platform and whatever Apple is using for the iPad series, and Ultrabooks probably getting cheaper in 2012, it’s tough for our little, cheap, plastic netbooks to keep afloat. Let’s keep the good spirits and wait for CES and play a little with Flares- maybe we’ll be properly entertained!

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