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ShareAsus EEE PC 1000HE
USP: Sturdy build, long battery life
The 1000HE feels bulky compared to others, but is the sturdiest of the lot. The screen shows minimal reflections, but it is dimmer than the rest.
The netbook has a chiclet keyboard which leaves more space between the keys. But this reduces the size of the keys. But we didn't make many typos. The Elantech touchpad means you can scroll up and down by sliding two fingers on it.
The 1000HE is powered by the newer processor in the Atom series, the N280. According to Intel, the processor has better power management. This is where the 1000HE really shines. Asus claims the larger battery on this device can keep it running for 9.5 hours.
Samsung NC 10
USP: Great looks, good battery life
Samsung combines elegance and functionality. The netbook is robust, and better designed thanAsus. The netbook we received was navy blue with a glossy finish.
Samsung also has the best screen in the group. The 10inch screen was the brightest of the lot with minimum reflections and reproduced colours perfectly.
The keyboard too was one of the finest. Only the HP Mini 1000 rivals it. The raised keys are big making it very easy to type. The touchpad is a tad smaller than the rest.
The standout feature for the Samsung netbook -- like Asus -- is the battery life. It delivered almost 6 hours on a single charge.
Dell Inspiron Mini 12
USP: Bigger screen, great looks
The Mini 12's bigger size lends Dell some advantages: you can view webpages without having to horizontally scroll.
Dell also has more room to play around with in the keyboard. The keys are the largest. The touchpad, however, has a rough texture which is very irritating to use.
The well-designed Inspiron Mini 12 can certainly hold its own even in a conference room. And the Mini 12 also feels robust despite its thinness. It is also the quietest of the lot and heats up less than the others.
The Mini 12 has a good configuration which is spoilt by a measly 80GB hard-disk -- a big letdown on a well-perfoming netbook.
Acer Aspire One d250
USP: sturdy construction
Acer's Aspire One d250 comes second after Asus in terms of build quality but is better designed than Asus. Yet it doesn't compare to Samsung and HP in style. The test piece we got was red and we don't recommend it.
The screen is dimmer than the rest and also quite reflective, making it difficult to view it outdoors. Colour representation was fine though.
Acer's keys are the smallest in our comparison yet tactile. The keyboard is well constructed. There were no glitches while using this one and all the basic apps ran smoothly.
But it disappointed a bit with battery life -- the 3-cell battery lasts about 3 hours and the 6-cell battery about 5 hours on one charge.
HP Mini 110
USP: excellent design
The HP Mini 1000 is the most stylish of all. It's thin and the battery that juts out props the netbook up at a convenient angle to type. But it feels more delicate than the rest.
The Mini 110's 10-inch screen renders a crisp display with bright colours.
The keyboard is its stand-out feature. The keys are larger but the touchpad is a letdown. The left and right click buttons are placed on either side of the touchpad -- instead of below, making it difficult to use.
Mini 110 comes with a 160GB hard-disk, unlike its predecessor which had only 60GB.
The HP Mini's battery life is poor. The 3-cell lithium ion battery lasts for around 3.5 hours.
