Small Laptops
There was a time when even the most basic computer filled an entire room and weighed over a ton. Luckily for us, technology moved on and 50 years later and the ‘laptop’ as we know it emerged on the market. Initially, the price was so high that only large companies and the rich could ever hope to own one. Over the years, Laptops got faster, lighter and less expensive for the average consumer, but only in the last half a decade have any significant changes been made to the basic laptop shape and size.This new form of ‘small laptop’ combines the power of a regular sized ‘notebook’ laptop with the added portability of even smaller devices such a Palmtops, PDAs and the newer range of cellphones.
However, with this new technology comes a whole host of decisions for the consumer. How much power do you need from a portable device? Do you need a keyboard? How much battery power will you require? How heavy is the system? The list goes on. When it comes to choosing a portable device everything from design quality to operating system needs to be considered, especially when you’re handing over a large sum of cash for the privilege!
To help with your decision, we’ve taken a look at some of the best small laptops out today, reviewing their features and discovering which provide the best overall set of features, value and portability.
ASUS EEE PC 1000H
Screen Size: 10”Battery Life: 5 hours
Operating System: Windows XP
Weight: 3.2lbs
ASUS’ EEE PC range was a key playing in the birth of small laptops only a few years ago. Early models were limited by their small solid state drives and reliance on using Linux as the primary OS to keep the price down. Initially, the EEE PC was designed with only the most casual users in mind, but a shift to Windows XP as well as a full upgrade of just about every aspect of the old model has seen the 1000H bring Asus back to the forefront of the small laptop market.
Technical specs of the laptop include a 10 inch screen with integrated 1.3 MP webcam, Intel Atom CPU and a 160GB hard drive, all powered by a 6-cell battery.
One of the bigger criticisms of the old EEE PC range was that at seven inches, the screen was just too small to effectively display web pages and other forms of content that are increasingly designed for large, widescreen displays. Further problems relating to size included the keyboard being too small for fast typers with large hands to keep up their natural speed on the system.
The 1000H has changed that. Yes, it's still at the lower of what most consumers would consider a small laptop, but the jump to 10" has increased usability tenfold. It allows users to not only take full advantage of the sharp and vibrant LCD display but also keep their typing speeds up by a much more spaced out and sensibly designed keyboard. Even the touchpad has been improved and made more ergonomic and responsive.
It's the little features that make the 1000H stand out on the cutting edge of small laptops. The "Super Hybrid Engine" technology allows you to switch between 3 different CPU speeds which enhance the systems portability. Writing a word document? Set your CPU speed to 1.2 GHz and save battery life. Watching a video file? Set your CPU speed to maximum and take full advantage of the Intel Atom's speed.
Add to this an integrated card reader, webcam, free office suite and even a button above the keyboard that can change your resolution and you have a very complete hardware package. As small laptops go, battery life is slight above average performing for about 4.5-5 hours under heavy load. It's advertised at 7 hours, although it’s unlikely you'll get close to that unless you leave the laptop on idle.
With prices ranging between $400 and $600 depending on your technical requirements, the N1000 is one of the best deals amongst all the small laptops. It doesn't specialise in anything particular and its battery life might be a letdown for some, but its budget price tag and attractive arrange of features make it a front line contender for casual users.
HP Mini 1000
Screen Size: 8.9” / 10.2”Battery Life: 3 hours
Operating System: Windows XP / Linux (Ubuntu)
Weight: 2.5lbs
HP’s last small laptop offering was the 2133. It was an interesting attempt at the market with an excellent control interface and keyboard. Unfortunately, use of a budget processor and a high price range meant the system couldn’t quite cut it amongst its competitors at the time. The Mini 1000 is HP’s consumer answer to the 2133, lifting the excellent keyboard straight from the business model while upgrading the CPU to the much more powerful Intel Atom.
The Mini 1000 runs on Windows XP, uses a 1.6 Ghz Intel Atom processor and comes with 1Gb or 2Gb memory options as standard. Nine or ten inch screens are available depending on preference and price range, and everything is powered by a standard 3-cell battery. The 'Mini' version of the range runs Windows XP but the 'Mi' runs Ubuntu Linux complete with proprietary HP media software. Hard drive options include a spinning 60GB drive or an 8/16GB solid state solution.
Like most HP machines, the 1000 stands out in the small laptop market for both its stylish design and light weight form factor. HP thankfully swapped out the metal chassis from the 2133 with plastic - it looks cheaper, sure, but you also save money and in weight in the swap. The laptop remains attractive once opened with an excellent use of the limited space on offer.
The amazing thing about the Mini 1000 and the thing that many people considering purchasing a small notebook should consider is the size of the keyboard. HP claim the keyboard on the 1000 is 92% of the size of a regular laptop keyboard. That's quite an achievement, and in terms of typing if nothing else, the 1000 is the best in the market. This makes the HP product perfect for people who have had a bad experience with key mashing or pain when using other small laptop keyboards.
The 10 inch display model offers the standard 1024x600 resolution seen in many small laptops. As with much of HP's laptop range, the screen is covered in gloss which makes the display look fantastic - inside. Outside on a sunny day you'll be constantly trying to adjust the screen to avoid reflection, a shame considering it does limit the portability of the device somewhat.
The only thing that lets the 1000 down slightly is the rather confusing decisions HP has made with the systems ports. The 1000 has 2 USB ports and only one port for audio. There's actually plenty of room for the extra ports but HP has decided to use the space for a proprietary system called 'Mini mobile drive'. Mini mobile drive is nothing more than a high capacity memory stick that you can only buy from HP, and we can't see any reason why most small laptop users would ever find a use for one.
The Mini 1000 retails from $500 depending on your options with the 'designer' Vivienne Tam edition selling for a ridiculously high $700+. We recommend grabbing the Windows XP 'Mini' range over the 'Mi' as the extra money you have to spend on Windows gives you so much more software options. An extend battery might also be on the cards for some users as the 1000 uses a 3-cell system that will only last around 2.5 hours under heavy use.
Sony VAIO VGN-P588E Lifestyle PC
Screen Size: 8”Battery Life: 2.5 Hours
Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium
Weight: 1.4lbs
Wow, that's a bit of a mouthful, isn't it? It's a rather pretentious name for what is essentially just another small laptop, but then the Vaio range has always been one for style and design following just behind apple in desirability ratings. It’s popular amongst people with the disposable income to afford to pay for the brand as well as the components.
And there's no denying that the P5's design is excellent. It's stylish without being loud. It’s thin and elegant. It looks like no other small laptop on the market, so if you're after some visual originality, the P5 has to be right up there with anything Apple can offer. It comes with a price tag to match the design however, weighing in it over a thousand dollars.
The Sony model opts for an 8 inch widescreen display, offering a resolution of 1,600 x 768, slightly different from the usual notebook standard. In fact, it's one of the best resolutions around for a system of its size and because the screen is so wide, there’s far less chance you'll have to worry about scrolling.
Sony's small laptop is also unusual in its decision to use a pointing stick rather than a touch pad to save space. Some people really dislike pointing sticks and find them slow and difficult to use, while others actually prefer them to a touchpad.. The keyboard is adequate and doesn't have any major faults, though as one of the smaller laptops in this list the lack of space does making typing quite a challenge for those with big hands.
One rather confusing design decision was the move to Windows Vista as opposed to more lightweight systems like Linux or XP. The P5 comes equipped with 2GB of ram, but where better operating systems would fly Vista feels slow and cumbersome. It's important to weigh in the resource load of the operating system when directly comparing system technical specifications. Of course, the eye catching design of Vista fits very well into the P5’s own visual attractiveness.
Extra features are what make the P5 stand out amongst cheaper competitors. It has .11n wireless which is faster than standard, GPS, Bluetooth and even integrated mobile broadband. This makes it highly connectable which is a massive bonus for a portable device. Combine this with its weight and fact it's less than inch thick and it's one of the best devices out there in terms of pure portability.
The battery life of the laptop is the only crutch on portability, offering just over 2 hours under heavy use. You could probably get more out of the system by swapping to a less battery draining operating system. Sony also offers a larger capacity battery that nearly doubles the life of the system, but it does stick out of the P5 and it costs another $100 on top of the already heavy price tag.
Asus N10J-A1
Screen Size: 10.2”Battery Life: 4 Hours
Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium / Windows XP
Weight: 3.5lbs
On the surface the N10J looks like just about every other small laptop around. It's not got any particular design features that stand out; it runs a similar chip, OS and ram options. It's small, lightweight and portable. What really makes the N10J stand apart from its competition is on the inside: a dedicated 3D graphics chip.
Gamers have always had to sacrifice a lot when they move to portable systems. Firstly, a laptop is always more expensive than the equivalent desktop system. Secondly, upgrading is more difficult. Thirdly, heat from a separate graphics card can be a major issue. That doesn't mean there isn't any practical use or market for the world of small laptops to get in on the gaming action however, providing you are realistic about the systems abilities.
The dedicated graphics chip is a relatively powerful GeForce 9300. The genius of the system is that it also has integrated graphics, so when you're not gaming you can turn off the high powered graphics and save massive amounts of battery life. Other features are fairly standard such the Atom CPU and 160GB hard drive. The screen weighs in at 10", large than most small laptops but a good compromise for gaming. Unfortunately games aren't designed with small laptops in mind, and you'll find yourself limited by the awkward 1024x600 resolution.
Connectivity is good with Bluetooth included as standard. There's also a DVI port which is another first in the small laptop market and an excellent addition considering that the N10J is all about graphical ability. Don't forget that plugging the system into a larger monitor and trying to run games at that monitors resolution is unlikely to gain any decent results. The graphic card isn't designed to cope with the resolution of every day monitors.
The system runs on Windows XP though a Linux powered quick launch environment is available from boot. This gives you access to both a web browser and a media player, handy for quick use or times when battery life is a high priority.
XP is by far the best choice for a portable operating system that focused on gaming, and it works well with the GeForce card. Gaming performance isn't exactly cutting edge, but you shouldn't expect it to be for a system weighing around 3 pounds. What it does offer is a device that’s more than capable of playing popular games like The Sims and World of Warcraft out of the box. A basic rule of thumb is that most games over 3 years old will work great on the N10J. Anything newer will be hit or miss and the newest games simply won’t run.
Thanks to the switch which turns off the high powered graphics card and a trademark ASUS 6-cell battery offering, the systems battery life is very good. For people that really can't leave PC gaming behind when they have to leave the house, it's pretty much the only option in the small laptop world right now. Luckily, it's a good one.
Samsung NC10
Screen Size: 10.2”Battery Life: 5 Hours
Operating System: Windows XP
Weight: 2.8lbs
Samsungs entry to the market is the exact opposite of some of the niche systems we've already run through, sharing more in common with the EEE PC line - it's powerful, small and focuses on doing simple tasks as well as possible. Thanks to this focus on simplicity, the NC10 remains an excellent contender despite doing nothing 'special'.
The Samsungs design is piratical and uses a 10" screen. From the outside it looks like the epitome of a standard small laptop. It's not stylish but nor is it over-the-top, and it could easily be mistaken for just about every other non-descript small laptop on the market.
One of the ways the NC10 does differ from other models is that there are no options in terms of changing any of the specifications. There's no Linux version, no different CPU speeds, no option for a solid state drive. It offers a standard Intel Atom N270 configuration running at 1.6 GHz, 1GB of ram and a 160GB hard drive.
Control on the system is hit and miss. The 10" size has made the keyboard large and easy to use even if it's not the best on offer. However, the touchpad is awkwardly placed and oddly unresponsive. Worse still, Samsung have taken the rather odd design decision to make a 'widescreen' style touchpad which makes vertical scrolling a somewhat ardous task.
The systems Matte display runs at the 1024x600 and looks appealing and crisp, although it would be hard to differentiate between the NC10 and offerings from ASUS or Dell in terms of pure screen quality. Sound offers a similar 'adequate' quality without providing any real power. The integrated 1.3MP webcam however does stand out as one of the best in the world of small laptops and combined with a decent microphone it's a great system for talking to friends over the net.
Battery life is one of the few absolute standouts of the NC10, featuring a 6-cell standard battery that even beats out contenders like the EEE PC. Depending on the tasks and the brightness of the screen, the system can last for around 5 hours. The NC10 is also priced perfectly; at around $450-$500 - slightly cheaper than many of its direct competition.
HP Pavilion Dv2
Screen Size: 12.1”Battery Life: 3 Hours
Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium
Weight: 3.8lbs
With an impressive technical list that sounds more like a regular sized laptop but a small form factor and light weight to rival a small laptop, the DV2 is HP's answer to the problem of size vs. power. For many people who are turned off by the idea of small laptops, it could well be the solution if you are looking for a system capable of demanding tasks that won’t break the bank or your back.
A standard Dv2 features some pretty nice specifications for its form factor, far in advance of anything seen amongst the 10" netbooks. The standard Intel Atom processor is replaced by a similar speed Athlon Neo, 4GB ram and ATI Mobility HD 3410 graphics. Unlike most small laptops, the system runs on a 64 bit version of Windows Vista. It also features all the usual standard options of a regular 14" laptop such as DVD-RW drive and a 320GB hard drive. There's plenty of room for manoeuvrability and customisation in the design although obviously things can get quite expensive with the higher-end options.
The DV2 is a departure in design for HP moving away from the standard pavilion look and feel. This could be seen as a bad thing considering pavilion range is well known for its excellent design. Luckily everything feels just as smooth and compact as ever. Some things haven't changed though, the DV2 offers the same catch less design as other trademark HP laptops. Intelligently, the 6-cell battery is actually hidden at the back as a hinge for the screen.
The keyboard is standard laptop size and with the exception of the fiddly function keys, very easy and comfortable to use even for extremely long periods of time. Even people with bigger hands should have no problem at all with the keys which feel solid and responsive. The touchpad is equally well designed although its reflective surface feels a little slippery when compared to some other models.
As with most models in the pavilion range, the screen is absolutely excellent with sunlight reflection and a limited viewing angle being the only concerns. For the most part, the glossy screen and it's 1280x800 resolution are perfect for everyday use.
For connectivity Wi-Fi and Ethernet are supported as standard as well as three USB ports, similar to what you'll find on a well fitted small laptop. There's also an external HDMI to complement the VGA port, great for people interested in connecting the laptop up to a TV that doesn't support VGA. For extra battery life, wireless is controllable via a switch on the side of the system.
The overall speed of the system is let down slightly by a single core CPU that the 4GB of ram can't compensate for, even on a 64bit operating system. Comparing it to the same speed Intel Atom however the Athlon processor is considerably faster. As far as overall performance is concerned, the Dv2 falls into the useful category of being faster than a netbook but not quite as fully featured as a similar priced full sized laptop.
The 512MB graphics card also makes the Dv2 a good choice for gamers, with the system easily capable of running fairly modem games such as Bioshock on medium-low settings on the Dv2’s native resolution. Price wise, the system will set you back around $750-$800, depending on options. It's an excellent deal if you need to combine portability with power and other small laptops simply don't offer enough for you.
Apple Macbook Air
Screen Size: 13.3”Battery Life: 2.5 Hours
Operating System: Mac OS X
Weight: 4.5lbs
The Air is alone on this list for being a small laptop of slightly different dimensions. It's actually a 13" system making it the biggest we've looked at so far. What makes it still qualify as a small laptop? It's incredibly thin and light, ideal for people that travel often. You may well have seen the high profile Mac adverts which involve putting the laptop into envelopes and other such small spaces. It's also incredibly sexy compared to just about every other 13" laptop around. Do the looks justify the price, though?
The 13" screen on the Air is a real head turner. Combined with its full sized and spacious keyboard it's got none of the problems of mistyped words or lack of screen real estate as many of its competitors do. It's also uses an Intel Core 2 Duo rather than the much slower Atom CPUs used in other small laptops.
The Air has been hailed by Apple as a 'no compromise' portable machine, although it's clear that have been a fair amount of compromises in apples quest to provide a 13" system that isn't much more difficult to carry around than a standard netbook. Power will be definite issue for some with the laptop lasting just over 2 hours on heavy use. Luckily, the power adapter doesn't add much more weight to the laptop. Providing you aren't going to be away from a power source for long it's fine. It does limit the systems portability somewhat though.
There's also rather limited audio capacity, awkward USB ports and no DVD drive. Netbooks might not include DVD drives either but it's worth noting that an equivalent netbook would be far, far cheaper than that Air. Shortcomings aside however, what most people are looking for in the Air isn't a long list of technical specifications - they're looking for a Mac that offers them a similar level of functionality as the rest of the small laptop world but with software they are familiar with.
The Air uses Leopard as its primary operating system and it's just as usable and attractive as it is on a full size Mac. There are no significant changes to the system except for a gesture based control system using the Air's generously sized touch pad. The gestures allow you to move your hand in a certain way to complete a task and could save a lot of time once you've properly learned them all. Also included is a 'remote disk' application which allows you to use a limited form of DVD sharing from a host computer. This is a good option for those not willing to pay the extra $100 for the DVD drive attachment. The software is intelligent and useful for installing applications or reinstalling the operating system, but it can’t be used for streaming content like DVD movies.
The best and worst thing you can say about the Air is simple; it's a Mac. Most people will instantly love or hate the machine just because of this. Its price and hardware offer little to make PC fans consider the Air as an option. However, its sleek design and use of Leopard as its primary operating system will entice Mac users who are looking for a more portable option the larger and heavier Macbook Pro range. Prices range from $1400 - $2000 depending on the model.
Lenovo IdeaPad U110
Screen Size: 11.1”Battery Life: 3 Hours / 1.5 Hours (depending on battery)
Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium
Weight: 2.42lbs / 2.92lbs
The Lenovo is perhaps the PC world's answer to the Macbook Air. It's incredibly stylish, thin and lightweight. Its 11" screen strikes a good balance between screen size and weight. Its size makes the system one of the smallest 'ultrathin' laptops, only an inch bigger than the larger netbooks. Despite weighing only 3.1 pounds with its 4-cell battery included, the U110 is one of the most sturdy feeling machines around thanks to its aluminium cover and case.
With the size comes an interesting 1366x768 native resolution which allows the laptop to fit an impressive amount of onto its small screen. The display is sharp and bright. Unfortunately the screen is very reflective much like many of its competitors, so while it looks great at the right angle, it's far from ideal for using in direct sunlight. 1,366 is also a high resolution for an 11" screen so everything appears quite a bit considerably smaller than you might be used to on other small laptops. Despite all this, the overall design and clarity of the screen make up for any real shortcomings of the system.
The Lenovo’s option to use a low-voltage version of Intel’s trademark Core 2 Duo chip means the system isn't as fast as some of its competitors, but it still outweighs netbooks by a long way. This is quite an impressive feat considering the size of the system which manages to run Vista with very few problems. There's also plenty of connectivity on the U1110 with three USB ports, mini firewire and an express card slot. The only major drawback on the connectivity side is the same as those faced by Macbook Air users - no internal DVD drive. The difference with the Lenovo is that a DVD drive is provided within the cost of the system rather than as a separate accessory.
Battery life on the U1110 is quite unique. The Lenovo actually ships with two batteries, a lightweight 4-cell and a heavier but much longer lasting 7-cell. The larger battery lasts a full 3 hours but the 4-cell only manages around 1.5 on heavy load. The difference between the two batteries means you are likely to find yourself using the 7-cell far more often. However, it's an excellent design decision to give the user some choice when it comes to how heavy the system is.
There's not a lot of choice outside the world of batteries however, the U110 comes in a single configuration with all the advantages and drawbacks that brings. Finding drivers for the system is much easier because there’s only one set of hardware but it means you can't include many of the higher-end options you might see on many of the systems competitors. There's no option to replace the 120GB spinning drive with a solid state alternative for example.
The Lenovo weighs in at around $1300 and there are some options to upgrade the 2GB ram higher if you find the right store. The Lenovo is a system that takes the great looks of the Macbook Air and hands it to Windows users for nearly half the price. However, the lack of DVD drive and use of a slower Intel chip make it slightly less functional than a larger more complete system.
Dell Latitude E4200
Screen Size: 12.1”Battery Life: 4 Hours
Operating System: Windows XP / Windows Vista Home Basic / Windows Vista Business
Weight: 2.2lbs
Dell has recently released an incredibly lightweight and portable system named the Adamo, which boasts some fairly impressive design detail and interesting specifications. The reason it isn't in this list is because it's priced ridiculously high even for a small laptop. For those looking towards Dell, the latitude remains as ever the best choice between value and performance, and the E4200 is no different.
The E4200 is slightly more of a professional system than some of the others we've looked at, and this ethos is echoed in the systems design. It's bold, practical and refreshingly angular in a world that's obsessed with curves. It's also one of the most solid systems we've seen and at 12" this is quite an accomplishment. It may not hold up to companies like Lenovo, Sony or Apple when it comes to style, but it's not ugly either. The only stumbling point some people may have is that the systems 6-cell battery sticks out from the back of the system quite a long way. It sounds worse than it looks, though!
For a 12" laptop it's quite surprising to not see an optical drive installed, and the options provided by Dell are expensive and not including in the base price of the system, which will be a turn off to some. There's also no integrated webcam which is a standard for most small laptops released today, although perhaps not a necessity for most users. It's an interesting thing to exclude considering the business focus of the E4200, but a webcam wouldn't have fit amongst the bezel on the top of the system.
The E4200 features a high quality full sized laptop keyboard and a responsive touchpad, not surprising considering solid and tactile controls have become a trademark of the modern Latitude range. The system is very configurable so if you want to save money by removing features such as mobile broadband you've got the option.
One of the more unique features of the E4200 is its secondary OS. Yes, it’s not uncommon in small laptops, but it's usually reserved for the much smaller netbooks and it's refreshing to the see the OS in a larger system. Much like most instant-boot secondary systems, Dell's 'Latitude ON Reader' provides a much longer battery life than Vista could hope for while giving users quick access to the internet, instant messaging and document viewing.
Battery life on the system manages around 4 hours on heavy load, quite an impressive result considering the size and brightness of the screen. The SSD only drive makes the system speedy even using a comparatively slow 1.4 GHz CoreDuo CPU. Combined with its sturdy design and excellent software options the E4200 is a stunning choice, provided you can live without a DVD drive. Prices range from $1000 - $2000 depending on the wide variety of options available.
Sony VAIO VGN-TZ11MN
Screen Size: 11.1”Battery Life: 5-6 Hours
Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium
Weight: 2.6lbs
Sony's offering to the world of ultrathin laptops isn't quite as visually attractive or unique as their 'netbook' offering but it's one of the best out there in terms of overall features including one of the most commonly excluded features on most small laptops: a fully capable DVD drive.
The design on the TZ1 isn't exactly ugly; it just doesn't stand out amongst its competitors in the way people who are familiar with the Vaio brand might be used to. One of its more unique design features is the keyboard, which features spaced out keys similar to those seen the Macbook. This style was actually first created by Sony themselves nearly five years ago. It's not a bad keyboard although many people find the spacing between keys more annoying than practical.
The 11" screen is without doubt one of the best around, running in a 1366 x 768 resolution which is commonly seen in HDTV. This makes it the only system in the list to achieve a real 16:9 ratio making it perfect for watching films. And of course, watching DVD movies is something you can actually do with ease on the TZ1 compared to the vast majority of competitors that offer, at best, an external DVD drive option. In fact Sony goes a step further and provides DVD and CD playback on the system without even having to boot up windows, saving considerable battery life on a task that's well known for quickly draining power.
The system boasts full AV media controls as well as Firewire and 2 USB ports. There’s integrated Bluetooth support but despite an express card slot, there's no integrated mobile broadband support.
The Core 2 Duo that powers the system runs at 1.06 GHz per core and provides enough juice to sufficiently power the system although it’s slightly slower compared to some of the newer small laptops on this list. However, base installs are let down by including only 1 GB of ram, not enough to run Vista without slowdown. Luckily the machine supports up to 2 GB and most stores are selling the system as such. Despite Vista, machine battery life is excellent giving about 6 hours of power under heavy usage.
An amazing screen and internal DVD drive set the VAIO apart from its competitors, so if you need a small laptop that's capable for business use but also performs well as a media system, the TZ1 could be a very good choice. The TZ1 is one of the older systems on our list so prices have fallen since launch, averaging at around $1600.
Conclusion:
As we've seen already there are two major problems in the world of small laptops. Firstly, to make them as small and portable as possible features are eventually axed, be it DVD drives or faster CPU speeds. Secondly, the price of components makes many small laptops a particular sticking point for many, especially during a recession.
Luckily the market has expanded considerably in the last few years giving consumers not only an excellent array of different sizes and styles of laptops but also a massive variation in budget, from as low as $300 to as high as $2,000. People might argue over the system we have or haven’t included in our list but one thing is for sure: there has never been a better time to take the leap into portable computing than right now.
40 yorum:
Wow! I never knew that the earlier versions of my Asus EEE PC 1000H is somehow not up to par. I love small laptops; I'm always on the go and, man, the portability and power that this wicked 1000H gives me, amazing. But, I guess I'm thankful I never got the earlier version though. I could not use Linux and the small keyboard could have driven me nuts also. As to the battery life though, yeah, I agree with what the author said above. You could only desire the 7 hours even if you use the slower CPU speed. Over all experience, still awesome! Now let me browse the rest of the list as I'm always looking for new small laptop to sport.
I was browsing for laptops when I saw your list of the latest small laptops… thank you. I’ll be buying my first laptop in a couple of days but I'm still not decided about what brand or specs to get. My needs are pretty simple: browsing the web, twitter, edit some documents, and maybe watch some videos. I'd be more than happy if a small laptop could handle photo/video editing – but then again I always have my desktop to do the dirty jobs. Portability is my main concern here but it has to have at least XP OS. Since I could only dream of affording a Mac for now, I got my eyes on Samsung NC10. What do you think guys? Any comment?
Looking at those small laptops, it's amazing how they could come so small like that. I still remember our old desktop that runs on MS DOS… yeah, MS DOS, can you imagine? Oh well, we were lucky my brother and I back then. We sharpened our typing speed playing typing games I can't even remember what… laughs. But that was pretty much all it can do. Except my father stays in front of that PC for hours punching in numbers and stuff – and then yelling at my brother and I "Lay off my floppy discs!" Now, I got my Apple Mac Air small laptop, and dad, this is so much better than our old desktop. Now my little one likes to give my Mac a whack if I'm not looking. Luckily I think it's immune to my son's blows though. I think I better get my little buddy… (Yeah, he's here beside me, as usual) his own one of these days. Let me check the prices son.
Thank God I found an almost complete list of small laptops. I was out hunting new laptops yesterday; although this is my second buy, still by no means I can be considered knowledgeable when it comes to laptops. I thought I had an idea about what to get, but with all the choices I discovered yesterday, I was even more confused than before. The list really narrowed down my choices. I never thought a small laptop could be any powerful nowadays; but heck, N10J-A1 has a pretty powerful graphics. I wonder if a powerful graphics means it can handle heavy Photoshop editing though. Moderators or anybody please answer me?
About the Sony Vaio TZ11, I don’t totally agree with what others say about its look. This small laptop doesn’t look too unappetizing to me. It's sleek and it's thin, that alone or is great catch for a pretty powerful small laptop to me. Or, could my standard for laptop aesthetics just be real low for some people's standard. But I wouldn't certainly pick those theme laptops nowadays sporting some skin art I could not figure out what. I mean, for a 2GB mem, DVD writer/reader, and Core 2 Duo family, whatever others say about its look is totally compensated with its capability. But I'd like to know which of these laptops support spec upgrade though.
I got my regular size laptop a couple of months ago, paid a lot of money for it. Now I realized I bought this laptop not really for what it can do. I mean it's pretty powerful, but I only browse the Web, open Word and Excel – not even PowerPoint, and watch DVD with it. I realized the over capacity graphic my laptop has is never used. It only gobbles up power and it made me ditch a little more money that I have to. If only I had known Asus EEE could be this powerful now, I would have gotten it. I could have more mobility with this small laptop than I had with my current one. Tsk tsk…
To ANONYMOUS asking whether a powerful graphic chip can affect Photoshop editing, yes it can. The computer specs that determine your mood when "Photoshopping" your pictures are the following: 1. CPU speed, 2. Graphic chip, 3. RAM, and 4. Screen resolution. Oh, that's your whole computer… LOL… But don’t worry, if you have budget for a small laptop like the Mac or the Lenovo above, you should be OK. I doubt if the small screen can give enough leeway to manipulate your pictures though. But, it seems you're the type of person who values mobility… what are you planning, edit your photo in an airport lounge? Just kidding!
I heard laptops are electromagnet sensitive though. I never pass my small laptop under airport metal detectors. I have it hand check by security personnel. I'm afraid to pass them to X-rays also; although I read on the Internet that X-rays are not harmful to small laptops though. I just can't take the risk. I got a small Asus EEE that has flash drive instead of a spinning HD. It runs with Linux instead of XP also. The Asus 1000H is a very nice catch for me. I mean, my needs are basically taken care of by my EEE model, how much more with 1000H. I'd like to hear comments from 1000H users here… please share your experience guys.
I have a small laptop I used when I travel. But when I'm home I let it stay in my suitcase. Don’t get me wrong, I do love my Dell Inspiron Mini but if I'm home the wide screen in my regular laptop always wins over my Mini. But my it is pretty powerful I must say. It's always the head turner if I whisk it out for a quick check of my emails at airports and cafes. Hmmm! I think I should be jealous with this thing. He gets more attention than I get. Whew!!! Is it true though that some Asus eee has a built in voice recognition? If it is, that's really taking small laptops to the next level.
Whatever kind of computer you want to get, small laptops, destop, Mac, Windows, or what have you, examine what it is really that you want to buy a computer for. Small laptops are good for mobility, there's no question about it. But when it comes to performance, a small laptop still has a lot to be desired. Although some models are keeping up, I got my eye on the Lenovo IdeaPad above. But then again if you want performance from a small laptop, be ready to ditch in more money. Examine what you will use your computer for. Don’t pay for features you really don’t need and in the same token, don’t be afraid to invest more for the right machine too.
I've been thinking about getting a tablet pc or small laptop for a while now. I was in future shop the other day looking at all the small laptops, but the guys down there are just sales guys trying to earn a commission, they don't really have a lot of useful information on them, and they couldn't help me make a decision on the right small laptop for me. Thanks for writing such a comprehensive review of the best ones out there, very helpful. I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with the Asus, but it's also interesting, as I had written off the Sony previously, but learned a couple things about it here I didn't know which made me think about it again.
Now all we need is waterproof small laptops, so we can take them swimming! With all these choices, and extremely well written reviews, it's very clear now that we're finally getting somewhere with small laptops. Soon we'll be able to send our kids to school at a young age with perfect child sized laptops that they can carry all their homework back and forth in. I have a 4 year old son who loves the computer, and would love to have his own small laptop. I think the samsung NC10 might be the better one for the little guy, what do you think?
As the world is heading towards a new era of science revolution ,the new generation has shown that they need smaller gadgets that fits into their micro world . This is applicable for laptops also. Already big giants of computers and laptops market are focusing on slimmer, stylish and smaller laptops.
As the review says Sony, Apple and Dell have already revolutionized this new small laptops. These small laptops are feature packed and yet very stylish and small. These small laptops are available from an easy to buy 450$ to a premium range of 2000$
Some of these small laptops have graphic cards to match the present day gaming needs and some have smart multimedia for watching DVD’s .
In the review I am impressed by the Apple’s mackbook Air that has a class of its own with great features , stylish and stable Mac OS X system.
Reading this review I am sure we are soon going to see more advanced and power packed small laptops.
Thank you once again,for such a nice review of small laptop range available in the market.
I am a senior executive in a software company. I have to travel to distant places and the big laptop I have at present is problematic to carry in hands.
But after reading this review on small laptops , I think the time has came that I change my laptop.
I am really taken away by the beauty and features of Sony Vaio VGN-TG11MN and Apple mackbook Air .
These two small laptops are very promising for me as they both have nearly all the features I am looking for and yet so stylish and easy to carry.
Both of these small laptops have unique features. Apple's mackbook air is a bit above my price tag and it don't have a DVD drive preinstalled,though it's keypad seems very spacy and comfortable for a big man like me.
On the other hand Sony Vaio VGN-TG11MN has almost every feature I want and yet 400$ cheaper than Apple's Air.
The most distinguishing feature of this small laptop is it's battery life and high quality video .
So I am looking forward to own one very soon.
Thank you again for guiding me.
Small laptops are increasingly becoming popular now a days.
No one wants to carry big and heavy laptops.
I myself own's a asus laptop. This small laptop is just awesome. Not only it has features of a portable laptop but also it is very fast and easy on pockets. Many features of this laptop can be upgraded by spending some bucks.
I think the future of computers lies in these small laptops and as the time progresses will see more and more people having them.
My sister is planning to buy a Sony Vaio VGN-TG11MN next month.
These small laptops are equally popular in business class as well as in youths. Youths love their style .
This review perfectly shows the top 10 small laptops available in the market .
Hope to see more featured small laptops soon.
I am a games addict and enjoy playing heavy graphic games.
Sadly I can't carry my desktop everywhere.
But wao ! this amazing article on small laptops has shown me a light of hope.
Asus N10 is suitable for me and what is most liking about this small laptop is its graphic cheap and different CPU speeds.
I was googling about Small laptops from two days and today I got the answer to my question.
These small laptops are no less in configuration than a portable pc or laptop and have so cool looks and light weight.
Asus N10 meets my demands and light on my pocket too.
Small laptops will soon be rocking the laptop market .
Thank you for this superb review.
I was googling for buying a small laptop and I landed up here.
This is a great article for comparing and choosing the best small laptop in the market.
Small laptops are expensive but they are advanced and easy to carry to any place.
Apple has launched Macbook Air which is very expensive small laptop. Though expensive it features itself as one of the most advanced small laptop in the market.
I am always been a fan of Apple products, Whether it be macbook ,Iphone or ipods,all are just great.
Hope to see more range from apple soon.
In this time of recession also companies are not afraid to launch new products. Small laptops are new to the market but they have already started holding the market.
Small laptops are big hit as they gives the solution to many problems that basic laptops have and can easily be carried anywhere.
Small laptops are popular in all classes of people ,whether it be business, home or in between the youths.
Their looks and attracting features make them very handy over the basic laptops. Thank you for such a marvellour review of small laptops this would certainly be the best article on small laptops.
I have a Dell's small laptop and I must say this is a power packed small machine is very good looking and comes in many color varients.
Dell always provide quality products whether it be desktops or laptops or now the small laptops.
This review fairly explains the features of my laptop.
Small laptops have brought a promising competition between different computer companies.
I am sure feature offered by small laptops fits to anyone with a ease.
They are simply the best gadgets in the market.
Smaller the laptops easier it is to carry them. I find it great when i carry my small laptop for my college presentations.
I have Asus and it is a perfect small laptop.My friends are very impressed and see me with wide open eyes when I carry my Asus.
This masterpiece has different CPU speeds that adjust it in the different condition it is used which is just an awesome concept.
It is compact light weight and have good battery life.
The best thing we girls love about these small laptops is they are very slim and attractive that matches my personality.
Asus is the best.
This review of small laptops has cleared many doubts of mine. I am a student and want to buy a small laptop . But I was thinking, how with such a small screen these small latopts will loadnow will pages meant for basic pc and laptops but its not like that . I had a doubt that these small laptops will be very slow and have small RAM but thats also not true reading this review on small laptops. And I used to think that they have a high price range that they are very expensive but its not like that range in just starts from a low priced 450 to 2000$ high range.
First desktops then laptops and small laptops.
It seems as if the world of computers is squeezing down itself. But the features are ever increasing.Now we have small laptops that runs even with windows vista premium home. That's an amazing thing that even with smaller machines,These small laptops have such quality systems inside.
Sony Vaio has made the competition tougher by remaining two great quality laptops in this range.
I think Sony is the best small laptop company and it's small laptops will dominate the market soon.
I bought an Asus Eee Pc 1000h a while back, and I must say, I’m very happy with my decision. For small laptop lovers like myself, you’ll realize that most of the features are the same as the Eee PC 901, except that the keyboard area of the laptop is more spacious, the screen is larger (definitely better than the 7” screen of the previous model!), and the hard drive is now 80GB. The laptop is not just small but is extremely light, which is good because I use it for taking notes in class.
It’s a small laptop that meets all my basic needs, and is not overpriced like other laptops.
This website is pretty useful, because it pretty much narrowed down the pros and cons of the Macbook Air, which I’ve been seriously considering to get for a while. I like the Macbook Air because first and foremost—it’s a Mac. I’ve always been an admirer of all things Apple. Also, it’s a really light, thin, and small laptop. Some of the problems that are hindering me from getting it are the battery life being pretty short, and the fact that there is no DVD drive. Although like this site says—bringing a charger shouldn’t be too difficult to carry around—it’s lugging around an external DVD drive that might be too much. What do you guys think?
When laptops started coming out, everyone wanted to buy one. Now, there are so many different models available, but what people are really looking to purchase are the small laptops. I don’t blame them, of course. Small laptops are perfect for people like me who love to travel, but feel completely lost without their computers. I have this urge to log on and check my mail every so often, and I’m sure I’m not the only who feels this way. I think that this website is a really useful guide for anyone looking to get a small laptop. You guys did a great job of putting together the facts on these small laptops =)
Hey, this website is really cool! I’m so glad I came across this site, because I was actually looking for something just like this—something that compared the different models of small laptops in detail. I’ve been meaning to buy myself a small laptop, but am pretty clueless when it comes to anything technology-related, and my husband really isn’t much help. This site made everything so informational and easy to understand and at the same time. I was actually deciding between two small laptops: the Sony Vaio and the Asus EEE PC 1000H, and this site really answered a lot of my questions. Thank you!
Hi there! I just wanted to say thank you for putting up a website dedicated to small laptops. I am a gamer (well, maybe not as hardcore a gamer as the other people I know), and really love playing games such as Sims on my desktop computer at home. The thing is, since I’ve gone on to college, I haven’t really spent much time at home. I would love to be able to play Sims during my breaks at school, but have never considered buying myself a small laptop for my games until I came across your site. I think I’ll start shopping around for an Asus N10J-A1, and see if this small laptop can do the trick :)
I was actually looking for something like this site, because I was thinking of buying myself a small laptop. I was originally thinking of getting myself a Sony VAIO VGN-TZ11MN because it’s a small laptop and is pretty simple. I don’t really need a fancy laptop or anything like that. Plus, I found it to be a big factor that the Sony VAIO VGN-TZ11MN has a DVD drive. The review was right in the sense that it’s hard to find a small laptop that has one. I really think it’s a good buy. Does anyone here have any bad experiences with it?
Hey! I’ve been meaning to buy a small laptop for me to use at my dormitory, but I didn’t really know whom I could ask about it since my friends are not exactly hi-tech. Are these really the 10 best small laptops in today’s market? I was wondering if you could help me out by ranking them according to price. I really need a small and light laptop that is extremely budget-friendly. It’s really the price that matters. I don’t really need a fancy laptop since I’m only going to be using it for taking notes and writing papers and stuff.
I know I’m going to sound like a big fuddy-duddy, but I actually didn’t realize that there were so many brands that had small laptops nowadays. Reading through these reviews, it dawned on me that my laptop is now pretty much obsolete in terms of size. Haha. At least I can give my back a break. Walking to work with my current laptop is like lugging around a bowling ball. I’m glad that there are more handy models of small laptops available in today’s market. Thank you for such informative reviews. I think I’m going to do some laptop shopping this weekend.
At the moment, I am using a Dell E4200 that is provided to me by my office. At first, I thought that this laptop would be pretty heavy. It looked pretty big when I first saw it, but I am very happy to say that it is a reasonably light and small laptop compared to the other models that offices usually assign to their employees. The battery life of the Dell E4200 is also pretty good—at least compared to my husband’s office laptop. The only real complaint I have with this is that the colors aren’t very accurate. But I guess that’s okay, considering that I shouldn’t even be using this laptop for watching my downloads.
I think that the review on the Lenovo IdeaPad U110 was spot-on. I’ve been using an IdeaPad U110 for about half a year now and I think that it’s a pretty good buy considering the price that I got it at. I bought it because I fell in love with how shiny this small laptop was, with its looks being very different compared to its relatives in the Lenovo family. Of course, the shimmer does have its downside when faced with direct sunlight, and I didn’t realize that would be a problem when I first bought it. Now, I have to make sure that the laptop is angled correctly so as not to get an annoying glare.
Odd that you picked on the Dell E4200 for not having a web cam with it being a business-oriented PC. Many businesses and government agencies would prohibit use of such a PC if it DID have a web cam, so that choice by Dell fits exactly with the business focus.
Also, I have been through a number of "netbooks" starting with the original Asus EEE with the 7-inch screen, which is why I finally decided to get rid of it, then the 900A with 9-inch screen, 4GB SSD, and Linux. Once I replaced the SSD with a 16GB SSD, and switched to Easy Peasy (one of those Brit "things" ;-) Linux, I loved it ... except for the cramped keyboard with the badly placed right-shift key, and, as with most "modern" notebooks, the touchy touchpad.
I decided to see what alternatives there might be with used PC's, and now I am pretty much settled on the Fujitsu Lifebook "P" series. I have graduated from a P2046 and P1120 (still like to dabble with that low-powered 1120 due to its sweet form factor and touch screen - Puppy Linux does quite well on it) to more powerful models that at least are in the same league as Atom-powered "mainline" netbooks, and much more ergonomic for the most part.
My 5020D with 1 Ghz Pentium M, 10-inch screen at 1280*768 resolution, built-in DVD/CD-RW and weighing about 3.5 pounds is almost awesome (just a stupid touchpad to drive me nuts, but my wife and I both use a mouse with it anyway ;-).
Also, I have a 2.5 pound 1.2 Ghz Core Solo P1610, which is even more portable being more netbook sized with its 1280x768 8.9-inch touchscreen that has the option to flip and lay flat in tablet mode. That, plus a trackpoint instead of touchpad, more than make up for the lack of optical drive. Both were about $400+ on eBay (now I see 5010/5020's going for around $200). More bang for the buck for me.
I do see a local classified listing for a Vaio "P" at $550, that just might get me interested in replacing the 1610 (since it does have a Trackpoint - I just need to be sure I can put a mainstream Linux distro on it to dual-boot with Vista).
Also, although the Lifebooks came with Windows (2000 on the 5020, XP Tablet Edition on the 1610), they run much better (for my needs at least) with the latest versions of Linux Mint 7 (my current choice, but most recent mainstream distros would work as well) in many respects. Since the small high-res screen on the 1610 challenges my 59-year old eyes a bit, I found that font tweaking is much more flexible with the Linux X-window display managers then XP. As I have been trying to set up XP on a recently acquired T40 Thinkpad (love those Trackpoints ;-), I realized how much easier, and cheaper, it is now to set up a mature Linux distro to my liking (everything is a repository download away if not already included in the installation), than it is to get XP to a usable state (anti-virus, office package, Firefox, Thunderbird, Foxit Reader, 7-Zip, etc).
YMMV of course...
SONY P SMALL LAPTOP look awesome
Byt still need some upgrade .
first there are no HDMI Output
Second Need more 2gb ram to be 4gb
finaly need more power intel core 2 due .
and option of windows xp .
i was waiting for about 6 months to see upgrading for the P and i see awesome upgrading like 256gb ssd and 1.86ghz atom ! .
still need upgrade .
thanks SONY ...
Hello, update and to the list:
(NETbook)
SAMSUNG n510
HP/COMPAQ MINI 311C
TOSHIBA T110
ASUS 1201N
(NOTEbook)
ASUS UL30A-A1
HP PAVILLION DV2
I say dont buy a laptop at all. kidding i want some kind of laptop but i want to pick a good one plz help me pick the right one for a good price
OK. here it goes. I bought a Asus e 900 about 2 years ago. I knew that it was super slow, but I am not in a hurry. Bought it from Best Buy. I am a rookie when it comes to computers. I had the Geek Squad set it up for me(mistake). They did not detect that it had a faulty hard drive. After many calls to non-customer serice non-techs they told me to send it to them for an exchange for a replacement. It took a month and a half for this at my expense for shipping. Replacement was scratched and used. IT also came back with three badly installed programs of which two I reinstalled from the internet and third, Windows Works 9 I could not do unless I paid for it. I live half of the Year in South Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and the other half in USA. I was just burglarized and the netbook changed hands. I will be going back to USA in April and buying another one. I have been looking at reviews and ratings but do not see anybody discussing customer service. I have heard that Dell is the best. The Asus experience has been the worst in my whole life. I am 63 years old and have never dealt with such a bunch of idiots as these people. The only thing that I miss is the data but that will be replaced later. As for customer service, these idiots should take a lead from REI or Gerber or MSR. THE BEST! I am an outdoor person and I require reliability from the products that I buy. Beware if you have Asus and require service. I was so pissed that I was actually going to go to their offices in california and throw the thing through their window!
So please talk about customer service!
Lngdstansrdr
is there a 10 inch which comes with 2 GB ram and upgraded features
Buying Small Laptops
Small laptops are really popular in today’s world of high speed technology. So many choices on the market make it possible for customers to become overwhelmed when it’s time to purchase a new small laptop. The companies that manufacture these computers are in fierce competition with one another to invent the next big feature that will attract customers and subsequently increase their revenue earnings.
Therefore, it’s important as a consumer to understand the most important features when buying a small laptops or netbook, to avoid some of the common pitfalls many models have.
Battery Life
For a lot of customers, the whole premise behind owning a small laptop is portability. But what many customers forget about is that many places do not have public plug INS readily available for your computer. Therefore, when travelling or heading to work it becomes essential to have a long lasting battery which can fuel your small laptop for hours. It is common for small laptops to have either three cell or six cell batteries. The latter is much more practical and can last up to eight hours, which is extremely convenient for long business trips. Always remember to ask how long the battery life is for a small laptop before purchasing it.
Screen Size
Small laptops now range in size from 7 inches to 13 inches. If you are familiar with using a common 15-inch laptop or desktop computer then it may be a wise idea to really think about how big of a viewing screen you would like. Sure, smaller screens contribute to a lighter overall computer, but are a few ounces really worth the strain on your eyes? Having a bigger screen not only strains your eyes less, but it also allows movies and gaming to be much more enjoyable. Likewise, a bigger screen enables you to have more tabs open simultaneously, which becomes really convenient when you are duel tasking. If you are simply purchasing a small laptop in order to type then the screen size may not matter that much. But if you enjoy movies, gaming, and social networking then a larger screen is highly recommended.
Operating System
There’s plenty of debate about what operating system is the most reliable. When it comes to small laptops there are two primary types: Linux and Windows. Sometimes companies will provide great features in a small laptop but will try to save on the operating system. Usually small laptops with Windows are more expensive than the same computer with Linux. Likewise, small laptops that come with Windows XP and Windows Vista are cheaper than netbooks which come with latest Windows 7. Take time to think about your computer goals. If you install numerous programs on your computer then consider investing in a proven operating system. If you are a basic user, and need to save cash then a cheaper operating system may suffice.
At times, it is easy to get caught up in the small laptops shopping frenzy. But remember that screen size, battery life, and a sufficient operating system prove time and time again to be some of the most important features when purchasing a small laptop.
The benefits of using these hottest Small Laptops
In today’s date it is practically impossible for us to live without computers. The variety
and range of computers coming out today are limitless and with internet being available
everywhere even children today need a laptop which is now a priority. This is the reason why
small laptops are the latest pick this season. Not only are they hit amongst youngsters but even
professionals find it extremely convenient to carry it around.
Small laptops are easy to carry around and even stylish in looks. Many a times, small laptops
are also referred to as net books and the reason why they are in demand today is because they
are light weight as compared to the large ones. Hence f you have limited space you can use
these and they have nearly all the features available as the normal laptops. Also the price of
these small laptops is a bit lower than the large ones.
These small laptops have all the latest features available and come with well equipped wireless
connection system hence making it easy for users to use it anywhere and everywhere. You can
easily carry it in your backpack in a much easier manner unlike the big ones which needs a big
bag alone.
In fact they are now the first choice for students and also busy mothers as because they carry
loads of books and other items in their bags and hence carrying a heavy laptop is not easy for
them to carry around. This is reason why they prefer smaller laptops to the normal ones.
Post a Comment