which netbook is the best

Many reviews of netbooks have been posted here in the last few months. The link below takes you to 20+ separate discussions in the last year and is sorted by date.

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Suggest you first look at those threads with the most posts (that's summarized for you in the search results window). You'll be able to browse these and see if the models you're considering or included in those discussions.

Perhaps others can contribute further posts, on this thread, regarding their experience with the specific models you mentioned.

I have a Dell Mini 9 (recently discontinued), which I love. What made me choose this model over others was the solid build. Other brands seemed more flimsy. I run my mini 9 with XP, but from what I understand Dell Minis are the only netbooks which are capable of running OSX; so it's very popular with mac people. For more info check out this site:

www.mydellmini.com

bluedenim,

That's been a hotly debated question here in the past, and everyone seems to have their favourite. I'm also looking at a Netbook for my next trip but haven't reached a decision yet on which model to buy. I've been hoping that Apple might introduce a Netbook, but it doesn't look likley.

A few possibilities for you to consider:

• London Drugs have a Certified Data Netbook in their sale flyer (starts tomorrow I believe). It's a fairly well equipped unit with 160 GB HD and XP. I believe it was made by MSI for LD.

• The Toshiba NB205 seems to be getting some good ratings in some of the forums.

• The ASUS 1005HA, is also very popular.

Good luck!

I bought a Dell Mini 10 a few months ago for an upcoming 3 week trip and I like it very much for what I purchased it for. It is very sensitive on the keyboard and seems to have a tendancy to skip to a line you have already typed on and this creates a problem if you don't see it right away. This only happens if you try to type fairly fast on it. Other than that, it works great and I think will do a good job in Europe. Just have to slow down with it on the keyboard. The keyboard is a good size, and got all the bells and whistles I need. I did get the 3.5 hour battery which you need.

I think the certified data only has a 3 cell battery and I am thinking of the 6 cell battery instead with the dell

I just got the Toshiba NB205 and it is very small and lightweight. It connected to my network (apple router) easily ONCE I realized that they ship the computer with the wireless turned off.

The screen is glossy. A bad trend started by Apple. It isn't something you want to do a lot of work on, but on a trip it is cheaper/lighter than most other laptops so that is why I got one.

How about the ASUS 1000HE....

I have it and love it. 6 cell battery, fastest processor in all netbooks, 10" screen.....

I guess everyone has a favorite. I own an Acer Aspire. It certainly is light (2.2#), a major consideration for me, and fast enough to do anything I need to do. I took it with me in November, and I am taking it back with me in August.

Personally, I would go with whatever one has the best price.

One of you wrote, "Personally, I would go with whatever one has the best price." I tend to second this opinion for a traveling computer. Should it be lost, damaged, or stolen, you've lost the least investment. As a second consideration, I might go with whichever is lightest, especially if you're going to have to carry it a fair amount.

I looked at the Acer Aspire and not a bad one but I sort of ruled it out even though the price is good I feel for 100 bucks more I can get something just a bit better. I agree I do not want to spend much over 500 Canadian for one but I want something decent as well. Weight is something to consider, one reason I don't want to take my mac and its power adapter.
Another things that has me leaning to the dell is the power adapter is very small unlike a lot of other models out there.
I did sort of consider the asus as well.

bluedenim,

If you have a London Drugs store nearby, you might have a look at some of the Toshiba models. I'm not sure if they're the same as the one I listed in my earlier post, but the Keyboard looks really good and I believe one of them has a 6-cell battery (can't recall if the screens were glossy or matte?).

Cheers!

I have the Asus 100HE and the one thing that I love the most is the 6 cell battery as it easily last me for the plane journey overseas. It is nice not having to recharge it all the time.

The samsungs are nice, but with the memory size i went with an msi and love it. I woudl stay away from dells or hp's, for the price they charge and the stuff that comes in them they are very overpriced.

If you can get a netbook that runs OSX, you are golden. It doesnt really matter which COMPUTER you have, only which OPERATING SYSTEM. The Mac OS is superior to Windows in so many ways that iy makes your choice an easy one.

Samsung NC10- the battery lasts for 6-7 hours, the keyboard is excellent, it's lightweight and it runs windows XP. It does everything I want and I love it!

I agree with Maggie. Great battery time on the Samsung NC-10 (they now have the NC-11). Keyboard is large & easy to use.

The msi wind is a great little unit ... more bang for your buck then the dell or hp, and without all the added cr*pware. I've had one for about 3 months and used on a couple trips already, and the 6-cell battery life is great -- 6-8 hours depending on what you're doing (and you can upgrade to a 9-cell for even longer plug free computing).

We just purchased the Toshiba NB205. We are very pleased with it and will be taking it on our trip to Europe next week. It has a battery life of approximately 9 hours. Some of the postings here suggested to actually go to the store and try out the keyboards. This is how we made our decision.

Nancy,

If you have a chance, post a few notes on your experiences with the NB-205 when you get back from your trip. That's the model I'm considering, and I'm curious to see how it actually performs during travels. It seemed to receive top reviews at CNET and other sites that I checked. Did you buy from Amazon or another retailer? It's great to hear that you liked the Keyboard, as that's one of my concerns with the "smaller" Laptops.

Be sure to check the Charger provided with the NB-205 to ensure that it's capable of "world operation" from 100-240 VAC (you'll still Plug Adaptors though).

Cheers!

Hi, we purchased and Acer Aspire One almost a year ago, we would have purchased the Dell mini but it was not available at the time. I would definetely go for a Linux OS on the dell if it is still offered and i would stay away from Vista wich is much longer to boot. We are happy with our Aspire, and it was also the cheapest, it is now available at Costco too.

Martine,

Virtually ALL of the Netbooks that I've looked at so far are supplied with XP, rather than Vista (Dell models are the exception). Many also offer Linux as an option.

Although I'm not a big Windows fan (I use a MAC at home, but forced to use XP at work), I'd be willing to get an XP Netbook.

There will probably be a few new models introduced before my next trip, so I'm still trying to decide which model to buy.

Cheers!

Vista isn't compatible with any netbook, so no manufacturer (including Dell) offers it. I purchased my Dell Mini 9 specifically with XP so I could network with my household desktops (which run Vista and XP) and access the files on their hard drives. I wouldn't have been able to do that with a Linux model.

sorry i meant xp instead of vista, but i think linux was the best option for me.

Be careful with the Linux build used on some Asus netbooks....it's not terribly compatible with many of the Linux-based programs out there, so you have to know your way around Linux to "unpin" and "pin." It's very difficult to add software to such netbooks.

In the last week I have seen advertisements for netbooks with built-in Mobile Broadband. Beware of getting one of these computers! The computer I saw was $400 and the Mobile Broadband is locked to a single provider. So to use your netbook on broadband, you have to purchase a 2-year contract with that company.

In Europe, MB is available with several providers for €10 startup and €2,49 per day used. For that you need an unlocked aircard, which you can also buy over there for the equivalent of about $85.

think I have decided on the dell mini 10
(now the colour I am leanign to the red since they give 5 bucks to aids charity), or white which I love

Michael, sorry, but I am typing this from an HP 2140 Netbook that has 2GB of memory and VISTA OS. It also has WiFi n which was one of the reasons I bought it. I have had it 4 months and used it all over northern Europe and I am now travelling in Western Canada. Had no problem whatsoever with it. Yes it is pricier than most, but has a metal case and a 6 cell battery. Have not tested it to exhaustion, but they claim it will last up to 9 hours. I am sure I have used it in excess of 6 with no problem.

Bluedenim (I am presently accross the water in Victoria!), I think you can spend as much or as little as you want, but the specific features - HD size, screen size, memory, etc. - you want and need will dictate your choce. I am sure you will appreciate the weight and convenient size of whatever you decide on. I got mine in Staples.

Think you will like the Mini 10. It is fast and does a great job. I bought one from QVC before they ever appeared in stores. Great little machine and fun to use.

bluedenim,

There are some persistent rumours starting to appear regarding a new MAC product being announced before the end of this month. It looks likely that it will be a "tablet" rather than a "netbook", probably with a touch screen as well as some form of keyboard.

This will supposedly be positioned in their lineup somewhere between the IPod Touch and the MacBook Pro.

Even if this IS announced at the end of this month, it will probably be a month or two before they start to appear in stores.

I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Hey Ken
THAT SUCKS I just ordered my Dell.....
I had read about that but I was reading it would not be utnil next year...
oh well....

So do all of the brands of netbooks come with a charger that can be used in Europe without a converter? I plan to buy a netbook before my next trip in October. We will be visiting Paris, Barcelona, and on a river cruise. The hotels and the river boat have free wifi so I can use my netbook to check email. Bit I was concerned about charging from European electrical outlets. I have the plugs for various countries.
Now if I could just decide which netbook to get...

to the best of my knowledge they are all dual voltage so you should only have to have the plug adapter.
In my research I decided ont he dell because
a) 6 cell battery
b) thinner than some I have seen such as teh Acer which to me was too thick
c) the plug on the Dell is small and takes up less room compared to some of the others.

I've loved using my ASUS 1000HE here in the US and am planning to take it to Europe. 9+ hours battery life. Check out the gazillion threads on Amazon, most of the users are very happy.

Suzie, all you will need is the plug for the country you are in. All computers are good to go where ever you are with correct plug.

I have had a dell mini 10 for about 5 months and it works very well, also making it's first trip to Europe in 3 weeks.

Suzie,

Although most Laptops / Netbooks these days are supplied with Chargers designed for "world operation", it's essential that you check and verify this in order to avoid an "nasty surprises" during your travels!

One other Netbook you might have a look at is the Toshiba NB-205, as it's been getting great reviews (and is suppied with a 6-cell Battery).

Cheers!

I took an ASUS netbook on a trip overseas this summer and it was very helpful. I found its size and weight, even though relatively small and light, a bit of a drag, however, when I carried it every day. Unfortunately, my other alternative, a smartphone with Windows Mobile simply couldn't do some things that require a real computer, such as open or edit some documents or view some web pages.

Recently, I've acquired what may be the perfect compromise, a Mobile Internet Device (MID) or an Ultra Mobile Portable Computer (UMPC). Specifically, I got a Viliv X70, which is a tablet computer with a 7 inch touch screen. It runs Windows XP as the operating system so it does everything my desktop PC does. It has some limitations, though. For example, it only has a virtual keyboard that shows on the screen when you press a button (it is similar to the iPhone's keyboard). It would be a pain to use regularly, but it is very bearable (no pun intended) if one is hauling it around in a backpack for several weeks at a time. An added bonus: the battery lasts a lot longer than on my netbook.

The price is a bit more than a netbook, but the prices of MIDs/UMPCs have dropped considerably in recent years, so it isn't that bad. If you feel a strong need to be connected when traveling, but want to go with the least size and weight possible that will still do the job, this is a real possibility. I'm taking this over my netbook on my next trip.

Just thought I'd add this as an option to the list.

Oh, yes, one other thing. The version I bought comes with a built in webcam and microphone, so you could use it to skype-call back home.

I just bought an ASUS 1005HAB a couple of weeks ago. I haven't traveled with it, but so far it seems to do what I need it to do just fine. I am planning to take it several places with me before my 2011 Eurpoean trip so I can test the waters.

I am traveling to Europe for my first time shortly and wanted a mini primarily for journaling purposes and temporarily store photos if needed. I just ordered the Toshiba NB205 from Costco. Although the price is only slightly under the price from Toshiba and/or other retailers/online stores, Costco provides double the warranty and you can return within 90 days if needed. My priorities were battery life (it has 6-cell battery/up to 9hrs) and touch/feel of the keyboard. It can also be upgraded to 2GB memory if needed. Mine will primarily be used for travel, not as primary at home. Will provide more info once I receive and use it. Good luck.

pmv

The NB-205 is the model I'm considering also. It seems to get good ratings both for battery life as well as "keyboard feel".

I'll be anxious to hear your impressions after you've given it a "field test" in Europe!

Just got back from three weeks in Europe: France, Italy, and Ireland. We took our Toshiba NB205 with us and it worked great. Nearly all of our hotels had wifi and we had no problem with getting a connection.

I did notice prepaid aircards for sale in all three countries and I wish I had purchased them for use on train trips.

I just opened and set up my Toshiba. I'm not a techo geek, but I love it so far. The keyboard is perfect...keys are spread apart and perfect touch, although you have to go very light on the touchpad I noticed. Long battery life...up to 9 hrs. I'm still iffy as to whether I'll actually take it. Now that I'm getting closer to my trip, I'm getting concerned about being on the go so much and leaving it behind in the Rick Steves bus on travel days to a new city, and I defintely don't want to lug it around. I'll decide soon.

I ended up buying the Acer Aspire one D250-1165 through Quill.com for $287 incl. taxes and shipping. The adapter says it has 120-240v input. The plug that goes into the wall is three prong grounded. My adapter plug for Europe has 2 prong flat slots to plug into, 2 round pins to plug into the wall receptacle. If I put one of the gray extra apapters that you plug 3 prong grounded into and 2 prong flat into the Europe 2 pin round into the wall socket is that safe? I don't want to fry my netbook on its first use in Paris. Am I making sense with my question? I'd be using two adapters.

..one of the gray extra apapters that you plug 3 prong grounded into..

That's exactly what I use to plug my Aspire into the 3in1 adapter that I plug into my Europlug adapter. That way I have two more ungrounded, polarized, bladed receptacles for my camera charger.

Actually, I found that the two blades of the Acer plug would fit into the Europlug with the round ground pin along side on the outside. The only reason I use the "gray adapter" is so I have a spot for my camera. You can also buy at Microcenter a grounded "Y" adapter that gives you two grounded receptacles on short cords with one grounded plug, onto which you put the Europlug adapter.

Thanks for your tip, Lee. I was going to stop by my local Microcenter store to get a sleeve for traveling with the netbook. I'll look for that Y adapter cord.But it sounds like I can just plug the Acer into the gray adapter into the euro plug and us my new netbook in Paris and Barcelona and on the Viking Burgundy river boat.