5 great NetBooks

No1 - Samsung NC20 NetBook
If you're looking at a netbook as a full laptop alternative, the Samsung NC20 is what you need. It offers a full 12.1in display with a resolution of 1,280 x 800 - higher than many lower end full notebooks and its screen is bright and clear and a genuine pleasure to work on. The main downside is that the 1.52kg weight is relatively portly for a netbook, but compared to most full laptops, you're still travelling light and the six-cell battery should see you good for a not too shabby six hours, making it our top choice. Check price

No2 - Samsung N110 NetBook
The N110 is Samsung's update to the very well received N10 - offering a 10.1in screen, and 1.25g weight. It employs a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 and should give you at least seven hours of Wi-Fi connected use, helped by an upgraded battery over its predecessor. Video performance is boosted by the presence of the Intel 950 chipset. As ever, Windows XP and 1GB of RAM are in place, as is a 160GB hard disk - though this is conventional rather than SSD. Check price

No3 - Sony P-Series NetBook
Trust Sony to create a netbook like the P-Series – the epitomy of the cliché, 'small and perfectly formed'. In fact, Sony refuses to refer to it as a netbook, preferring 'LifeStyle PC'. Bravely, Sony has chosen Vista rather than XP, which is why it feels a little sluggish in use as it strains the Intel Atom Z520, which runs at only 1.3GHz. Build is also not quite as good as you’d hope at the price and at £700 before VAT, this is a genuine executive toy - which probably means Sony was right about the 'not a netbook' tag. Check price

No4 - HP Mini 2140 NetBook
The HP Mini is one of the better-looking netbooks, with a brushed metal affect lid and hewn look to the keys, which are offset nicely by the sleek rounded bezel, which features a tiny camera embedded in the top. We also noted the Express card slot on the side - a rare feature for a netbook. Also unusual though is the resolution - at 1,024 by 576 it offers less vertical space than most. Check price

No5 - Acer Aspire One D-150 NetBook
When it first came to market, Acer's Aspire One was known as one of the better netbooks on the market, but while the D-150 has no major flaws, it does little to stand out. Our unit had a fetching blue livery, which really was the only distinguishing feature. The 10.1in screen is now standard and the keys were slightly taller and tapered than the likes of the Samsung and Toshiba's, which meant our fingers slid off a more easily. Check price