Top Five Windows 7 Netbooks
Now that Microsoft’s new OS is almost in the shops, you might be thinking of getting a compatible netbook. This is opposed to buying an XP or Vista based netbook and upgrading it with the Windows 7 software (at a cost of $119.99 for the premium home edition and $199.99 for the professional one).
Some of the advantages to Windows 7 users will be:
- Faster boot-up time
- Netbook friendly (especially compared to that power and memory mega-feeder – Windows Vista)
- Better graphics and better RAM
- Improved user interface
- Instant search (aka Mac’s Finder)
However, Windows 7 takes up a lot of storage space (8GB) and its inclusion may drive up prices of netbooks by $50-$100.
That being said, Windows 7 looks to be a really promising new OS. The guys over at Microsoft have something to prove after the dud that was Vista, and they seem to have come out with a winner. Windows 7 will probably be worth that extra bit of cash, especially now that the 1 GB RAM restriction has been done away with.
So let’s take a look at our list of the Top Five Windows 7 Netbooks.
1. Acer Aspire One AOD250 Netbook
This netbook’s the latest one out from Acer. It’s comfortable to use, efficient in its processing and functional. The AOD250 has a 10.1″ wide-screen LED-backlit LCD which ensures that the screen is bright and the color resolution is good. The keyboard and mouse pad are large and don’t take more than a day to break in. Acer claims the battery life is 9 hours, but we think this will be more at about 7.5 with normal usage. At 1″ in thickness and weighing 2.8 lbs, the Acer Aspire One AOD250 is great for people on the move.
This netbook comes in a variety of colours – white, blue, red and black – all with a glossy posterior. There are a whole lot of different model numbers, but the basic specs are the same with tweaks (reflected in the price).
Base Specs
- 1.6GHz Intel Atom N280
- 1024MB DDR2 SDRAM Single Channel Memory
- 160GB/250GB Hard Drive (5400RPM) 802.11b/g/Draft-N Wireless, Bluetooth
- 10.1″ WSVGA CrystalBrite LED Display, Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
- Windows 7 Starter, 3-Cell/6-Cell Li-Ion Battery (5800 mAh)
The Acer Aspire One AOD250 is available at amazon from prices ranging between $320-$380. The differences in price are based upon your choice of the 160GB vs 250 GB HDD, and the 3 vs 6 cell Li-Ion Battery (the 3 cell battery life is only about 3 hours).
2. ASUS Eee Pc 1005HA Netbook
ASUS has two models of the 1005HA available with Windows 7 – the HA-P and the HA-M. The HA-P is more expensive and has a slight edge performance-wise.
The ASUS 1005HA-P has a battery that catapults it ahead of its peers, in a market where most netbooks have more or less similar specs. The advertised battery life is 10.5 hours; it lasts upto 8 in the power saver mode with moderate to heavy usage, which is still no mean feat. This model also scores high on connectivity, and fits in a lot of ports (see specs). The 1005HA has a solid build with almost no flex plastic. Most users have expressed satisfaction with the color resolution and brightness.
Base Specs
- 1.6GHz Intel Atom N280 (N270 for the 1005HA-M)
- 1GB DDR2 RAM, 1 X SODIMM Slot, (Max 2GB)
- 250GB Hard Drive (5400RPM) 802.11b/g/Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- 10.1″ WSVGA 1024×600 LCD Display
- Windows 7 Starter, 6-Cell Li-Ion Battery (5800 mAh)
- Weight – 2.81 lbs
The ASUS 1005HA-P is priced at $399, with the HA-M in at $349 at amazon. Both these versions feature a 250GB HDD.
3. Sony Vaio VPC-W121 Netbook
The Sony Vaio VPC -W121 works like pretty much any other high-end netbook out there. It comes with the regulation Intel N280 processor, the 250GB HDD and 1GB of RAM. It has standard connectivity ports and a decent enough keyboard. Where the W121 distinguishes itself from other netbooks is the stylish matte design that only Sony can pull off, the generous resolution on its LCD display (1366×768) and the Vaio Multimedia Streaming software that enables data streaming between DLNA-appliances (like your PC or PS 3). It also weighs in at only 2.61 lbs – a true lightweight.
But it does this at a price. $499 to be precise, at amazon. At least Sony has included a 6 cell Li-Ion battery in this Windows 7 netbook as opposed to the 3 cell battery it had in earlier models (at the same price tag).
Base Specs
- 1.6GHz Intel Atom N280
- 1GB DDR2 533MHz Memory
- 250GB Hard Drive (5400RPM) 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi
- 10.1″ 1366×768 LED-backlit LCD Display, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
- Windows 7 Starter, 6-Cell Li-Ion Battery (5800 mAh)
- Weight – 2.61 lbs
The Sony Vaio VPC-W121 is a beauty, it’s lighter than most other netbooks and it has a better display. It’s a bit pricey, but it’s a sweet machine.
4. Toshiba Mini NB205 Netbook
At first glance, there’s very little a company can do to have its netbook standout among the myriad of models out there. But the Toshiba NB205 manages to do that. Toshiba has created a netbook with run of the mill specs, but with a beautiful chassis, comfortable keyboard and touchpad, a long battery life and a really competitive price tag.
The NB205 has great aesthetics and looks solid. The keyboard is easy to type on, the touchpad is large and the mouse buttons are not stiff. The display is good, although there is space for a larger screen. The NB205 has a 0.3 megapixel webcam which delivers smooth, non-blurry images and video. The performance is snappy, and videos play just fine. The battery on the NB205 is a star, lasting upwards of 9 hours. There’s not much to complain about, except the battery endpiece jutting out from behind.
Base Specs
- 1.6GHz Intel Atom N280
- 1GB DDR2 533MHz Memory (Upgradeable to 2GB)
- 160GB Hard Drive (5400RPM), Integrated WiFi
- 10.1″ 1024×600 LED-backlit Display
- Windows 7 Starter, 6-Cell Li-Ion Battery (5800 mAh)
- Weight – 2.9 lbs
You can pick this up at amazon for $379.99.
5. HP Mini 110 Netbook
This is HP’s best netbook yet. One scale on which the Mini 110 scores higher than all its competitors is the keyboard – an excellent 92% size board that’s easy to type on. The touchpad has this weird alternate touchpad thing going, but you adjust to it after a while. The picture quality is bright and colourful and for once, we were not completely disheartened by a netbook’s speakers. The 110 features the standard Intel Atom 270, a 160GB Hard Drive and 1GB of RAM (upgradeable).
Though the HP Mini 110 is more of a performance-driven, feature packed netbook than others; this comes at a price – the battery is a 3-cell and lasts a shade under 4 hours. However, for a lot of users that’s more than enough and there’s always a charging point close by. The Mini 110 features 3 USB ports, in addition to the standard others which is a nice addition to earlier models.
Base Specs
- 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270
- 1GB DDR2 (Upgradeable to 2GB)
- 160GB HDD (Higher models have 250GB)
- 10.1″ 1024×600 WSVGA LED anti-glare Widescreen Display (1024×600), Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
- Windows 7 Starter, 3-Cell Li-Ion battery
- Weight – 2.33 lbs
The Mini 110 starts at $339.99 (Windows 7 Edition) and can be picked up at at amazon.
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