Also known as ultraportables or (unofficially) as "netbooks", this little machines are the ultimate gadget. Nearly everything a proper laptop can do, but small enough to carry in any bag.
What are the drawbacks? They use less powerful processors, so some things like gaming and high-quality video are beyond them. Also, in order to make the little computers as shockproof as possible and to reduce power consumption some feature a Flash memory hard drive; the kind of memory used in USB sticks and camera cards. This means you can't store much, so you can forget using them to carry around your entire MP3 collection.
The other potential problem is that to keep the cost as low as possible and to improve performance, some netbooks feature a Linux operating system. While it's very easy to use, and is immune from viruses, this does mean that you can't run all your favourite Windows applications. You can find many perfectly good equivalents (for free!) online, but it's a leap you may not want to make. They generally have the OpenOffice suite pre-installed, so they'll happily open Microsoft Office Word and Excel files. But really, on such a tiny computer, working on spreadsheets is probably not exactly what you had in mind.
Ultimately, it depends what you want out of the device. If you're looking for a dirt-cheap, proper computer you can use to access the web and keep in the glove box of your car, then a netbook is for you. If you're looking for a machine to do serious, professional work, then maybe not.
The little EeePC 701 may look like a toy, but don't let its tiny size and simple design fool you: it can do almost anything you need a laptop to do. It has a webcam to allow video chat in applications like Skype and Messenger, USB slots, a full but tiny QWERTY keyboard - just like a regular computer keyboard. It has wireless network access, or you can use its Ethernet socket. The first thing that you'll notice is the tiny screen. With a tiny screen of only 800 by 480 pixels, you really can't fit a lot of information on 701. Along with the tiny screen, the keyboard is also micro-sized, and may prove too fiddly for some users.
ASUS has since launched the EeePC 900 series, which is the same size as the 701, but the 901 uses the latest Atom chip from Intel which means that it lasts longer when running on batteries. Also, crucially, it has a larger screen: 1024 by 600 pixels - nearly twice as much information as the original 701 screen. It also offers you the choice Linux or Windows XP. Which you prefer is up to you, but since Linux is free, it probably makes sense to go for the XP version and download a copy of Linux if you really want it.
At the top of the range, the EeePC 1000 series is halfway between a full size laptop and the little 700 and 900 series. It has a normal hard drive, and runs Windows XP. While it's it's a bit more practical that the smaller models, it's also a lot heavier, and so again, it depends what you were wanting for your ultraportable.
If it's pure style you crave, then the Eee PC S101 is for you. Wafer thin with a very chic brushed metal finish, you'll pay a bit more than the rest of the EeePC range, but the looks are second to none.
Next up is the MSI Wind. Similar in size to the smaller EeePC but with some more advanced features, it has a larger screen and a larger, non-Flash hard drive. In Australia it's only available with Windows XP, but again, Linux is available as a free download if you want it. It has wireless networking, but with its Bluetooth ability, you can also use your mobile phone to access the internet if you have a 3G plan. A slightly larger keyboard makes it easier to use, but overall it is heavier, and with the regular hard drive, more susceptible to a knocks.
Dell has jumped into the game with the Inspiron Mini 9. It is extremely well built compared to it's competitors. Not only is it solid, it is a fanless design, and therefore completely silent; you can take this one to bed without waking anyone up! If you plan to use it on the move, it also has one of the longest lasting batteries in its class. It's abailable with both a normal hard drive and a small, but more resilient Flash drive. Unlike some other netbooks, it's also upgradeable, so you can soup it up if you want a bit more power. The only downside, really, is that you will probably want to uninstall some of the software that Dell has installed. It's available in Windows XP and Linux, so the choice is yours.
Hewlett-Packard has released one of the less expensive mini-notebooks with the HP 2133 Mini-Note. It's stylish and solidly built and available with Windows or Linux, depending on which you prefer. It has a slightly larger keyboard than most other netbooks, which means it's easier to type. Its failings are that it won't last quite as long as some laptops when running on batteries, and that it has a slightly less powerful VIA Nano processor instead of the Intel Atom.
If the Mini-Note's less powerful chip isn't enough for you, the Mini 1000 has the same excellent keyboard with the Intel Atom. They've dropped down the weight and it's thinner, so it's even easier to carry in your bag. There's very little to complain about except a very glossy screen that makes reading outside a bit hard. A free tip: if you want the ultimate version, then you'll want the coming HP Mini 2140, made of aluminium instead of plastic.
Lenovo's entry into the netbook crowd is a fairly basic model, but has all the features you'll need for a reasonable price. Almost Uniquely, it has an ExpressCard slot, which means that you can add anything that's available on ExpressCards. A very useful feature! With an excellent keyboard, its only letdowns are a lack of Flash hard drive options and a fairly short battery life.
Acer's netbook has an excellent keyboard and a great Linux operating system that's very easy to use. This very reasonable little computer features two SD card slots, so your storage is only limited by how many cards you have. What you may not enjoy is the trackpad, which is rather small, and its battery life is sadly relatively short.
With ExpressCard and SD card slots, the only limits are your imagination. You can even customise the lid with a clip on transparent cover that will hold the photograph or design of your choice. The excellent keyboard is let down a little by the battery life, but the Fujitsu is sure to please you.
Sony's Vaio P-series is unique in having an incredibly high-resolution screen, but at this scale, you may have trouble reading it! It has an excellent size keyboard and, uniquely, a trackpoint nub instead of a trackpad. If you like trackpoints, then this is the machine to go for, but if not, it might be a dealbreaker. It certainly looks superb, and is also alone in having Windows Vista, if you insist on having it. Its very thin profile makes it a particularly excellent travel PC.
lt will be a useful travel PC for some and a conversation piece for others.
With its very roomy keyboard, high quality webcam and impressively long battery life, the Samsung makes working on the move a pleasure. A large and fast hard drive makes it easy for you to store music and movies, which you'll enjoy even more thanks to the very decent-sounding (for a little netbook!) speakers.
Has the little Gigabyte's screen caught your eye? Yes, it swivels. Better yet, it's also a touchscreen (like an iPhone) making for all kinds of interactive fun. You might not enjoy the tiny keyboard or slower performance, but no other netbook offers a swivelling touchscreen. So if you're looking for a tiny tablet PC, this is the one.
