New netbooks add some brawn, but are they still a good buy?

In the beginning, netbooks were modest devices. Most lacked the giddyup to even run Windows. Now, netbooks have grown up to the point where even basic models perform many everyday tasks with ease, and a new class of netbooks is starting to challenge full-sized laptops when it comes to getting things done. But this higher power comes at a price -- literally -- as netbooks are starting to catch up to and even pass full-sized laptops when it comes to the bottom line. Do these more powerful but more expensive netbooks still make sense? That's among the things you can learn in our freshly updated report on netbooks.

Basic netbooks still deliver

For computer users with modest needs and modest budgets, low-cost netbooks still fill an important role. As our research notes, you'll want to stay away from the cheapest models, but you can "net" a great budget netbook, like the Asus Eee PC 1001PX, for under $300. You won't be able to play heavy-duty games or have the most enjoyable experience streaming video from the net, but the Asus Eee PC 1001PX is still great for most everyday tasks, such as browsing the web, reading email, or writing notes.

While the Asus Eee PC 1001PX isn't exactly a heavyweight to travel with, if you want even more portability, give the MSI Wind U160 a gander. It's less than three quarters of an inch thick and weighs just 2.4 pounds, with looks that are good enough to get it more than a few second glances. Power is typical for a netbook, though the 250 GB hard drive is bigger than many. Battery life is a standout, reviewers say.

If you want a netbook for light gaming and watching web videos, we like the HP Mini 311. It's been around for a while, but thanks to its Nvidia Ion graphics, it remains a champ among lower-priced netbooks in terms of game play -- though remember it is still a netbook, so you still need to keep expectations reasonable. Streaming video generally looks good, and the speakers pack more punch than most of the Mini 311's competition.

When's a netbook not a netbook?

Some of the latest netbooks -- such as the business-oriented Lenovo ThinkPad X100e -- blur the line between netbooks and more powerful laptops. They're netbook-sized but more powerful. However, they still can't quite outperform even basic full-sized laptops, but cost as much or more. Do these "netbooks" make sense for buyers? Certainly, they can fill the bill if the lightest weight is important -- even more so than power. For others, things aren't so cut and dried, at least in our opinion, and many experts agree that a basic cheap laptop can deliver a better value. See our report on netbooks for more information.