Best Netbooks

The best netbooks for basic computing tasks

It's rare to find true consensus about any product in the computing world, but HP appears to have done it with its HP Pavilion dm1z (*Est. $430 and up) netbook. Many reviewers test a retail configuration of this user upgradable netbook HP Pavilion dm1-3210us (*Est. $450) , which includes a 1.6 GHz AMD Fusion Dual-Core E-350 processing unit with discrete-class AMD Radeon HD 6310M graphics, Windows 7 Home Premium, 3 GB of RAM, a 320 GB hard drive and an 11.6-inch high definition (720p) display.

While that configuration remains available, HP refreshed it in 2011, offering slightly updated styling and more powerful components -- at least on paper (more about that in a moment) -- for the same coin. The HP Pavilion dm1-4010us (*Est. $450) sports a more powerful 1.65 GHz AMD Fusion Dual-Core E-450 with AMD Radeon HD6320M graphics and 4 GB of RAM, but the rest of the configuration remains unchanged. On the outside, Wired notes that the cosmetics have "slicked up," with an updated color scheme and a more streamlined appearance.

However, despite the upgraded internals, performance is little changed, reviews note. CNET says that performance compared to the version powered by the AMD E-350 is exactly the same, according to its benchmarks. Wired, on the other hand, reports that its tests showed a modest decrease, though nothing that's outside the norm of benchmark variations. Christopher Null does say, however, that the netbook was a "touch sluggish" in his opinion. While CNET says it wishes that the upgraded processor translated to upgraded performance, what's provided is still good enough for the site to keep the dm1z in its spot at the top of the site's list of recommended ultraportable laptops.

The latest refresh brought some other pluses and minuses. Wired's Null notes that battery life is better than before, but that might have been accomplished at the cost of what he considers to be a dimmer screen. CNET applauds the revamped touchpad; "The combined pad and buttons cover the same surface area as the old click pad did, but the new version feels more responsive and is more comfortable to use," Dan Ackerman writes. Ackerman adds that the keypad has also shifted slightly left, centering on the keyboard's space bar. That addresses one issue cited by Liliputing.com's Brad Linder, who complained that the touchpad on the previous version was located where his wrists naturally wanted to go while typing.

For those that would like something other than the fixed retail configurations, further upgrades, such as more memory, larger hard drives and a 160 GB solid state drive are available at HP's website, but they will drive up the price. You can also opt for downgrades, such as a smaller hard drive or a less-powerful 1.6 GHz AMD Dual Core E-300 processor, if that's needed to fit the dm1z into your budget.

Regardless of the configuration, review after review compliments battery life, multitasking abilities, video playback, the full-size keyboard, overall design and more. The dm1z's performance on benchmark tests puts most netbooks to shame, reviews say. Value also draws kudos -- even though the dm1z is a little pricey when compared to run-of-the mill netbooks.

Another solid option is the Asus Eee PC 1215N, an older netbook that earned accolades from several publications when it debuted in late 2010. Despite its age, the netbook still earns a spot on PC World's Top 10 Netbooks list. The most widely available retail configuration, the Asus Eee PC 1215N-PU27 (*Est. $500) , includes a dual-core Intel Atom D525 processor, Nvidia ION graphics with Optimus switching technology, 2 GB of RAM and a 500 GB hard drive. Other features include Bluetooth 3.0 support, VGA and HDMI ports, and a built-in webcam. It also strains the definition of a netbook with its high sticker price and 12-inch screen. "The Asus Eee PC 1215N is a netbook that doesn't look like a netbook," Loyd Case quips at PC World, while Laptop Magazine's reviewer isn't sure whether to "call it a supercharged netbook or a notebook."

Performance is very good for a netbook, experts say, although most reviews are more than a year old and were penned before the HP Pavilion dm1z launched, let alone that netbook's updated configuration. PCMag.com's Cisco Cheng says that the combination of the dual-core Atom processor with Nvidia's ION graphics makes light gaming with titles like "World of Warcraft" a possibility; the netbook's 3DMark 06 score at Laptop Magazine is 10 times the category average. The big display is bright and colorful, and it handles HD video content well, but it does have some downsides. Case says that fast-paced action or sports scenes have a tendency to blur, and several reviewers comment that the Eee PC 1215n suffers from a lack of viewing angles.

The netbook's battery life, keyboard and audio performance are also cited as highlights, and while the oversized touchpad is well-regarded overall, PC World's Case disagrees. "The pad itself is twitchy, and causes the mouse cursor to jump around, seemingly completely at random," he writes. "The pad buttons require excessive pressure." Overall, however, the Eee PC 1215n earns high marks, especially for people who require a bigger display and more powerful graphics than the ones found in typical netbooks.