Toshiba mini NB205-N310

Toshiba mini NB205-N310 has two big advantages over other netbooks, reviewers say: Its full-size keyboard and touchpad are far more comfortable than its cramped rivals, and its battery lasts longer than any other netbook's (almost 10 hours on a single charge in one test). The component line up is solid and includes an Intel Atom N280 processor, 160 GB hard drive, 1 GB of memory and a 10.1-inch screen. The brown matte finish repels fingerprints, and experts say the design is highly attractive despite the fact that the battery is on the bulky side and protrudes in back. Speakers that don't please most users are another notable drawback.

The NB210-N310 is also available in three other colors: white, blue and pink. The Toshiba mini NB205-N210 (*Est. $340) is similar in that its keyboard is also full sized, but the flat keys are less comfortable to use than the cutout-style keys with spaces in between, as found on the NB205-N310 and its other color versions. The less expensive NB205 netbook also lacks Bluetooth and only comes in black. If your budget is tighter still, the Acer Aspire One D250 (*Est. $295) has a similar lineup of internal components, but a more cramped keyboard and shorter battery life between charges. For faster wireless performance and more advanced features, experts like the HP Mini 5101 (*Est. $400 and up), but it can cost more than $600 fully loaded.

The Toshiba mini NB205-N310 has been extensively reviewed, and experts come to remarkably consistent conclusions about this netbook. Laptop Magazine, PCMag.com, CNET and PC World all conduct excellent objective tests of the Toshiba's performance, judge how comfortable it is to use, and rank it against other netbooks. By contrast, The Wall Street Journal doesn't rank the best netbooks, but it tests and explains the Toshiba in a very readable way. Amazon.com has collected 100 owner reviews of the NB205.