The Netbook has sprung onto the market with force thanks to the new Intel Atom processor that allows you to stay connected for longer. So which of the 10-inch models is the best for you? We take a look at three of the contenders in the field.
MSI Wind notebook
Following hot on the heels of the Eee PC the MSI Wind, yet another white plastic netbook. Pull open the lid and you will be presented a 10-inch Super-TFT panel and an almost full size keyboard. Operating systems are either Windows XP or Linux.
As for that chip, the Intel Atom N270 runs at 1.6GHz but as the core of the chip is based on older technology, so you won't see much of a performance boost over the Celeron chips found in the Asus. However, as it runs at a lower voltage, it impacts less on battery life. The new chip improves usability but not performance making the MSI Wind a winner in our book. It's taken everything Asus learnt from its first generation Eee PC and improved on it.
Advent 4211 notebook
It is impossible to review the Advent 4211 without referring to the MSI Wind, but perhaps there is no need because the Advent 4211 is identical. The difference lies in the price, the colour schemes and bundled software. The Advent comes in a black outer shell, with silver interior.
The Advent 4211 is home to the same Intel Atom N270 chip as used in the Wind and this gives you 1.6GHz processing power. The display is a crisp 10in LCD (1024 x 600) LCD, which stands up fairly well in a range of light conditions, both indoors and out.
The keyboard is obviously small, but fills the width of the frame so maximal space is given over to the keys. As there is no optical drive, you'll either have to download the software you want, or install from a USB stick or SD card. The Advent 4211 is a great little computer and runs very well.
Asus Eee PC 1000 notebook
It is seems that every time a company announces a rival to Asuss Eee PC crown, the Taiwanese company sees this as a direct challenge and announces another model in the Eee PC range.
So, hot on the heels of the 901 comes the 1000. It takes the same styling as the 8.9-inch model, but features a 10-inch screen. This larger screen does mean the overall design is bigger and heavier. Sure, 1.5kg is still ultraportable but when you think back to the 701 and its sub-1kg size it is easy to see that the idea of true portability is slipping away.
The only problem with have with the Eee PC 1000 is the size of it. The largest Eee PC to-date, the 1000 may be suffering from size creep but it is still a fantastic machine to use. The battery life is impressive and the build quality is still as high as ever.
The only problem is, you need ask yourself, at this price, would you be better off opting for a standard notebook? Looking at the evidence the answer is no. |
