Samsung Go N310-13GB

Embattled by cutthroat pricing and limited in the parts they can use, netbook makers have to be craftier than ever to come out on top. The Samsung Go N310-13GB ($450 street) is dealt the same Intel Atom parts and basic features as every other netbook, but its looks might pique your interest. The bright orange exterior is one of four colors available with this model, and the edge-to-edge glass screen and "pebble" keyboard are sure to impress. Performance-wise, the 66-Wh battery is not only big, but turned in more than nine hours of battery life. If you're willing to pay a slight premium over top-notch netbooks like the Toshiba mini NB205 and the ASUS EeePC 1000HE, the N310-13GB won't disappoint.

Samsung Electronics

http://www.samsung.com

• Price as Tested: $447.00 Street
• Type: General Purpose, Ultraportable, Value, Netbook
• Operating System: MS Windows XP Home
• Processor Name: Intel Atom N270
• Processor Speed: 1.6 GHz
• RAM: 1 GB
• Weight: 2.9 lb
• Screen Size: 10.1 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
• Storage Capacity: 160 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11g
• Primary Optical Drive: External

Samsung Go N310-13GB

Embattled by cutthroat pricing and limited in the parts they can use, netbook makers have to be craftier than ever to come out on top. The Samsung Go N310-13GB ($450 street) is dealt the same Intel Atom parts and basic features as every other netbook, but its looks might pique your interest. The bright orange exterior is one of four colors available with this model, and the edge-to-edge glass screen and "pebble" keyboard are sure to impress. Performance-wise, the 66-Wh battery is not only big, but turned in more than nine hours of battery life. If you're willing to pay a slight premium over top-notch netbooks like the Toshiba mini NB205 and the ASUS EeePC 1000HE, the N310-13GB won't disappoint.

Samsung Electronics

http://www.samsung.com

• Price as Tested: $447.00 Street
• Type: General Purpose, Ultraportable, Value, Netbook
• Operating System: MS Windows XP Home
• Processor Name: Intel Atom N270
• Processor Speed: 1.6 GHz
• RAM: 1 GB
• Weight: 2.9 lb
• Screen Size: 10.1 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
• Storage Capacity: 160 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11g
• Primary Optical Drive: External

Lenovo IdeaPad U350

Systems based on Intel's consumer ultra-low voltage (CULV) chipsets—that is, laptops that run on budget-friendly, low-powered processors—are no longer rarities, appearing frequently on store shelves in the form of thin-and-light laptops. In speed, these CPUs rank above netbook processors by a mere grade or two, which isn't a whole lot. In return, though, the power savings can mean a great deal for battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad U350 ($650 direct) is the latest to join the CULV family. It's a 13-inch ultraportable that deep-sixes the optical drive to achieve super-thin form factor. The U350 can be sluggish at times and the 41-Wh battery is small, but at $650, it's not like Lenovo is ripping you off.

Lenovo

http://www.lenovo.com

• Price as Tested: $650.00 Direct
• Type: General Purpose, Media, Ultraportable, Value
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
• Processor Name: Intel Pentium SU2700
• Processor Speed: 1.3 GHz
• RAM: 4 GB
• Weight: 3.6 lb
• Screen Size: 13.3 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
• Storage Capacity: 320 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11n
• Primary Optical Drive: External

Toshiba Satellite U505-S2930

A full day of classes rarely occurs in one location, so the last thing you want is a laptop that feels like a bigger anchor than your textbooks. The Toshiba Satellite U505-S2930 ($800 street) strikes a good balance between weight and having enough screen real estate to keep you from scrolling incessantly. Though made out of plastic, the lid's textures are reminiscent of a fancy leather case and the parts are current enough to get you through several years of school. Its price tag, however, is a little high for a plastic design and budget parts, but better deals can be found through Toshiba's channel partners (NewEgg and Amazon)—if you look hard enough.

Toshiba America Inc

http://www.toshiba.com

• Price as Tested: $800.00 Direct
• Type: General Purpose, Media, Value
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
• Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo T6500
• Processor Speed: 2.1 GHz
• RAM: 4 GB
• Weight: 4.8 lb
• Screen Size: 13.3 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
• Storage Capacity: 320 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11n
• Primary Optical Drive: DVD+R DL

Toshiba Satellite U505-S2930

A full day of classes rarely occurs in one location, so the last thing you want is a laptop that feels like a bigger anchor than your textbooks. The Toshiba Satellite U505-S2930 ($800 street) strikes a good balance between weight and having enough screen real estate to keep you from scrolling incessantly. Though made out of plastic, the lid's textures are reminiscent of a fancy leather case and the parts are current enough to get you through several years of school. Its price tag, however, is a little high for a plastic design and budget parts, but better deals can be found through Toshiba's channel partners (NewEgg and Amazon)—if you look hard enough.

Toshiba America Inc

http://www.toshiba.com

• Price as Tested: $800.00 Direct
• Type: General Purpose, Media, Value
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
• Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo T6500
• Processor Speed: 2.1 GHz
• RAM: 4 GB
• Weight: 4.8 lb
• Screen Size: 13.3 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
• Storage Capacity: 320 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11n
• Primary Optical Drive: DVD+R DL

Lenovo IdeaPad U350

Systems based on Intel's consumer ultra-low voltage (CULV) chipsets—that is, laptops that run on budget-friendly, low-powered processors—are no longer rarities, appearing frequently on store shelves in the form of thin-and-light laptops. In speed, these CPUs rank above netbook processors by a mere grade or two, which isn't a whole lot. In return, though, the power savings can mean a great deal for battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad U350 ($650 direct) is the latest to join the CULV family. It's a 13-inch ultraportable that deep-sixes the optical drive to achieve super-thin form factor. The U350 can be sluggish at times and the 41-Wh battery is small, but at $650, it's not like Lenovo is ripping you off.

Lenovo

http://www.lenovo.com

• Price as Tested: $650.00 Direct
• Type: General Purpose, Media, Ultraportable, Value
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
• Processor Name: Intel Pentium SU2700
• Processor Speed: 1.3 GHz
• RAM: 4 GB
• Weight: 3.6 lb
• Screen Size: 13.3 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
• Storage Capacity: 320 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11n
• Primary Optical Drive: External

Gateway LT3103u

Lately, as soon as Acer launched a new netbook, Gateway wasn't far behind with something similar. Case in point: The Gateway LT3103u ($380 street) looks eerily similar to the Acer Aspire One (A0751h) in that both have unusually large widescreens and keyboards. In fact, they are practically identical until you take a peek at under the hood: AMD parts, too, are unusual finds in a netbook. With them, the LT3103u is slightly faster than the Atom-based A0751h, albeit at the expense of battery life. At $380, though, one can easily turn a blind eye to its parts and welcome, with open arms, an 11.6-inch widescreen and a full size keyboard.

Gateway Inc

http://www.gateway.com

• Price as Tested: $380.00 Street
• Type: General Purpose, Ultraportable, Value, Netbook
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic
• Processor Name: AMD Athlon 64 L110
• Processor Speed: 1.2 GHz
• RAM: 2 GB
• Weight: 3.2 lb
• Screen Size: 11.6 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: ATI Mobility Radeon X1270
• Storage Capacity: 250 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11a/g
• Primary Optical Drive: External

Gateway LT3103u

Lately, as soon as Acer launched a new netbook, Gateway wasn't far behind with something similar. Case in point: The Gateway LT3103u ($380 street) looks eerily similar to the Acer Aspire One (A0751h) in that both have unusually large widescreens and keyboards. In fact, they are practically identical until you take a peek at under the hood: AMD parts, too, are unusual finds in a netbook. With them, the LT3103u is slightly faster than the Atom-based A0751h, albeit at the expense of battery life. At $380, though, one can easily turn a blind eye to its parts and welcome, with open arms, an 11.6-inch widescreen and a full size keyboard.

Gateway Inc

http://www.gateway.com

• Price as Tested: $380.00 Street
• Type: General Purpose, Ultraportable, Value, Netbook
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic
• Processor Name: AMD Athlon 64 L110
• Processor Speed: 1.2 GHz
• RAM: 2 GB
• Weight: 3.2 lb
• Screen Size: 11.6 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: ATI Mobility Radeon X1270
• Storage Capacity: 250 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11a/g
• Primary Optical Drive: External

HP ProBook 4310s

Over the years, small business owners have been faced with a new type of worker: One who fancies working in multiple locations and is never in one place for long—a telecommuter, per se. The HP ProBook 4310s ($880 direct) is a mix of traditional business essentials—an optical drive, a matte screen, and even a RJ-11 jack—and current laptop trends, while emphasizing the importance of portability. The 3 hours it managed with the 37Wh battery may not be enough for road warriors, but there is an 8-cell battery available as an option.

Hewlett-Packard Company

http://www.hp.com

• Price as Tested: $880.00 Direct
• Type: General Purpose, Value, Business, Small Business
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Business
• Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo T6670
• Processor Speed: 2.2 GHz
• RAM: 4 GB
• Weight: 4.6 lb
• Screen Size: 13.3 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
• Storage Capacity: 320 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11n
• Primary Optical Drive: Dual-Layer DVD+/-RW

HP ProBook 4310s

Over the years, small business owners have been faced with a new type of worker: One who fancies working in multiple locations and is never in one place for long—a telecommuter, per se. The HP ProBook 4310s ($880 direct) is a mix of traditional business essentials—an optical drive, a matte screen, and even a RJ-11 jack—and current laptop trends, while emphasizing the importance of portability. The 3 hours it managed with the 37Wh battery may not be enough for road warriors, but there is an 8-cell battery available as an option.

Hewlett-Packard Company

http://www.hp.com

• Price as Tested: $880.00 Direct
• Type: General Purpose, Value, Business, Small Business
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Business
• Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo T6670
• Processor Speed: 2.2 GHz
• RAM: 4 GB
• Weight: 4.6 lb
• Screen Size: 13.3 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
• Storage Capacity: 320 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11n
• Primary Optical Drive: Dual-Layer DVD+/-RW