Group test: what's the best netbook?

5. Dell Latitude 2120

• Reviewed on: 21 September 11
• RRP: From £466 inc VAT and delivery
• Rating:

Though available with a higher resolution screen than many netbooks, the Dell Latitude 2120 is still a netbook and suffers all the drawbacks of the breed's small size, while not offering the light weight and low cost that made netbooks popular in the first place. Look instead to Dell's own Vostro V131, Lenovo's X120e, or any of a myriad of other units that offer far more bang for the buck.

4. Acer Aspire One Happy 2

• Reviewed on: 28 November 11
• RRP: £229 inc. VAT
• Rating:

The Acer Aspire One Happy 2 is a well built netbook with an eye pleasing design. It offers standard performance that is expected of a netbook and sells at an attractive price.

3. Samsung NS310

• Reviewed on: 21 July 11
• RRP: £279 inc VAT
• Rating:

If you’re wedded to the notion of a small under-powered netbook, the Samsung NS310 offers all the usual features, but with glitzier casework and shorter battery life.

2. Kogan Agora PRO

• Reviewed on: 15 July 11
• RRP: £279 inc VAT
• Rating:

This Kogan Agora PRO 'ultraportable' is basically a netbook – but a netbook with a difference. It looks smart, feels quite solid and runs the Ubuntu operating system with ease. Battery life really lets it down though. The Agora PRO has good storage, its 500GB hard disk significanty larger than any netbook and even many laptops. At its original advertised price of £229, it would be a bargain; but now it’s been raised to £289 it’s in the same territory as name-brand netbooks with decent battery life. Nevertheless, for its matt screen size with decent resolution, and its great ready-to-go Ubuntu operating system, it’s certainly worth tracking down.

1. Samsung NC110-AM4UK

• Reviewed on: 14 September 11
• RRP: £240 inc. VAT
• Rating:

If you really don’t need to do more than send the odd email and browse the web while you’re on the move, and perhaps open an Office document from time to time, then the Samsung NC110-AM4UK could be the ideal option for you.