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Netbooks: Mini laptops, max portability

Netbooks are excellent secondary laptops, or if you're always on the road and need portability but not necessarily performance. We round-up the best we've seen so far.

Upgrade Windows XP to Windows 7

It's a painful install since Microsoft provides no direct upgrade path, but we can help.

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Reviews

  • Gigabyte Booktop M1022M

    The Booktop may be on the costly side, thanks to the bundled docking station, but it still falls below "premium" netbook costs. Plus the excellent battery life and ability to switch from a desk-bound PC to a portable mini-laptop captured our attention.

  • Samsung N110

    An easy-to-use netbook with a long battery life, but there are cheaper options.

  • Dell Mini 10v

    Dell's Mini 10v keeps a lot of the features of the more expensive Mini 10, while dropping the price to AU$549. It's one of only a handful of AU$600 netbooks that doesn't look and feel especially cheap.

  • Samsung NC10

    The NC10 betters previous Samsung netbooks with a built-in HSDPA SIM card reader and the portability this provides. Optus wireless broadband bundles seem like excellent value.

  • Asus Eee PC 1101HA Seashell

    Swelling the ranks of 11.6-inch netbooks, the Asus Eee PC 1101HA impresses with its design and battery, but having to overclock a slower version of Intel's Atom CPU is a dodgy workaround.

  • ViewSonic VNB101

    The netbook market is so tight, you need some sort of competitive advantage to stand above the crowd. ViewSonic brings a standard netbook with two negatives instead — poor battery life and a bad touchpad.

  • BenQ Joybook Lite U121 Eco

    With "Eco" and "Lite" in its name does that mean the U121 is a product with fewer features with a high price for the sake of being branded as environmentally friendly?

  • HP Mini 5101

    HP's biz-minded Mini 5101 is a successor to the Mini 2140 (one of our all-time favourite netbooks). It looks and feels great, but for a premium-price netbook, we expect to get more features, not fewer.

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Features

  • Twitter desktop round-up: Top 5 free apps compared

    Forgo Twitter.com's dreaded "fail whale". How? Tweet from the desktop. It's more reliable at times, and sophisticated desktop apps are packed with useful management features.

  • Contrasting Windows: New feature comparison

    Since 2002 when Microsoft introduced Windows XP, its operating system upgrades have caused a wide range of reactions. In this chart, we compare the major features in each OS and look at Windows' progress over the years.

  • Best of CES Awards

    Since 2006, CNET has presented the Best of CES Awards, given to the top products in 10 categories as well as one coveted Best in Show award. See the gadgets that topped our list for this year, and find out the People's Voice winner, decided by more than 10,000 member votes.

  • Best laptops for writers

    On the road? Need to file that last report, or finish that last chapter in seclusion? We throw about our suggestions for the best laptops for writers.

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  • Chrome OS for the clueless: What it means for real people

    Google's new operating system is certainly something to get excited about, but don't put a new laptop purchase on hold because you want a Chrome netbook.

  • Google announces Chrome OS

    Google has announced the creation of the Google Chrome Operating System project, with the goal to build a Linux-based OS available for purchase on netbooks in the second half of 2010.

  • NZ, Australia to get Win7 first

    The first retail sales of Windows 7 will take place in New Zealand and Australia on 22 October, Microsoft confirmed this week.

  • Bad boy Kogan called to ACCC's office

    Australia's competition regulator has taken controversial Melbourne-based technology vendor Kogan to task for what it said was misleading advertising which could contravene the Trade Practices Act.

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DIYs and How-to

  • Windows desktop bling

    Just because your Windows computer comes with boring backgrounds and icons doesn't mean that you're stuck with them. We show you where to find themes, widgets and other desktop tools to jazz up your screen.

  • XP to Vista: How to transfer your data

    In this quick guide we'll show you how to transfer your files and settings from an aging Windows XP computer to a new Vista machine.

  • 101 software tips, tweaks and tricks

    Our insider secrets will help you master your PC and its most important applications.

  • Making the most of Skype video-calling

    Skype High Quality video-calling can help shrink the distance between yourself and loved ones overseas, but you may need to fork out for some new tech. We take a look at what you need.

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Downloads

  • goScreen

    Organize and add space to your desktop by creating 80 virtual screens.

  • Desktop Orbiter

    Administrate and protect your network from single point.

  • Nimbuzz

    Call, chat, and share files on all popular IM and social networks.

  • Power Screen Capture

    Capture screen from your desktop with high quality.

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The Explain Series

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Videos

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