The 15 Best Performing Netbooks and Laptops under $450

So you find yourself in the market for a new laptop computer.  Your last one was a complete beast and incredibly heavy to lug around.  Being the savvy business man you are, you decide that this time you want something light and easy to open up just about anywhere to catch up on your email or go over the spread sheet figures from the sales meeting.  Maybe you are a designer looking for a lightweight laptop to take with you so that you can show off your portfolio to potential clients or to wow a current client with your latest designs.

It’s a good thing for you that you stumbled across this list, because we’re about to show you 15 well performing highly portable netbooks and laptops that won’t break your budget.

1. ASUS Eee PC
   Need a netbook that you can pound on all day long? Look no further. The Asus Eee PC EPC1000HE will last you up to 9.5 hours, more than sufficient for just about anyone. It boots quickly, running off of an Intel Atom 1.66GHz processor with 1GB DDR2 memory, and you can add another stick of ram for even more speed. The 10” viewable widescreen and integrated Intel graphics allow you to view movies and more. While you’re not going to be playing the latest and greatest games, you can still get your game on with some of your favorite older titles.It comes standard with a 160GB hdd, as well as integrated WiFi, and Bluetooth for connectivity on the go.

   Asus has been in the netbook industry for quite some time, and it really shows. The hinges are solid and will last for a very long time. With a price tag of around $389, this little buddy is rock solid and won’t hurt your budget.

2. MSI Wind U100
   MSI is traditionally known for making motherboards, and they’ve come out swinging with their line up of netbooks. The MSI Wind is powered by Intel’s Atom N270 processor running at 1.60GHz. Combined with 1GB of ram and Intel GMA950 integrated graphics and you have yourself a nice platform for staying productive even while away from the office. The included 3 cell battery only gives this netbook a solid 2 hours of stress usage, but the availability of an optional 6 cell battery really adds value to it.It has a wider keyboard than most of the netbooks out there, and because it is a larger netbook it does drain a little more on the battery than most. It has a 10.0” LCD screen and includes an 160GB hdd. For staying connected, integrated WiFi or Bluetooth is a big bonus. Weighing in at 2.9 lbs, it is a little bit heavier than some of its competition, but the price tag of just over $320 makes this netbook nicer on your wallet when compared to some of the others.
3. HP Mini 1035NR
   With one of the brighter screens on the market, the 1035NR also gains accolades for a well done keyboard. Its 10.2” WSVGA displays a resolution of 1024×600, and the Intel Atom 1.60GHz processor along with 1GB of DDR2 memory provides plenty of power for keeping up with your office productivity. As with several of it’s brethren, it relies on a hard drive instead of solid state. At 60GB and only 4200rmp, it is also has less storage and accesses information slower than a majority of the competition. Boot up time tends to be a little slower than many of the other netbooks out there because of this.It does come with integrated Bluetooth and WiFi allowing you to stay connected that much easier. The lack of a 6 cell battery might be a drawback for some, and requiring an adapter for VGA display certainly places a bit of a damper on what could be a rock solid offering from HP. With a recommended price tag of around $450, it may just be the most pricy netbook around with the least amount of features.
4. Acer Aspire One AOD150-1165
   The Aspire One netbook comes in with a $329 price tag. Standard features include an Intel Atom 1.60GHz processor, 1GB DDR2 ram, integrated graphics and Wifi. Everything you need to stay productive on the go is included. You’re certainly not going to be gaming or doing any serious graphic designing on this netbook, but if you’re planning on purchasing a machine with that in mind, then you’re probably not looking for a netbook anyway.It does not have integrated Bluetooth, which is something of a let down, and like most netbooks, it does not have an integrated optical drive. Getting your digital media onto this unit is a challenge, but the computer savvy person should have no issues with this.
5. Lenovo Ideapad S10e
   Always known for their quality products, Lenovo brings this netbook to the table. Integrated Bluetooth, WiFi, a netbook camera, and a 6 cell battery with up to 5 hours of operation are a great start. Add in the Intel Atom 1.60GHz processor, 1GB DDR2 memory and a 10.1” widescreen displaying at 1024×576 resolution makes the whole deal that much sweeter.

   Puzzling though is the 160GB standard HDD in lieu of a solid state drive and sole choice of Windows XP Home. A 3 cell battery places the S10e behind a few of its cousins on this list. Priced at around $350, the quality of the S10e seems to overshadow the included features.

6. Averatec N1030EA1E
   The only netbook on this list from Averatec, It has many of the same features as the rest. 10.2” viewable screen, Intel Atom 1.60GHz, 1GB DDR2 memory and onboard graphics are standard. This netbook also includes Windows XP Home installed standard. A 160GB standard HDD is included in this notebook.One downside to this netbook as is the lack of Bluetooth. Need to video conference? A 1.3 megapixel Netbook camera ensures you can participate with ease, and a 4-in-1 card reader helps you move files from your memory cards without hassle.The N1030 is lighter than some of it’s competition at 2.3 lbs, but the smaller 3 cell battery is not going to help you on a 14 hour flight. With a price tag of around $350, one might expect a few additional features.
7. Samsung NC10-14GW
   With up to 6 hours of battery life, this offering from Samsung has a lot of features packed into one small package. Features include a 10.2” screen with 1025×600 resolution, a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor and 1GB of DDR2 memory. Storage is provided by a 160GB standard HDD, so this little unit is not going to be not exactly shock proof. If your goal is to stay connected anywhere you go, integrated 802.11b/g wireless card and Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR allows you to connect to available wireless hotspots or use your Bluetooth enabled phone as a modem. Windows XP Home allows this netbook to run nice and smooth.A built in 1.3 megapixel netbook camera and a 3 in 1 memory card reader rounds out the rest of the included features. Weighing in at 2.8 lbs, this notebook is a featherweight…but the $419.99 average price tag will also make your wallet a bit lighter as well.
8. Lenovo G530-444623u Notebook
   Another offering from the folks at Lenovo, this is a fairly new player out in the market for budget minded laptops. It appears to have plenty to offer as well. A gorgeous glossy 15.4” widescreen is a good starting point for this laptop, and the only other machine on this list to offer an Intel dual core processor gives the G530 a leg up on much of the competition. 2GB of RAM is generous enough for office productivity, but you’re not likely going to be playing many games on the G530 are you?

   The onboard graphics card is the only weak point in the system, causing the performance with Vista to lag a little bit. If you’re savvy enough, installing a copy of XP or Linux might serve you better than the standard Vista that comes with the G530. With a price point of around $429, this laptop has a lot of value.

9. Compaq – Presario QL-62
   An entry level laptop, the offerings on this unit are meager compared to some of the other netbooks and notebooks on this list. It is unique however, due to the available processor at its heart. An AMD Athlon X2 provides the computing power for the QL-62, and according to some reviews that has made it a bit on the slow side. Another unique thing about this unit is the separate number pad that comes standard on the keyboard. If you’re really into spread sheets or data entry on the go, this laptop might very well be for you. Built in WiFi and stereo speakers ad a small bonus, but this laptop is also on the heavier side of the list, weighing in at 6.6lbs.
   With as cheap as memory is, the standard 2GB of DDR2 memory of this laptop is certainly a bonus. One would think that the rest of the netbooks on the list might include more. A 250GB HDD and an stardard Nvidia GeForce 8200 mobile graphics do help to ensure this laptop isn’t beyond saving, but with a starting price point of around $429, there are certainly better values out there.
10. Toshiba Satellite L305-S5945
    An inexpensive option from Toshiba, the Satellite L305 has a lot to offer. Starting with an Intel Pentium Processor T3400, 4GB of DDR2 SDRAM and a 15.4” widescreen, you can be sure that this laptop can get pretty much any job done. If you’re planning on heavy gaming though, this laptop is probably not for you. A standard onboard shared memory graphics card and only a 160GB HDD probably isn’t going to make you king of the game, but it will certainly allow you to stay productive nearly anywhere you go.
    Oddly enough, this laptop does not include Bluetooth capabilities, nor does Toshiba even allow you to add it on should you choose to customize your own Satellite L305. If you’re willing to look beyond that however, like everything else on this list, there is plenty of value to be seen in this unit.
11. Dell Mini 9 Series
    The Dell Mini 9 series is ultra thin at a mere 1.07” and weighs a slight 2.28lbs. Will it be able to cover all of your on the go needs? Its Intel Atom Processor running at 1.6gh and available 1GB DDR2 ram says yes! Integrated Intel graphics and your choice of Ubuntu Linux or Windows XP will help you stay productive no matter where you are. 16GB or 32GB solid state drive configurations add up to one sweet recipe for on the go computing and plenty of room to store music, movies and more.
    Other options such as Bluetooth or an AT&T built-in cellular mobile broadband ensure that you can stay connected nearly anywhere you go. Reviews suggesting at least 3 hours of constant usage on one battery charge are coming in, making this little buddy almost a no brainer as far as netbooks go. With an opening price point at $249 and a price point of $449 for all the bells and whistles, this netbook has a lot of value for little cost.
12. Dell Mini 12 series
    Just a slight bit bigger than it’s little brother…this offering from Dell weighs in at only 3 pounds and is just over 1” thick. The Mini 12 series is the largest of Dell’s netbook offerings.It features a keyboard 92” the size of a standard keyboard, is available in either Windows XP or Ubuntu Linux and can come in a variety of different colors and styles. An Intel Atom Processor Z520, 1GB DDR2 memory and a 40GB PATA HDD provide plenty of power to keep you surfing the web or keeping your productivity up even while on vacation. Integrated Bluetooth can help you keep your Bluetooth enabled gadgets connected.

    If you’re looking for light and portable but with power to get things done, this netbook can be yours at a starting price point of $399.

13. Dell Latitude 2100
    With a base price of $399 and the option to customize to your specifications, this netbook might just be one of the best values. Dell has always had a plethora of options available for varying costs, and the Latitude 2100 series is no exception. Need more memory? You got it. Different colors? You got it. XP or Vista? Choose…but choose wisely.Need this netbook for the business sector? Well, you see…this netbook is intended for the education sector. So your kids (or kid brother) might possibly be seeing these machines in their schools sometime soon. Even the keyboard is meant for the little guys in our lives. You can get an optional antimicrobial keyboard coating that is supposed to “provide a line of defense” against germs in the classroom. Strange, but for those of us with kids, this little gem is a big deal.

    Dell seems to have hit a home run for schools with this netbook, though it remains to be seen whether or not it actually takes off.

14. Gateway LT1005u
    Gateway’s offering starts with an Intel Atom Processor coming in at 1.60GHz and 1GB of DDR2 RAM. It comes standard with Windows XP, so for the die hard Windows guy, this might just be the netbook for you. This netbook features a 8.9” display and a media card reader with a “Smart Copy Button” enabling you to instantly download and file images directly from your camera card. The LT1005u comes standard with HD audio, providing a more rich listening experience for your listening pleasure.Gateway includes a 160GB SATA hard drive. Notably, the LT1005u is currently sold out, with Gateway having posted a note suggesting a new LT model due out this summer.
15. Dell Inspiron 15 Series
    If you’re budget minded and looking for a great laptop, this may just be the right choice for you.
    Starting with a 15.6” glossy widescreen display, the 15 series has a host of features you might find included in a much more expensive laptop. A standard Intel Celeron 585 processor with 2GB DDR2 shared memory and integrated Intel Graphics whets your appetite for basic functions such as browsing the internet and office productivity. For the graphic artist or gamer in you, a modest cost upgrade can get you an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, an impressive 4GB of DDR2 memory and a 256MB ATI Radeon HD4330 graphics card.

    As far as standard options go; integrated WiFi, a 7 in 1 media card reader round out the features on the Inspiron 15 series. It is the heaviest pc on this list at 5.8lbs, but the availability of solid upgrades make the 15 Series a solid contender for best value. If you’re content to settle for the $399 price point, the standard specs on this bad boy are hot and earn a solid spot in this list for best value for your money.

Which one would you choose?

• Published in Computers, General, Laptops on 05/28/09
• By Ian Stradling