A mini laptop, or a netbook as they are sometimes called, is a lightweight portable computer. They generally weight around two to three pounds, or about half to two thirds the size of a standard notebook computer. They are also less expensive and tend to have long battery lives. Mini laptops are great for students, travelers, and others who are looking for a lightweight portable computer. They are great for reading email, surfing the web, chatting and doing student or office-type work on the go.

Before you go out to purchase a mini laptop you need to keep a few things in mind. First of all, they generally do not have a CD/DVD drive and the processors, memory and hard drive space are less than a standard notebook computer. If you are looking to do a lot of multimedia activity or online gaming, a mini laptop computer may not be sufficient for your needs. However, if you are looking for a lightweight, inexpensive and highly portable computer to carry around with you, then a mini laptop might be just what you need.

So first consider what your needs are. You will also want to consider the screen size, battery life, keypad, software the mini laptop comes with, the operating system (many come with only Linux and not Windows), the features, and of course the price.

Asus and Acer are two of the leading brands of mini laptop computers. I will review the ASUS Eee PC 1000HE and Acer Aspire One AOD150-1165 below.

The ASUS 1000HE is a top of the line mini laptop computer. It is fast, lightweight, inexpensive and has been well received by consumers.

The ASUS 1000HE is the first to use the new Intel Atom N280 processor and provides 1 GB of memory, which is upgradeable to 2 GB. It comes with an 160 GB hard drive as well as 10 GB of online storage. The netbook featuers a 10 inch screen, ergonomic chicklet keyboard (92% the size of a regular notebook computer) and provides up to 9.5 hours of battery life. It also comes with built-in wireless and Bluetooth connectivity and has a 1.3 megapixel webcam. The ASUS Eee PC 1000HE comes preloaded with Windows XP Home and Microsoft Works.

Users of the ASUS Eee PC 1000HE have been very pleased with their experience. Many have noted that they are happy with the speed, comfortable keyboard, screen and display. Consumers have also noted that the wireless connectivity works flawlessly and that it delivers great value for its price. One drawback that some have noted is the sound on the speakers is not of the highest quality.

If you are looking for a fast, lightweight, inexpensive mini computer that is highly portable and loaded with features, the ASUS Eee PC 1000HE is a great option to consider.

Features

* First mini laptop computer with the Intel Atom N280 processor (667MHz FSB)
* 10 inch screen and large chiclet keyboard
* 160GB hard disk drive and 10 GB Eee of online storage
* Memory: 1GB DDR-2 SODIMM (memory size is upgradable to 2GB)
* Preloaded with Microsoft Windows XP Home and Microsoft Works
* Up to 9.5 hours of battery life
* Built-in 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for easy wireless connectivity
* 1.3 megapixel Webcam
* Storage Cards: 2-in-1 MMC and SD(SDHC) flash card slot
* Input/Output: 1 VGA port, 3 USB 2.0 ports, 1 LAN RJ-45, 2 audio jacks: headphone & mic-in
* 1 Year Warranty on parts and labor
* Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.5 x 1.1 inches ; 3.2 pounds

The Acer Aspire One AOD150-1165 is another high quality mini laptop computer. It features the 1.6 GHz Atom N270 Processor, comes with a 160 GB hard drive, 1 GB of memory, a 10.1 inch screen and battery life of up to 6.5 hours. The Acer AOD150-1165 is integrated with wireless connectivity as well as a webcam and microphone. This mini laptop also comes fully loaded with Windows XP Home and weighs just under 3 pounds.

Consumers have rated the Acer Aspire One AOD150-1165 very favorably. Users have noted it is fast, lightweight and easily transportable. A few have noted that the mouse buttons are a bit stiff and take some getting used to. Another thing to note is that this mini laptop does not come with built-in Bluetooth capability.

Features

* The 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor
* 160GB Hard Drive
* 1GB RAM (exgradeable to 2 GB)
* Integrated 802.11b/g Wi-Fi Certified
* 10.1 inch screen
* 6-cell battery provides up to 6 1/2 hours of battery life
* Windows XP Home with Service Pack 3 (SP3)
* Integrated Webcam and Microphone
* Multi-in-one card reader supports Secure Digital (SD), MultiMediaCard (MMC), Reduced Size MultiMedia (RS-MMC), Memory Stick/Memory Stick PRO, and XD Picture Cards
* 3 USB 2.0 ports, 1 VGA monitor port, 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack, RJ-45 port, Kensington lock slot
* 1 year limited warranty on parts and labor
* Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 10.2 x 1.3 inches ; 3 pounds