Biggest Small Package: The 6 Best Netbook Models

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When you are traveling or doing business away from home, you might not need the biggest and most deluxe laptop you can buy. If all you want is a capable platform to do web browsing, email, and construct some basic documents, you will be amazed at how much you can do with a small device.

A netbook might be the answer to your problems of traveling light while still needing something a bit bigger than a tablet. If you’re in the market for a new computer that sacrifices a bit of raw power to save you some money, a new netbook might be the perfect solution.

Product.	Image	Rating	Check Price
Lenovo 110S Premium			Check Price
HP Stream Laptop			Check Price
Dell i3168-0027			Check Price
ASUS E200HA			Check Price
Acer A01-132-C129			Check Price
ASUS Transformer Mini			Check Price

How Can You Find the Best Netbook?

Image Via Pixabay

There was a time not too long ago when it seemed like computers were getting more powerful every day. Desktops and laptops advanced and pushed the boundaries of personal computers further and further.

What they had in performance and cutting-edge technology made up for the lack of real portability in a PC.Although a laptop computer is meant to be carried with you, the main draw of a laptop is its ability to resemble something you would use at home.

Current laptops on the market are as capable of running quality gaming and animation as desktops from just a few years ago.With this in mind, you may find that a laptop’s specs are a bit too advanced for what you need to do on the go.

Sure, a laptop is portable, but how portable is something that weighs 15 pounds and has to fit in a dedicated bag? Netbooks began to pop up a couple years ago when people demanded a focus on the portable aspect of a computer.

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In terms of appearance, they are similar to a laptop, but you’ll notice that almost all models are lighter and more capable of travel. Netbooks typically drop a lot of storage space in favor of easy access to network connections.

Buying one of the best netbooks is kind of like bridging the gab between a laptop and a tablet. If a laptop is too powerful and cumbersome for you while a tablet doesn’t give you the accessibility you need for creating professional documents, consider netbooks as a happy medium.

There are many choices available to you in 2019, but thankfully, it’s easy to find one that fits your needs.

How We Chose Our Ratings

When finding a netbook, the included features are one of the biggest influences on the final score. The importance of conveniently taking your work on the go cannot be understated. Brand name quality was also considered, as certain names bring expectations.

The price of each netbook was considered, but not as much weight was given to this factor. If one model performed better than another despite a price difference, the higher score went to the better computer.  

Top 6 Best Netbooks You Can Buy

Once you determine what you need out of a portable computer, you can decide which on this list is the best fit for you.

Lenovo 110S Premium

The Lenovo 110S is not only the first on the list, it’s probably the cheapest option you will come across during your shopping. Many accessories for your desktop are more expensive than the price of the 110S.

Considering how inexpensive it is, the performance more than makes up for the investment.This model comes with an 11.6-inch HD monitor that looks excellent and perfectly displays any movies or videos you’ll be watching on the go.

There’s no way you would mistake this for a desktop or even a moderately-equipped laptop. It’s incredibly affordable and mobile, which is exactly what you’re looking for out of a good netbook. This Lenovo is extremely lightweight and easy to pack into any of your bags.

You won’t be doing much with this device, but you can pull it out any time you need to quickly entertain yourself or answer questions related to work. If you’re considering gifting this to someone else, it’s a great option to include as an incentive for a contest or a first computer for a child.

Obviously, the price does raise a few questions about the performance of the Lenovo. It’s nothing special, and the Intel Celeron processor won’t let you run any current-gen video games on this device. Realistically, that shouldn’t be one of your concerns.  

A 1.6 GHZ processor inside such a tiny piece of equipment is an incredible achievement. The Lenovo comes equipped with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections. You’ll have no problems connecting this to the internet and working with any cloud-based software you need for business.

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HP Stream Laptop

Despite the name, the HP Stream Laptop is not built to mimic one of its bigger relatives on the portable computer market. Despite its size, HP crammed 4GB of RAM into the machine, making it one of the fastest netbooks you can find on the market.

If you are a blogger who happens to travel a lot, this machine will do everything you need. The speed that you get out of this computer is unparalleled for its size and you won’t find any interruptions in performance. Thanks to the Intel Celeron N3060 processor, you’ll get an added boost in CPU speed. It’s not a desktop processor but on a netbook, it feels lightning-fast.

The look of this computer might make you think it’s designed for a younger audience, but once you put your hands on the keyboard, you won’t worry about the aesthetics behind the HP Stream. It has an incredibly advanced cooling system that prevents the CPU from reaching any critical temperatures. You won’t need to worry about taking breaks from long work periods to cool it off.

The display isn’t particularly impressive, but you won’t mind considering the low cost of the Stream. You’ll find Windows 10 already installed on the device, and new models come with a year of Office 365 included.

You’ll want to work with cloud-based software as much as you can since there’s only 32 GB of eMMC on this computer.The HP Stream is another excellent choice if you need a capable keyboard and monitor without dipping too deeply into your bank account.

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Dell i3168-0027

The Dell name hasn’t enjoyed a lot of success in recent years, but that hasn’t stopped them from putting out a few quality products along the way. The Dell i3168 isn’t going to blow any expectations out of the water, but it’s a perfectly capable computer that is especially portable and lightweight.

For anyone that is still attached to the Dell name, this won’t do anything to lower their opinions of the name. One of the great features of this computer is its convertible nature. Fold the monitor and you suddenly find yourself on a tablet. You can even use the monitor as a touchscreen if it’s still propped up like a traditional laptop.

Getting a tablet and netbook at the same time is the main advantage of this device. It’s equipped with an Intel Core processor, giving it a nice strength boost over some of the other cheaper options on the market. 2 GB of RAM isn’t going to give you a lot of speed, but for basic tasks on a small device, it’s perfectly capable.

Thanks to Dell engineering, the system is never in any position to potentially overheat. It also uses Waves MaxxAudio Pro, providing advanced sound technology that you wouldn’t expect out of such a small piece of equipment.

There are other more powerful features available in netbooks across the market, but the Dell i3168 does a lot to make up for its lack of strength. Using it as a tablet is one such feature, and coupled with its audio capabilities, you might fall in love with the Dell name all over again.

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ASUS E200HA

You might balk at the price tag for the ASUS E20​​0HA, and it’s understandable. The price this netbook commands could buy you a reasonably-equipped laptop, or a brand-new tablet. The design of this computer is meant to mimic that of a MacBook, and you can tell where the engineering choices originated.

Built more like a full laptop than a miniature substitute, this computer has a metal body that is as light as it is thin. You’ll be surprised when you hold it in your hands and don’t need to exert any extra strength to keep it propped up.

The brightness of the monitor will knock you out and could easily light up the entire hotel room when you shut off the lights during your business travels. Although the price is significantly more than others on the market, it comes with 4 GB of RAM, making it one of the fastest of its kind.

The Intel Atom processor isn’t a holdover like the Celeron and this could easily compete with other computers.

Another great feature with the ASUS is the battery life. You can easily play over half a day’s worth of video before exhausting the charge. Don’t let the price fool you, as this computer will last longer than others. 

On top of giving you more under the hood, you’ll love the metal casing, which can take much more abuse than other plastic models on the market.

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Acer A01-132-C129

4.5/5 stars

Acer has made a name for themselves with portable computers, and the light weight  netbook is no exception. Weighing only 2 pounds, you’ll forget that this device is even in your bag before you have to take it out for security checkpoints. The light weight is also reflected in the low price, which should make you happy when taking the plunge on a new purchase.

For anyone who just needs a computer that hooks to the internet and runs basic Microsoft Office apps, the A01 is a fine choice. 4 GB of RAM coupled with an Intel Celeron processor is everything you need to run professional software while occasionally watching videos on YouTube. With a 1.6 GHz processor, you won’t wait long for apps to open.

The Acer comes with an internal 32GB of flash memory, giving you more than enough space for creating documents and sheets. The portable nature lets you stuff it into most purses and backpacks without a second thought.

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ASUS Transformer Mini

5/5 stars

For those who want a more deluxe version of a netbook, the ASUS Transformer Mini is a luxury model among other choices on the market. It’s a convertible, rotating 170 degrees for anyone who needs a tablet, laptop, or presentation display.

You can choose between your finger, a keyboard, or the included stylus pen for input. The pen also doubles as a writing utensil and a sketching device for any artistic work you need to do.

The 10.1-inch display is a bit smaller than others on this list, but it’s bright enough to make up for the lack of sheer size. It’s one of the only netbooks you can find with a quad-core processor. This won’t rival a desktop by any means, but you’ll have no problem keeping multiple tabs open while you work.

The Transformer Mini also includes a touch scanner on the trackpad for the mouse. In conjunction with Windows Hello, it makes your computer completely secure and only operable by you.

The included keyboard has a slim enough profile that you won’t have a problem tucking this into one of your backpack’s inner sleeves. You can choose between 64GB or 128GB of flash memory. For the price, this computer is a steal.

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Buyer’s Guide to the Best Netbook

Now that you have explored 5 of the best netbooks on the market, it’s time to figure out which one is the best choice for you. Do you need something that converts into a tablet at a moment’s notice, or stands on its own for a presentation?

Are you only going to use it personally during work hours or at night when you’re winding down? The best part about these tiny computers is their portability and what they give up in order to fit into your bag.

Even without a traditional hard drive, you’re still perfectly capable of storing tons of information to the virtual memory contained inside each computer.

Final Thoughts on Purchasing a Netbook

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You’ll save a good chunk of money going with one of these devices over a regular laptop. You’ll be surprised when you realize you don’t need all the advanced standard features of a laptop.

Once you figure out which is the best for you, make sure you have the extra space inside your bag to accommodate your new device.

Netbooks are the perfect investment for you if you plan to spend many working days on the road. Finding the best one will be like meeting a new coworker and becoming partners.

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