Gamers on a tight budget might want to check out this rig with a unique mesh-pattern exterior that not only looks good but also protects against smudges and scratches.

The 14-inch HD screen displays up to 1,366 x 768 pixels. A comfortable keyboard with large keys and a multi-gesture touchpad lets you scroll, pinch and rotate easily.

It is powered by an Intel Core i5-460M processor and comes with a 4GB DDR3 RAM, 750GB hard drive and a Blu-ray drive. Graphics chores are handled by an Nvidia GeForce GT 320M graphics processor, with 1,024MB of dedicated DDR3 VRAM.

The affordable AU45JC features Asus’ Super Hybrid Engine (SHE) technology, which increases chip clockspeeds when it is handling heavy computing workloads.

With SHE activated, PCMark05 tests show that the Intel Core i5 chip in the U45Jc performs 10.3 per cent better than usual.

Its Altec Lansing speakers and an Nvidia GeForce 310M graphics processor with 1GB dedicated video memory combine for an enjoyable PC gaming and multimedia experience.

Compared to the other notebooks in this round-up, the ASUS U45JC has a smaller 14-inch HD screen.

The notebook comes with the Nvidia Optimus Technology that automatically switches between integrated and dedicated graphics to save battery life. It comes with a three-year international warranty, Norman Security Suite software, a notebook bag and an optical mouse.

Continue to read … ASUS U45JC-A1 14-Inch Thin and Light Laptop

The Dell Alienware M11x has been touted as among the world’s most powerful 11-inch notebook – perfect for gamers who are constantly on the move. Weighing 2kg, it sports a futuristic design and top-shelf hardware.

You can max out the notebook with an Intel Core i7 1.2GHz (with turbo boost for up to 2.26Ghz). It can support up to 8GB DDR3 RAM and up to 500GB hard disk or a 256GB solid state hard disk. Graphics chores are taken care of by an Nvidia GeForce GT 335M with 1GB GDDR3.

• Intel Atom N470 1.83GHz processor
• 1GB DDR2 memory
• 250GB hard drive
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 graphics
• 10/100Mbps Ethernet, wireless LAN 802.11b/g/n
• Windows 7 Starter

With its tapered edges and a razor-thin side profile, Samsung’s latest all-black N230netbook exudes business chic, putting it in a class above the sea of drab-looking laptops in the market.

In terms of raw performance, however, this 1kg device is middle-of-the-road. Compared to older sibling N220, which uses the Intel Atom N450 processor, the N230 comes with the slightly faster Atom N470 chip. However, this netbook does not feel zippier than the N220 in typical tasks like Web browsing and word processing.

In the PCMark05 benchmark test that grills PCs with a suite of computing jobs, the N230 scored 1,433 points – marginally better than N220′s 1,250points and Prolink Glee UW2′s 1,364 points. The UW2 is powered by an Atom N450 processor.

The Samsung N230 handles video streaming from sites such as YouTube and CNET TV well, but high-definition video clips trip it up.

Its 10.1-inch matte screen serves up a default resolution of 1,024 x 600 pixels, but this can be bumped up to 1,024 x 768 pixels with Samsung’s bundled Easy Resolution software.

The matte display makes it more comfortable for reading Web pages or e-books outdoors compared to glossy screens. However, compared to the Glee UW2 netbook I recently reviewed, text quality is not as sharp.

You will find a bunch of quick-access function keys on the Samsung N230, including one that lets you turn off the display in an instant to prolong battery life. On machines without this key, you would have to gradually reduce the screen brightness to zero to switch off the display.

Samsung has included a comprehensive suite of software with the Samsung N230, including the Fast Booting software that shortens the time it takes to wake the computer from sleep mode.

The three-cell battery lasted for about five hours when I used the netbook for mostly Web browsing and online document editing.

Checkout the details: Samsung N230 Series N230-11 10.1-Inch Netbook

by: Aaron Tan is an infocomm professional

• Intel Atom N450 1.66GHz processor
• 1GB DDR2 memory
• 250GB hard drive
• Up to 8GB RAM
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150
• Bluetooth V2.1, 10/100Mbps Ethernet, Wireless LAN 802.11b/g/n
• Windows 7 Starter

The LifeBook MH380 sets itself apart from other netbooks with its edgy design, a gorgeous display and a scroll wheel which is rarely seen in portable PCs.

It is also a good-looker, with rounded corners, metallic trimmings and a chrome plate on its inner hinge.

By moving your finger in circular motion on the scroll wheel, you can scroll documents and Web pages. The netbook’s track pad also supports scrolling for those who prefer not to use the scroll wheel.

Its 10.1-inch display delivers sharp-looking text and vivid graphics – thanks to a 1,336×768-pixel screen that packs in more pixels compared to most netbooks with the same screen size.

However, while high definition video clips streamed from Apple’s movie trailer website appeared vibrant, playback can be a tad jerky due to the generally weak graphics performance of netbooks.

The good audio quality of this LifeBook‘s speakers augments the visual experience. The speakers sounded louder than those in most netbooks with little distortion, even at maximum volume.

Typing on the netbook, despite its closely-packed keys, felt easy and comfortable.

My only gripe is at the lack of dedicated buttons to control volume and brightness.

Like other netbooks, the MH380 lacks an optical drive. To make up for it, Fujitsu has bundled an optical disc drive (ODD) sharing software that lets you use an optical drive from a separate PC over a network.

I installed the ODD sharing software on a Windows 7 PC with an optical drive, which took just several minutes, and copied some files from a DVD to the MH380 through my home network. The ODD sharing software, however, does not support DVD playback from any optical drive.

In the PCMark05 test suite which grills PCs on a range of computing tasks, the LifeBook MH380 fared well by scoring 1,301 points.

The six-cell battery lasted for a good seven hours when I used the netbook to work on this review, watch YouTube videos and install a handful of applications over the network.

• Intel Atom N450 1.66GHz processor
• 1GB DDR2 memory
• 250GB hard drive
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 graphics
• 10/100Mbps Ethernet, wireless LAN 802.11b/g/n, 3.75G HSUPA PCI Express Mini Card
• Windows 7 Starter

Better known for its networking products, Singapore-based IT vendor Prolink is eyeing a slice of the crowded netbook market with the Glee UW2.

The 1.1-kg portable PC with a 10.1-inch glossy display distinguishes itself from rivals with an integrated mobile broadband modem which is uncommon among netbooks.

Prolink‘s expertise in networking is evident in the way the Glee UW2 is configured for instant access to the Net.

In a matter of minutes, I was surfing with 3G cellular network, after slotting a data SIM card into the netbook’s High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) modem.

Other connectivity options include wired and wireless LAN. There is no built-in Bluetooth radio, which means you cannot use a Bluetooth mouse or transfer pictures from a cellphone over the air.

Physically, the Glee UW2 resembles the Hewlett-Packard Mini 1000, with its mouse buttons similarly placed on the left and right sides of the track pad. Those new to this layout may take a while to get comfortable.

There are some nice ergonomic touches. For instance, the six-cell battery doubles up as a stand which props up the netbook, making typing comfortable.

I also like the keyboard but found the tiny comma and full-stop buttons a pain to use. I often mistook one for the other, leading to frequent punctuation errors.

The performance of the netbook was up to mark when it comes to daily computing tasks such as Web browsing, word processing and casual Flash games.

It scored 1,364 points in the PCMark05 test, an above-average score that surpasses the 1,250 points attained by the Samsung N220, which has similar hardware specs.

Like many netbooks, the Glee UW2 is no high-definition (HD) video champ. I found the video jerky when playing clips from YouTube. You are better off watching standard definition clips.

However, the screen is bright and sharp and will make your holiday pictures look good.

The Glee UW2 runs on Windows 7 Starter edition and comes with Microsoft Office Starter 2010, a stripped-down version of the full-fledged Office suite.

The netbook lasts about six hours with a single charge on a six-cell battery, so you should be able to take the netbook out for the day without taking its power adapter along.

Powered by Intel Atom N470 processor, the X140 has 1GB of DDR2 RAM with 250GB of hard disk space. It has a 10.1-inch LED LCD display screen and weighs 1.45kg when fitted with its six-cell battery.

The X140-G is a 3G version, which allows users to connect to a 3G network and surf the Web by slotting a 3G SIM card into its chipset. Available in white, black and pink.

Samsung’s latest Q330 is a 13.3-inch wide laptop that weighs 1.96kg when fitted with its six-cell battery with an advertised 5.5 hours of battery life. It is powered by the Intel Core i5 processor and has a 500GB hard disk drive. A hybrid graphics technology regulates the PC’s use of the internal Intel HD graphics card and the dedicated Nvidia GeForce GT 310M graphics card.

• Intel Atom N450 1.66GHz processor
• 1GB RAM
• 250GB hard disk
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 graphics card
• 10.1-inch LED-backlit WSVGA display

As its name suggests, this netbook is pretty much covered up when not in use. Encased in a textured shell – even the ports and earphone jacks have their own dust covers – it has a sleek, streamlined design and comes in two colours: loud pink and a more muted brown.

It has a glossy screen and a keyboard which is adequate for typing.

Overall, the device is thin compared with other netbooks.

The hardware configuration, though similar to the HP Mini‘s, generates a higher score of 901 in the Geekbench test, just slightly below that of the much pricier Sony Vaio X.

Click for more: ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005PE-PU17-BU 10.1-Inch Blue Netbook

• Intel Atom N450 1.66GHz processor
• 2GB RAM
• 320GB hard disk
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 graphics card
• 10.1-inch WSVGA LED HP BrightView Infinity display

If you used the Vivienne Tam HP netbook in the dark, you probably would not be able to tell the difference between it and the regular HP Mini 210.

Both share the same physical attributes, but the Vivienne Tam version comes in a light gold sheen, complete with a butterfly motif from the designer’s 2010 fashion collection.

That is all it takes to increase the charm factor of this simple netbook, which is targeted more at women and metrosexuals.

The responsive trackpad, along with the neatly spaced out keyboard, is a plus.

As for performance, it scores 836 points on the Geekbench test – the lowest rating among the netbooks tested here.

checkout the spec here: HP Mini 210-1099SE 10.1-Inch Vivienne Tam Edition Netbook