Laptops up to 12'' Test

Reviews on Laptops up to 12''

"Intel Classmate PC"

Published on: 3/2008

On test: Intel Classmate PC

While the OLPC XO-1 is perhaps the best-known laptop aimed at people in developing communities, Intel has already shipped thousands of its Classmate PC systems to test markets, including Mexico and Brazil. With a 7-inch display and solid-state hard drive, the Classmate shares many physical traits with the £219 Linux-based Asus Eee PC -- a product that's actually available to consumers -- but the Classmate is clearly designed to withstand greater wear and tear, with a thick ruggedised plastic shell.

"HP Compaq 2710p"

Issue: 12/2007

On test: Hewlett-Packard Compaq 2710p

It was only a few months ago that an HP product manager remarked to PC Pro that the tablet PC was "dead" as far as consumer use went. As hard as Microsoft tried, the mass market never took to the idea of pen-driven, touchscreen notebooks, and manufacturers brave enough to devote serious resources to the tablet were forced to look elsewhere. Vertical markets - such as education and healthcare industries - show the most promise. And, weighing just 1.7kg, the 2710p is probably the ideal size for holding in the crook of your arm in a warehouse.

"Sony Vaio VGN-UX1XN"

Issue: 67/2007

On test: Sony VAIO UX1XN

We've seen Ultra Mobile PCs before here at the PDA Essentials office, and the Vaio VGN-UX1XN fits the bill nicely. It runs a fully fledged desktop operating system - Windows Vista Business. It has a built-in keyboard. And it's tiny, tiny, tiny by PC standards.

"Asus Eee PC 4G 701"

Published on: 10/2007

On test: Asus Eee PC 4G 701

When you review over a hundred products a year, it's a rare thing to become truly excited about something. Yet, when Asus' Eee PC landed in our office recently it garnered genuine excitement. Indeed, when we first heard about the Eee PC it immediately drew comparisons to the burgeoning and frankly imperfect UMPC sector. However, as we learned more about the device, it generated more interesting comparisons to such yesteryear classics as the Psion Series 5 and the legendary netBook. Is the Eee PC the natural successor to such devices?

Laptops up to 12''

Ultra portable laptops are perfect for both students and businessmen. They can offer just as much computing horsepower as a desktop PC, take up about as much space as a textbook and probably weigh less. The small keyboards of older models have been replaced with often full-sized keys in 12” laptops and even smaller models have improved ergonomics to a significant degree. An ultraportable, thanks to its long battery life and small format factor, is also perfect for watching movies on the plane. Even the seats in low cost airlines have enough space for such a small computer.

The only problem with such a small computer is the price, less is definitely more - more money. A small laptop will generally cost more than, say, a 15in model, but the components used will have been specially designed and are often of better quality. Most will now include a dual core processor and at least 512 MB of RAM, a DVD/CD is available on all but the smallest models, but these can often be expanded by using a docking station to add full sized keyboard, CD and DVD writing capabilities and speakers.