Choosing the netbook that will give you all of the reliability and the features that you need without setting your budget into an uproar and forcing you to spend too much for the technology is not an easy challenge. After all, there are a lot of different options out there, made by a bevy of different companies and comparing all of them could easily turn into a full time job. Assuming that you have a job, or that you at least don't want to make netbook comparisons your job, leaves you with one option. You need the advice of an expert, and that is why you are here looking at this review, to get the lowdown on one of the models you are interested in. Then you can decide if what this system has to offer will meet your needs.

Today, we are going to look at the ASUS 1215N-PU27-SL, which comes it in about $484.03, when you order it on Amazon. Now that we know if it is in your budget, lets talk about the specs.

This system sports an Intel Dual Core Atom D525 processor that is backed up by an Nvidia ION 2 processor for the graphics, this means that the image quality that you get on the 12.1" screen will be HD, 1366x768 for those you who are counting every pixel on your system for bragging purpose's. So if you love your streaming media, or HD gaming then this system is well worth considering.

The ASUS 1215N-PU27-SL is sporting a 500GB SATA hard drive, and like all of the other netbooks out there it has no optical drive. Since this machine is sporting three USB ports you should have no problem getting your media onto and off of it, or expanding the memory to suit your needs.

The operating system is Windows 7 Home Premium and this machine's batter lasts for about six hours of normal usage.

2011 may be over, but you can still get your hands on one of the best budget* netbooks that you could have gotten last year. You may even be rewarded with a slightly lower price for waiting for your new netbook. To that end you are going to take a look at the ten best netbooks of the year gone by.

1. Acer Aspire One AOD257-1486 10.1-Inch Netbook (Espresso Black)

$299.99

2. ASUS Eee PC 1001PXD-EU17-BK 10.1-Inch Netbook (Black)

$220

3. Acer Black 10.1" Aspire One AOD257-13404 Netbook PC (Intel Atom N455 Processor, Windows 7 Starter, 1GB DDR3, 250GB Hard drive, Webcam, Black)

$284.95

4. Acer Aspire One AOD270-1410 10.1-Inch Netbook (Espresso Black)

$279.99

5. ASUS Eee PC 1015PX-PU17-BK 10.1-Inch Netbook (Black)

$276.98

6. ASUS Eee PC 1015PX-MU17-BU 10.1-Inch Netbook (Blue)

$234.39

7. Sony VAIO VGN-P530H/Q Lifestyle PC - Black

$299.99

8. Acer Aspire One AOD270-1679 10.1-Inch Netbook (Aquamarine)

$279.99

9. ASUS X101-EU17-BK 10.1-Inch Netbook (Black)

$204.18

10. ASUS Eee PC 1015PX-PU17-BU 10.1-Inch Netbook (Blue)

$268.72

So which one is the best one for you? A lot depends on your needs. If you want to get a better idea of what is going on with your top three you can check out this site for more in-depth reviews and look to see if the system has what you need in a netbook.

*Budget means under $300 for our purposes.

Many people have been predicting the downfall of the netbook for some time now. They are saying that it will die an ugly death at the hands of the tablet PC. Well some evidence is coming into the contrary. Though it is not completely overwhelming evidence for the comeback of the netbook it is a good sign for the makers of netbooks.

Asustek Computer Inc, a Taiwanese netbook PC maker that does a lot of work in the netbook technology, has posted some nice profits. Well at least a nice increase, even if it is tempered with some less encouraging information. The company shows a significantly better than expected profit (net, not gross) in the third quarter of this year.

Though this is a mixed blessing, since the company is expecting a decline in the number of shipments for the next quarter. So the next quarter the increase may not be as good of news.

The company released numbers showing the Asustek's net profits for the period between July and September was a total of T$4.68 billion. To give you an idea of how that translates out the a single US Dollar is equivalent to about 29 Taiwanese dollars. While this still makes the sum impressive, it is not as big as you may assume it to be.

Shipments are going to go down next quarter though. The company has 4.3 million shipments in the third quarter and expects to have only 4.1 million this quarter. There is no word yet as to whether or not the third quarter increase was do to netbook makers gearing up for the holiday season.

A group of analysts, 13 in total, had expected Asustek to only earn a net profit of T$4.40 billion in the third quarter, according to a poll by conducted by Thomson Reuters. So the increase is a very nice change.

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This week's deal in netbooks is the ASUS Eee PC 1001PXD-EU17-WT 10.1-Inch Netbook (White) a netbook that comes in very price light at only $248.00, but in the hands of the right user could be a dream come true. Now, lets get down to what you really want to see.

System Specs

The ASUS Eee PC 1001PXD-EU17-WT 10.1-Inch Netbook (White) has an Intel Atom N455 processor running at a speed of 1.66GHz. It comes with a 250GB hard drive and like most netbooks it has no optical drive. The display is a 10.1-inch with a resolution of 1024 by 600. Other features include a 0.3 megapixel webcam and a card reader. Battery life is about four hours and the operating system is Windows 7 Starter with a total weight of 2.43 pounds.

The Ideal User

This systems battery life puts it out of reach for hardcore users, but it is ideal for users who plan on using their netbooks for school or at home. The system has enough of a punch to let you get your work done without being too expensive to make it impractical for those of you on a tight budget. Home based users who will stream media, check email and play on Facebook will find this is great portable option that will make them just as happy as a laptop that is four times the cost. This may also be a good choice for younger professionals as well since it gives you the mobile productivity edge without forcing you to miss a rent payment or eat ramen every night.

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When you first take a look at the Asus Eee PC X101 you will really, really think that you are looking at a MacBook Air at least on the outside. This newest offering to come from the world of ultra-thin netbooks is certainly different on the inside, since it comes with a MeeGo-based operating system, an open-source OS that used to belong to Nokia and has since found a home with the folks over at the Linux Foundation. That can be a good thing and a bad one. Finding app for the MeeGo will be a lot more limited, but the cost of using this OS has kept the systems costs surprisingly low. At $199 it has undercut a lot of the netbooks on the market.

The Asus Eee PC X101 is expected to have a single-core Intel Atom N435 or N455 processor, with up to 2GB of DDR3 memory and 8 GB of SSD storage. The 0.3MP webcam will be useful mostly for chatting. The screen is a 10.1-inch LED with a resolution of 1024 x 600. Lets stack that up next to the MacBook Air, which costs $999. The processors options, Intel i5 and i7, which start with 32GB of hard drive space. The graphics are also HD but the camera is a significant upgrade.

The final conclusion, for 1/5 of the price of a Macbook Air it is definitely more than 1/5th of the machine. If you are truly in need of high performance model then you should go with the air, but for students and users who are going to play more than work this is a great budget option.

The Asus Eee PC X101 comes out in September. If you can't wait, check out our netbook comparisons page to find one that you can buy right now.

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Giving your kid’s technology seems to be a part of growing up for the digital generation. Of course, with every newfound piece of technology comes a world of new parental concerns. For the most part when you give your child a netbook you only have a minimal amount of control over what is going on when they go on the web, unless you get a system that can help you along the way.

A netbook like the Disney Netpal gives you exactly that, without any fuss or the stress of buying and installing third party nanny software. This system is actually ideal for giving younger children (and your less than responsible older children) what they need without a lot of arguments over why you are watching them browse.

This system gives you a lot of personal security options. Parents can control how messages go in and out of the system by pre-select email correspondence options, such as who can and cannot be contacted. You can also restrict which websites you child can visit, meaning that if you think your seven year old is too young to be on Facebook you can keep her off. At least you can while she is on her own computer. If you want to be able to authorize websites on a one-time basis, say for a school project, there is a password-protected locking system that allows you to authorize sites on the fly.

Lets say that you want to limit the amount of time your kids spend on line in general. With the scheduling feature you can grant access to the web (or just to specific sites - read as gaming sites, social networking or any other time waster of choice) only at specific times and days. So gaming at 10am on a Saturday can be OK, while 10pm of a Tuesday can be a no go.

Of course if you just want to out and out spy you can use the Disney browser, which is built into the Disney Netpal to find out exactly where your kids have been on the web and how long their spent there.

Now, lets talk about the specs. The Disney Netpal comes with Microsoft Windows XP as its operating system, which is a good thing for most kids and their less-technologically inclined parents, since it is generally very easy to use. The 8.9-inch LCD screen has a resolution of 1024x600. It is not quite HD, but it is still nothing to scoff at, and do your kids really need HD? We both know that the answer is probably not.

The system has an Intel Atom N270 processor with a 160GB hard drive. The system also comes with 10GB of online storage; if your kids go through a lot of media this can be a blessing. Just be aware that it is temporary, and will expire after a year. The battery life is about five hours.

On the whole this system is a great choice for children, but if you want to shop around a bit you can check out our netbook comparisons page to find what you need.

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When some of us buy a netbook we are thinking about being able to get their work done from anywhere. When other people buy a netbook they are thinking about being able to play their favorite games from anywhere. Though, to be honest most of us are probably going to do a little bit of both with our machines and we should probably do our shopping with both of those things in mind.

So, with your new found sense of the reality of how you are going to use this machine, you are going to want to consider the ASUS Eee 1008P-KR-MU17-BR. It is a good middle of the road option for a wide variety of users who are in search of a machine that will let you both work and play adequately without having to deal with too many of the specialty options and the higher costs that come with all of those bells and whistles that come on those netbooks. If you want to have a machine that is good for both then this really is a great option.

Now, lets talk about the specs.

The system features an Intel Atom N450 Processor, which gives end users a powerful enough processor to meet most of your needs without giving you any lag. Of course, like any processor it has its limits and netbooks are not inherently built for multi-tasking, so if you abuse it the system will be slow. Do one, maybe two things at a time, and you should not have any issues with getting work done. Try to download six movies, run high processing needs software and have a video chat and you will get the same reaction from most netbooks, a large lag.

The ASUS Eee 1008P-KR-MU17-BR has a 250GB hard drive, which is standard for most netbooks and has the capacity to store most of your work files, and a modest media collection that you can supplement with your favorite streaming sites. The system also comes with one year of free cloud storage, a grand total of 500GB of it, that you can use either as a backup or to keep things that you would not want to otherwise store on your netbook. Just be aware that once the year is up you are going to have to pay in order to keep the storage.

The 10.1" screen has a resolution of 1024 x 600, which for an LCD Display is pretty good. It really is not a high definition screen, but it is as close as you can get without paying the costs of HD. When you consider it paired with the Intel UMA Graphics Card you can see how you are going to get a good experience from your sites. As long as your expectations are reasonable you will not be disappointed.

On the whole the ASUS Eee 1008P-KR-MU17-BRis a good choice for someone who is not all work and not all play. If however, you are looking for something a bit more specialized you can look through our netbook comparisons page to find a model that is just right for you.

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When you think about it not all netbooks are created equal and not all netbooks are equal for all users. What you need is a netbook that fits your needs. Remember that finding a good netbook is a lot like finding a good spouse it is not so much about finding something that is perfect, but finding the one that is perfect for your wants and needs. So, without any further ado lets take a sneak peek at some of your potential new suitors and soon enough you will have one that fits you like a glove.

The Worker Bee

If you want to get your hands on a machine that is all work and no play then you are in luck. Not only are machines made for work needs are usually less expensive then their beefier work and play models. Lets take a look at two of your best options.

The ASUS Eee PC 1015PEM-MU17-WT

The ASUS Eee PC 1015PEM-MU17-WT features a Intel Atom Dual Core N550 and a 250GB hard drive. The real news is that it come set up with 500GB of free web storage to make it ideal for holding all of the spreadsheets and presentations that you need to keep track of, and possibly refer to, in order to get your work done without sucking up all of your storage space. It boasts 10 hours of battery life, which will get you though a full day of work plus some and it has the Windows 7 Starter Operating System.

The Samsung NB30-JP02 1

The Samsung NB30-JP02 is great for work because it is designed to deal with daily wear and tear as well as the occasional drop. The devices limited memory is expandable with the help of a 4-in-1-memory card slot and 3 USB 2.0 ports. It has slightly less battery life than the one mentioned above, with nine hours of average use time.

Media Lover

Just because you need to work does not mean that you can't get to play as well. If you are a media lover at heart then these machines will give you the power you need and the work you need to get done.

Toshiba NB505-N508BL

The Toshiba NB505-N508BL is equipped with an Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 video processor that can use up to 250 MB dynamically allocated shared graphics memory in order to stream your media quickly and easily. The widescreen has a display resolution of 1024-x 600-pixel resolution. Add it to the built in media software that allows you to interface with devices such as the Xbox 360 game console and you can see how the system is built to work and play.

Samsung NF310-A01

If you want a machine that you may actually be able to get your company to buy the consider the Samsung NF310-A01 it may not be a media monster with a wide screen but behind that Intel® Atom N550 Dual-Core processor it has an HD screen with a resolution of 1366x768 it can definitely get you what you want with your streaming services.

There you have it. A look at some of your best options for netbooks at work, whether you want to just work or you want to work and play at the same time.

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If you are in search of a work horse that can keep up with your day to day work life on the go then you should consider the ASUS 1215N. This system has everything that you need to keep on working and avoid many of the common work flow issues that can happen when you are using a mobile device as your primary tool for getting your job done. As a matter of fact, with a 500GB hard drive you will get some great long-term storage out of this device. It can run more labor intensive work tools, such as Photoshop, should you need them for your work.

This netbook comes with Intel Dual Core Atom D525 processors, which can handle most of the work that you need to do. You will have no problem working with spreadsheets or anything else office related. The system also has 512 MB of dedicated video memory, which means that is can run media without taking too much of a drain on the systems overall power to power the Nvidia ION 2 graphics card. When you combine this with a screen resolution of 1366x768, you may be tempted to let play creep into your netbook, since this system can handle graphics of a very high quality. Though, if you want to watch a DVD you need to use an external drive, since this system has no built in optical drive, though this is fairly standard for a netbook. The web cam is less impressive at 0.3MP, but it will get the job done when you want to chat.

The ASUS 1215N comes equipped with the standard ports, three USB, one 2-in-1 Card Reader and then a bonus, the Bluetooth 3.0 for faster file sharing, which is a blessing if you happen to share a lot of large files.

The operating system is Windows 7 Home Premium Operating System, which will work well for corporate users who need to meet security guidelines, or the majority of home users who simply want to buy a netbook without having to learn an entirely new operating system. The 32-bit option keeps the system from eating up too much of your memory. On the whole it is a solid, if not innovative choice that will meet your needs. What is innovative is that if you only have basic web-browsing needs you can boot the system without using Windows and get to the web, allowing you to run lighter, leaner and use less battery in the process.

The ASUS 1215N has a battery live of roughly six hours. While this is not exactly a full work day, it will get you though a good portion of it, before you need to reach for your cord in order to get some more juice for your system.

On the whole if you choose this machine you will be very happy with what you get. Of course, if you are in search of something different (or if you just like to be sure before you buy) you can check out other great models on our netbook comparisons page.

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Let's take a look at what the ASUS Eee PC 1001PXD-EU17-BK 10.1-Inch Netbook (Black) has to offer you. It comes equipped with an Intel Atom N455 1.66GHz processor, which is a fairly decent offering for a machine that isn't designed to be processing heavy. Its maximum memory capacity is 2GB, but it can be expanded with the help of the 2-in-1 Card Reader and an SD card. Just be aware that by default the machine comes with only 1 GB DDR3 SODIMM memory, so consider that SD card to be an essential component when you get the machine.

Sadly, there is no optical drive, and while this is not unusual for a netbook, it does limit the ways that you can read and transfer data, and if you are in a pinch on the road this may become a real issue. Though, admittedly this is not going to be a big issue in day to day use, since you will have time to prepare, and put things on a flash drive. Just be aware that the usb ports are on opposite sides of system, so if you need to use anything that requires multiple ports, such as an external optical drive, you will find yourself in need of extra accessories.

The 10 inch screen can actually deal with some pretty high definition graphics, up to 1024X600 with its LED display.  Considering that HD clocks in at 1080, this is nothing to balk at. It isn't an HD display, but this is a solid resolution for handling media applications, such as streaming your favorite TV shows from Hulu while you wait in an airport, or wind down in your hotel room. The web cam is a bit of a disappointment, at only 0.3MP, but it will get you through a basic video chat.

The system comes with the Windows 7 Starter Operating System which is a mixed bag. The good news is that you can expect reliable performance and a small learning curve. The bad news is that the version of MS Office that comes with this tablet has ads in it, and you will get sick of those quickly. This model does not come with Windows Live Mail installed.

Battery life is about four hours, which is the same as the advertised specs on the system. On the whole, if you do not use CD's or DVD's that often this is a solid option for the price.

If you want, you can buy this machine at Amazon for $249.99

To research more netbook models, please check out our netbook comparison grid.

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