Top 10 inch netbooks available in the UK

For most of you guys reading this site from UK, this is a list of the popular 10 inch netbooks available in your country. You can call it an individualized versions of the US best netbooks post, built mainly on what’s popular and appreciated on the UK market, based on bestselling lists and also on marks and reviews received by those products from experts and regular buyers.

Best netbooks in UK

You will notice that the UK netbooks market is dominated by two producers: Asus and Samsung, with others like Toshiba or Compaq having their fans, mainly because their products are very very good. There are very few Dells or HPs, because those mini laptops are usually overpriced and not truly a competition for the devices made by the brands mentioned above. They are popular in the US because of their brand awareness, excellent prices and good service networks, but not so much in Europe or Asia.

That being said, let’s take a look at the best 10 inch mini laptops you can get these days in Great Britain. Most of them come with good prices and are available on Amazon.co.uk , an online store offering some of the best prices for such devices and known for professionalism (offers Money Back Guarantee policies in case you decide you don’t like the products).

Asus EEEPC 1001P – cheap can actually be good

You know there’s a saying that “good things don’t come cheap”? Well, that’s not true all of the time. The Asus EEE PC 1001P is one of the exceptions confirming the rule. It is not the best in terms of features on the market, but for around 230 pounds, offers you most of the things you would want from such a small computer, in a reliable and solid built casing.

The 1001P is part of the Seashell line and benefits from a very nice design. It’s not glossy, but comes with a textured case (both the exterior and the interior palm rest), which makes it less sensible to scratches, fingerprints and scratches. You also get a matte display, excellent when using your notebook outside or in strong light conditions.

In terms of hardware, the 1001P packs the standard N450 Atom 1.66Ghz processor, 1 GB of RAM and 160 GB storage space. You also get webcam, card-reader, 3xUSB ports and Wi-Fi connectivity (but no Bluetooth). Add a 6 cell battery (up to 10-11 hours of life) and Windows XP Home as OS and you’ll get an idea on the whole package. Having Windows XP and not Windows 7 is not necessarily a bad thing, as the older OS will perform better on these small and low-powered machines.

All these for 229 pounds, in black or white. More pics and details are available here. You can also buy the device from that link, with Free Delivery included to UK. All in all, the 1001P is a great netbook for its money, like i also concluded in my review for this series. You will be able to get better devices these days, but if you’re on a tight budget and want something without the fancy details, this one will do just fine.

Asus 1001P - matte, cheap and just great

Toshiba Mini NB 305  – most comfortable and overall the best

If you can spare some extra quid for a better machine, the Toshiba Mini NB305 is right now the best netbook you can get in the 10 inch class. It brings all you’d want: good hardware, great build quality and autonomy, comfortable and ergonomic keyboard/trackpad and good reliability. For a price that is in fact affordable.

I’ve had the chance to play with this one and you can read my opinions in this short review. Plus, others too considered it top notch, including buyers and experts from big sites like laptopmag.com or engadget.com . Plus, this Toshiba is one of the most popular 10 inchers in the US, UK and Germany, all big markets with mature customers.

In terms of hardware, you will get the standard specs on this NB305 (N450, 1 GB of memory), but bigger storage – 250 GB , better connectivity (Wi-Fi N and Bluetooth), Windows 7 Starter OS and a 6 cell – 11 hours battery. Construction and shape are very nice; I particularly like the matte casing available in different color options, too bad that screen is glossy.

What truly makes this Toshiba a best pick are the keyboard and trackpad combo. The chiclet keyboard has no flex at all, keys are just perfectly spaced and come with a metallic feel that make them very comfortable to use. Plus, trackpad is quite wide for such a small computer and comes with independent click buttons.

As for the bad parts, I will have to say that the webcam and speakers are quite poor on this machine, but if you don’t actually need them (I for one don’t), this Toshiba is for sure you’re best pick right now.

I could ramble about the qualities of this Toshiba for a while. But enough is enough, see more details via this link, read the review posted by buyers or buy one (will cost you £36.99 with Free Shipping included, but it only seems to be available in Brown in the UK). PLus, this is the latet generation versions, with improved N455 processor and DDR3 memory.

Toshiba NB305 - best and most comfortable 10 incher right now

Samsung NB30 – rough netbook for the great outdoors

If you happen to be outdoorsy and need a mini laptop that could cope with you on the road, the Samsung NB30 is right now your best choice. Slightly more expensive than the standard devices in this list, this one comes with some extra features meant to make it a “survivor in the wild”, like the spill-proof chiclet keyboard and body, the fall protected HDD with sensors able to detect free-fall and secure data from damage and the rugged exterior, made out of a special rubber resistive to scratches, smudges and dirt.

All these make the Samsung NB30 a little bit bigger and some might consider it bulky and ugly, especially when compared to other glossy devices from Samsung or Asus. That’s up for each one to decide.

You should know that in terms of features and specs the NB30 is not bad at all also. Standard hardware can be found inside (Atom N450 processor, 1 GB of RAM, 250 GB storage), good connectivity is included by default (Wi-Fi N and Bluetooth), plus Windows 7 Starter and a 6 cell battery (capable of around 7-8 hours of life). You get an ergonomic chiclet keyboard, decent trackpad with independent click buttons (it is kind of cramped though, when compared to the one on the Toshiba) and a matte 10 inch display great when used outside.

All in all, the NB30 from Samsung is the mini laptop to pick when on the road. Compact and small as most other netbooks, it comes with features designed to keep it safe from accidents and keep your info stored on it safe too. It costs around 300 pounds, which is 10-15% more than its competitors, but I believe the extra money are well worth paying if you need its abilities. You can get it from here or see more details, pics or read reviews. Also, there’s another versions that adds a touch-display, available for $333 . You might want to check this one out too.

Samsung NB30 - rugged and bulky, but with lots of qualities

Asus EEEPC 1005PE – autonomy, looks and a brand (replaced by 1015PE – details below)

The guys at Asus were the ones inventing the netbooks a couple of years ago and now, only a couple of years later, their products are still the most popular on big markets all around the globe.

The 1005PEs are right now the best they have to offer in the 10 inch class and their best sold products both in UK and US. Unlike the 1001P listed above, the 1005PE comes with a glossy design and glossy screen. This makes it quite a looker, but also makes it very sensible to scratches and smudges. In the US, there is a versions with matte casing available, but you can’t find it in UK though.

The 1005PE offers standard hardware, with the N450 CPU, 1GB of memory, 250 GB hard-drive, Wi-Fi N and Bluetooth, Windows 7 Starter and a 6 Cell battery (11 hours of life – the bigger versions with 14 hours predicted life is only available for the US market). You also get the chiclet keyboard and nice trackpad with a dimpled design.

So, this Asus packs the best you can get a on standard netbook these days. Price tag is kind of high though, around $290 . It sells in white and black, and you can see more details about it in here. Asus also has a cheaper version, the 1005P EEE PC, which lacks Bluetooth and the chiclet keyboard, plus comes with less storage space, but is 50 quid cheaper. Both are good and reliable picks you would not regret getting.

Asus 1005PE EEE PC - top of the line 10 inch mini laptop from Asus

Update: Good news to you guys living in the UK. The updated version of the 1005PE is now available to you, called the EEE PC 1015PE .

First of all, this one comes with a matte casing. Then, it has a redesigned trackpad, wider, more precise and easier to use. Plus, specs have been updated and you get some extra features. All these for a list price of 310 pounds, but the good news is that you can find this device on Amazon.co.uk for £279.99, with a nice 10% discount and Free Delivery included (in within UK borders). So better check this deal out as well, as it is one of the hottest right now.

Samsung N220 – if you want something fancy

If you’re looking for a premium mini laptop with fancy looks and the Asus 1005PE above just did not rings you bell, the Samsung N220 is probably your best best. Overall an excellent device and a bestseller in the UK for some months now, this Samsung manages to bring good features and performances and a Premium looking device.

You can get an idea on the looks from the picture below. Outer casing is glossy, while the interior is matte so better when dealing with scratches and dust. You get a nice chiclet keyboard, quite comfortable and without flex problems, a decent trackpad and a matte 10 inch LED backlit display.

Inside there’s the N450 processor, 1 GB of memory, 250 GB storage, Wi-fi N and Bluetooth, Windows 7 Starter and 6 Cell – 12 hours battery. So nothing you’ll need is missing.

All these for around $300, not cheap, but if you want a looker like the N220, be prepared to pay extra for it. Also, Samsung has a more affordable version, the N210, with a matte casing and not so great looking design, but also a price of around $260-$280 (varies based on color option). You can see more details about this series via this link.

Samsung N220 - fancy and popular

Conclusions

I’ve tried to list above a couple of devices that could fit most of your needs and tastes and are available on the UK market. Whichever you would choose, you will be satisfied with, that’s for sure.

You might have noticed that they are are more or less the same in terms of specs and features. Thus, when shopping for a mini laptop, what really makes the difference are those extra details: reduced weight, comfortable keyboard, reliable casing, good price. So better make a list of your priorities before picking a netbook and see which of the above (or perhaps others?) manage to check them the best.

That’s about it with the list of best netbooks available on the UK market right now. Hopefully I’ve managed to give you a helping hand and if you by any chance need more help, don’t hesitate to comment or send me an email (see the contact page). I’ll try and help if i can.

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Tags: best netbook, best netbook deals, best selling netbooks

Last updated: September 27, 2011 | Published: September 24th, 2010 | See the comments or add yours!