NetbookTech

PC Magazine has two new netbook reviews out on their website – one for the Toshiba Mini NB305-N410 and one for the new ASUS EeePC 1201N netbook.

The Toshiba Mini NB305 is essentially an update to the extremely popular Mini NB205 – keeping the great features of the NB205 while updating the system to the new Intel Pine Trail platform. The NB305 features the Intel Atom N450 processor, a 10.1 inch LED backlit display, 1GB of RAM, a 250GB SATA HDD, a full-sized keyboard, a spacious multi-touch enabled touchpad, Wi-Fi, and Windows 7 Starter. The best part? The NB205 maintains its incredible battery life while shrinking the battery form factor (aka the protruding battery is no more). Here’s what PC Magazine thought of the NB305:

“The Toshiba mini NB305-N410 netbook carries over many of the qualities that made its predecessor, the mini NB205 so lovable, and it’s still the netbook that gives you the most for the least amount of money.”

The ASUS EeePC 1201N is an entirely different kind of netbook – eschewing battery life in favor of processor and graphics performance. The 1201N dumps the Intel Atom N270 processor in favor of the higher-performing Atom N330 dual-core processor, making the 1201N the first netbook to feature the dual-core processor. Other features include a 12.1 inch LED backlit display, NVIDIA ION graphics, HDMI output, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity, 2GB of RAM, full-sized chiclet keyboard, integrated webcam and microphone, and Windows 7 Home Premium.  As you might expect, the 1201N has a fairly low battery life of around 4 to 5 hours but if that’s the least of your concerns, then the 1201N is certainly an interesting system to look at. Here’s what PC Magazine thought of the unit:

“The ASUS EeePC 1201N is the fastest netbook money can buy, but its tradeoff is battery life just 4 hours of it.”