Consumers and business users are scooping up netbooks. While fourth-quarter sales in the PC industry in 2008 were dismal, netbooks showed growth, and these lightweight machines are also expected to drive laptop sales in the next couple years, according to IDC. The reasons? They satisfy basic computing needs for e-mail, Web surfing and word processing. They're ultra-portable. And best of all, they're a lot cheaper than general-purpose laptops, an important selling point in our cash-strapped times. HP 2140 Mini-Note NetbookThis is Hewlett-Packard’s tough business-class netbook, designed for road warriors who need durability and long battery life (6-cell battery, 7-plus hours). Cost: $456.99 at Amazon Screen size: 10.1 inches CPU: 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270 processor RAM: 1GB, expandable to 2GB Storage: 160GB hard drive Battery: 6 cell Operating System: Windows XP Home Weight: 3 pounds HP Says it Will Likely Run Three Versions of Windows 7 on its Netbooks Samsung NC10 NetbookThe NC10 cool blue netbook is Samsung’s general purpose offering with strong battery life (6 cell) and a slightly larger keyboard than most netbooks. Cost: $434.95 at Amazon Screen size: 10.2 inches CPU: 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270 processor RAM: 1GB Storage: 160GB hard drive Battery: 6 cell Operating System: Windows XP Home Weight: 2.9 pounds Samsung Enters Netbook Fray with the NC10 Dell Inspiron Mini 9 NetbookThe super-light Dell Inspiron Mini 9 offers the choice between Windows XP Home and Ubuntu Linux. Windows XP will cost you more. Cost: Ranges from $250 to $400, depending on how machine is customized. (Source: Dell website) Screen size: 8.9 inches CPU: 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor RAM: 512MB (Linux) or 1GB (Windows XP) Storage: 16GB solid state drive Battery: 4 cell Operating System: Windows XP Home or Ubuntu Linux Weight: 2.3 pounds Vodafone to Resell Dell’s Netbook The MSI Wind U100-279US NetbookMSI Wind netbooks usually crack the top 10 best-sellers list. Key features are its light weight and ergonomically designed keyboard, which is just 20 percent smaller than a full-sized laptop keyboard. Cost: $379.99 at Amazon Screen size: 10 inches CPU: 1.6-GHz Intel Atom processor RAM: 1GB, 2GB maximum Storage: 160GB hard drive Battery: 6 cell Operating System: Windows XP Home Weight: 2.6 pounds Hands on with MSI’s Wind Low-Cost Laptop Asus Eee PC 1000HA NetbookAsus’ sturdy line of Eee PCs were the first netbooks out of the gate and remain the most popular. This 1000HA model is best known for its high-resolution screen and seven hours of battery life. Cost: $349.99 at Amazon Screen size: 10 inches CPU: 1.6-GHz Intel Atom processor RAM: 1GB Storage: 160GB hard drive Battery: 6 cell Operating System: Windows XP Home Weight: 3.19 pounds Asustek to Unveil $200 Eee PC Netbook Next Year Lenovo Ideapad S10 NetbookThe Ideapad S10 is Lenovo’s recent entry into netbooks. The standout feature of this glossy white netbook is a touchpad that supports multi-touch gestures through fingertip movements on the touchpad. Cost: $349.99 at Amazon Screen size: 10.2 inches CPU: 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270 processor RAM: 1GB Storage: 160GB hard drive Battery: 3 cell Operating System: Windows XP Home Weight: 2.6 pounds Hands on with HP Mini, Lenovo S10, BenQ U101 HP Mini 1000 XP Edition NetbookThe Mini 1000 is renowned for its slimness and spacious keyboard, which HP claims is 92 percent the size of a full-size laptop keyboard. Prices of the HP Mini 1000 line range from $279.99 to $699.99. Cost: $329 at HP.com Screen size: 8.9 or 10.2 inches CPU: 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270 processor RAM: 512MB or 1GB Storage: Up to 80GB hard drive or up to 32GB solid state drive Battery: 3 cell or 6 cell Operating System: Windows XP Home Weight: 2.5 pounds Hands on with HP Mini, Lenovo S10, BenQ U101 Acer Aspire One AOA150-1126 NetbookThe Aspire Ones battle the Asus Eee PCs for the top-selling netbook. This light-as-a-feather netbook boasts nearly six hours of battery life, a stylish look and sharp screen resolution at an affordable price. Cost: $319 at Amazon Screen size: 8.9 inches CPU: 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270 processor RAM: 1GB Storage: 160GB Hard Drive Battery: 6 cell Operating System: Windows XP Home Weight: 2.2 pounds HP and Acer Start Netbook Price War Asus Eee PC 900HA White NetbookThe 900HA is one of the lower-priced Eee PCs from Asus, mainly because of the smaller screen and shorter battery life. Yet it offers roomy hard drive space and an anti-glare LED-backlit display. Cost: $293.99 at Amazon Screen size: 8.9 inches CPU: 1.6-GHz Intel Atom processor RAM: 1GB Storage: 160GB Hard Drive Battery: 4 cell Operating System: Windows XP Home Weight: 2.2 pounds Asustek Predicts Eee PC Sales Will Double Next Year Sylvania GNET28001SO Meso NetbookSylvania’s low-cost Meso netbooks are available in yellow, pink, black and white, and come preloaded with the Linux-based Ubuntu Netbook Remix operating system, with the option to switch to Windows XP Home. Cost: $269 at Amazon Screen size: 8.9 inches CPU: 1.6-GHz Intel Atom processor RAM: 1GB Storage: 80GB Hard Drive Battery: 4 cell OS: Ubuntu Linux or Windows XP Home Weight: 2.2 pounds Windows 7 on Netbooks: Does Linux Stand a Chance? Related content BrandPost Retail innovation playbook: Fast, economical transformation on Microsoft Cloud For retailers, tight integration of data and systems is the antidote to a challenging economy. 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