Smaller than traditional laptops but larger than handhelds, mini-laptops offer most of the features you get from their bulky ancestors – web browsing, document creation, editing, and email – just slightly scaled down in terms of both size and power. Most appealing of all, they’re cheap. Mini-laptops range from $299 (for the most bare-bones version of the Asus Eee) up to $1,399 for a fully-loaded Fujitsu LifeBook U810. Though there’s some category overlap, mini-laptops shouldn’t be confused with ultra-mobile PCs (UMPCs), which more closely resemble handhelds and cost more (prices range from about $700 to $1,500) and the more-powerful ultra-portable PCs, such as Lenovo’s ThinkPad X300, which sells for a pricey $2,420.

Of course, there are some tradeoffs that come with mini-laptops’ bargain basement prices.

“You’re not going get a super-powerful processor in there, and usually you’re limited on storage space,” says Ian Bell, editor in chief of Digital Trends, a consumer-technology analysis site.

In addition, most subnotebooks lack CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drives so you won’t be able to play movies on your computer.

Mini-laptops trace their roots back to the One Laptop Per Child project, a program started by an MIT professor with the goal of providing every child in the developing world with a $100 laptop. Computer manufacturing companies soon took advantage of the commercial opportunity these tiny laptops created. With the 2007 release of the Asus Eee, a surprise hit for Taiwan’s Asustek, mini-laptops got their jumpstart.

The Eee is so popular, “now everyone is trying to copy them,” says Dan Ackerman, senior editor at CNET.com.

A slew of Taiwanese vendors unveiled models at June’s Computer expo, but rival products from big brands like Dell are on the way, too. Many use Intel’s power-efficient Atom CPU along with solid-state disk (SSD) drives, for better battery life, boot times, and shock resistance.

1. Asus Eee PC 4G XP

Overview: The popular low-cost Asus Eee PC makes a play for mainstream acceptance, adding Windows XP to create an impressive package for portable Web surfing and basic productivity, making it a near-flawless choice for a highly portable second laptop.

Specs:

- OS: Windows XP
- Processor: 900MHz Intel Celeron M ULV
- RAM installed: 512 MB DDR II SDRAM
- Screen size: 7″
- Weight: 2 lbs.

2. Acer Aspire One

Overview: The Aspire one has the potential to be a very solid mini-notebook at an incredibly competitive price. At $379, this system is cheaper than the Eee PC 4G XP, while offering a powerful Atom processor and a 1024×600 resolution screen.

Specs:

- OS: Linux
- Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270
- RAM installed: 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM
- Screen size: 8.9″
- Weight: 2.2 lbs.

3. Fujitsu LifeBook U810

Overview: The Fujitsu LifeBook U810 sports most of the functions of a regular laptop, but is about one-third the size. The U810’s clamshell screen swivels to become a tablet where you can make handwritten notes on a touch screen. For those worried about theft, there’s a biometric fingerprint reader.

Specs:

- OS: Windows Vista Business with Office OneNote 2007
- Processor: 800MHz Intel A110
- RAM installed: 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM
- Screen size: 5.6″
- Weight: 1.8 lbs.

4. HP 2133 Mini-Note

Overview: While it’s bigger and pricier than other mini-notebooks, the HP 2133 Mini-Note offers important features that the others don’t, including an full-sized keyboard and a design more suited to business users. If you require more from your mini-laptop and don’t mind paying for it, this one is for you.

Specs:

- OS: Genuine Windows Vista Business or Home Basic 32, FreeDoS, or SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10
- Processor: 1.6 Ghz VIA C7-M ULV
- RAM installed: 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM
- Screen size: 8.9″
- Weight: 3.1 lbs.

5. DELL E-Series – On Sales now

Overview: Formerly known as mini Inspiron, Dell’s new line of subnotebooks will be named the Dell E Series. Actually there will be 2 models, a 8.9″ model and a 12.1″ one. This line of mini-laptops is targeted for kids and youth in general with purposes such as social networking/entertainment and mobile web/communication.

Specs:

- Display: 8.9″ and 12.1″
- Processor: 1.6 Ghz Intel Diamondville
- HDD: 4/8/16 SSD
- Memory: 512/1024 MB
- Camera: 0.3 Mp
- Wireless: WiFi, BT, WiMax, WWAN
- Battery: 4 cell 35Whr (~5 hr)
- OS: Linux, WinXP
- Personalization: 3-5 colors