Samsung N350

Small and relatively cheap, netbook computers are great for tasks such as web browsing and word processing.

The 10in screen on Samsung's latest model, the N350, is similar in size to other models, but it's much brighter than most of its rivals and, thanks to the lack of a glossy coating, doesn't attract reflections.

The netbook has 1GB of memory and is powered by an Intel Atom processor, but the N550 processor used here differs from most in that it's a dual-core model. In theory, this makes it better at running more than one application simultaneously, but it's still a relatively slow processor compared to ones found in more expensive, larger models, and during general Windows use we didn't notice much improvement over standard netbooks.

Anyone looking to play games should steer well clear of netbooks, and the Samsung N350 with is no exception. It won't be able to cope with the majority of recent games, and those it can run will be slow.

Weighing just 1kg and measuring 26.4cm wide, 18.9cm deep and 2.3cm thick, the N350 is one of the most portable 10.1in netbooks we have seen. Battery life, however, was disappointing. When we reduced the brightness and switched off the wireless networking the N350 kept going for around four hours. However, more intensive use will drop this to around two hours, which isn't much good for people who want to use it out and about away from mains sockets.

A small computer usually means an equally small keyboard, but Samsung's done a great job with the one on the N350. Each key felt responsive and there's a good amount of space between them. Anyone used to typing on full-sized laptop or desktop keyboards will still need to adjust to the smaller keys, but this is one of the best netbook keyboards around. The touchpad was similarly comfortable to use, although the two buttons below it were very thin and would benefit from being slightly larger.

A slot at the front of the netbook lets users copy photos from a digital camera's memory card, while a VGA socket means an external monitor can be attached. Other devices can be connected to the three USB ports. The N350 can also connect to Bluetooth devices as well as both wired and wireless networks, while storage comes in the form of a 250GB hard disk. There's no CD or DVD drive, as with other netbooks.

The Samsung N350 is impressively compact, but its battery life is lacklustre and the benefits offered by the dual-core processor are minimal. It's also more expensive than most 10in netbooks, with cheaper models such as Acer's D260 offering far longer battery life.