The netbook has become the sales phenomenon of the last 12 months, selling close to 20 million units. The combination of low cost but great functionality make them ideal for anyone looking to take a mobile PC on the move with them.

But when it comes to buying one, what do you need to look out for? Our guide will help you with the Top Five tips to buying a netbook.

The netbook in many ways is a stripped down laptop, offering everything you need but in a chassis weighing as little as 1kg. Don’t expect these devices to replace your laptop, think of it as a secondary machine – a word processor for the daily commute or for checking email when pottering about the house.

What are the things you should consider when buying a netbook?

Screen

The first netbooks came with a 7-inch screen, but the 8.9-inch of the Asus Eee PC 900 or Dell Mini 9 soon became the norm. It’s possible to get netbooks in a variety of screen sizes but we like to think that the 10-inch screen, as seen on the Advent 4211c or the Acer Aspire One AOD150 offers the best in size.

Almost all netbook screens offer a…