My main laptop has been a 12 incher for nearly two years now and I believe that you’ll find the best balance between speed and portability in this size class, as 12 inch laptops are still compact and light enough to easily carry around, but also large enough to pack a decent keyboard and powerful hardware.
Over the years, there used to be two distinct types of 12 inch laptops on the market: the affordable ones, with decent features but low-power hardware, and the premium ones, with almost anything you’d want, but pricey.
In the meantime, that has changed, as most of the once affordable 12 inchers have been discontinued, or were pushed towards the smaller 11.6 inch standard, as it seems like those slightly more compact devices are cheaper to manufacture. At the same time, the premium entries have grown a bit, towards a 12.5 inch standard, and many producers still offer business mini laptops with 12.5 inch screens.
Thus, while this post is still divided in affordable and premium 12 inchers, you’d better see our other post on 11.6 inch notebooks if you’re looking for some good budget options. There are still some exceptions, cheap 12.1 and 12.5 inch laptops, but those are fewer by the day and most of them are difficult to find in stores.
12 inch laptops – for me, the ideal balance between power, portability and price
Of course, this post is not a top, but a list of recommended devices, based on my previous experience with them, plus expert opinions and user reviews from those who bought them and shared their experience with us.
The affordable 12 inch mini laptops (up to $500)
Like the title says, here are the “budget 12 inchers”. They are powerful enough for your daily tasks, multimedia and even some older games. However, they will choke if pushed too much.
As I’ve already explained above, most of the laptops listed here are a bit old, thus you might have a hard time finding them in stores. There very few exceptions, but for a larger variety of compact, snappy and affordable machines, see this other post on recommended 11.6 inch laptops.
Asus 12.1 inch laptops used to be extremely popular a while ago, as their 1215 series was a big hit. There were several different notebooks in this line, some of the very popular, but today, finding them brand new is going to be tricky.
The most impressive member of the 1215 family was probably the Asus EEE PC 1215N. I reviewed the 1215N a while ago and back then, this was one of the most powerful platforms in the class, with decent multitasking performances and good graphics, thanks to the dedicated Nvidia graphics. Then came the Asus EEE PC 1215B, built on the same body as the 1215N, just powered by an AMD platform. I’ve reviewed the EEE PC 1215B with a Zacate E350 heart and was genuinely impressed with it. Later, it was replaced by the Asus EEE PC 1225B series, an 11.6 inch machine. Last but not least there was the Asus EEE PC 1215P, powered by an ATOM N550 platform and abble to offer 8+ hours of battery life with everday use.
Asus also had a buffed up version of the 1215 line, branded by the Italian sports-car manufacturer Lamborghini. Their latest option, the Asus Lamborghini VX6S, came with an aggressive looking case and decently fast hardware (it was powered by a dual-core Intel Atom D525 processor, Nvidia ION + Optimus, 2 GB of memory). More details about it are available in this post here on the site. The VX6S was expensive when launched, starting at around 700 bucks, but these days you might find it cheaper.
Asus’s line of popular 12 inch laptops
And then there were some other 12 inchers, from HP, Dell or Samsung. The 12.5 inch Series 3 Samsung business laptop is still available in stores BTW. This is an average priced, but sleek and powerful machine. The Series 3 is light (weighs 3 pounds), slim (0.85 inches) and encased in this beautiful and sturdy aluminum and plastic body. Overall, it’s actually a bit more compact than other 12.5 inch machines, as you can see by the slimmer bezel around the screen. It also packs a good keyboard and pretty accurate trackpad.
Inside there’s an Intel Core i3 processor, 4 GB of memory, 500 GB hard-drive, 6 Cell battery and Windows 7 Home Premium.
The price tag is rather steep though, set at around 650 bucks for the config mentioned above. However, these days you’ll find the Samsung Series 3 12.5 inch laptop just under $500, since it’s built on an Intel Sandy Bridge hardware platform, but this link will give you accurate and up-to-date details on the prices.
Samsung also offers the Series 2 and Series 4 notebooks in some parts of the globe (mostly in Western Europe), both solid built and sturdy 12.5 inch business laptops, with the Series 4 even considered a premium portable device and a potential alternative to Lenovo’s ThinkPads (details about those bellow).
Samsung Series 3 – stylish and yet average-priced 12 inch laptops
Besides the Samsungs though, most of these devices listed on top are more or less gone, but like I said, you might be able to find them greatly discounted in some stores. In which case, they can be decent options.
The premium 12 inch mini laptops ($500+)
Like I mentioned in the beginning, modern 12.5 inch devices are a bit expensive, as their are mostly targeted at business and high end buyers. But not all of them.
Of course, when compared to those older 12 inchers, the newer options are superior in terms of looks, build quality, power and features, as you’ll see from the rows below.
The Lenovo ThinkPad family
As a Lenovo ThinkPad X220 owner, I cannot but recommend their 12.5 inch lines. Of course, they are not perfect, but they are some of the best in this segment. There are however several different 12.5 inch ThinkPads available right now, each built for slightly different types of customers.
The most affordable is the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge Twist, which is in fact a hybrid ultrabook, or in other words and sleek and fancy tablet PC. It comes with a convertible screen that rotates 180 degrees. This way, the Twist can be used as a regular laptop, or as a tablet, when rotating the screen and having it lie flat.
Thus, the ThinkPad Twist is meant to be a road warrior, with a bright IPS touchscreen, excellent keyboard, solid construction and snappy hardware inside. However, there’s a deal breaker: it will only last for about 3.5 hours on a charge or even less, which should never happen on an ultraportable.
However if you’re after a compact laptop with decent tablet capabilities (it runs Windows 8 BTW), the ThinkPad Twist will do. The average config (Core i5 CPU, 500 GB HDD) sells right now for around $750 dollars on Amazon, with some hefty discounts applied, or you can configure your own model on Lenovo’s website, starting at around $770 for the Intel Core i3 option.
Lenovo ThinkPad Twist – fairly priced convertible tablet
And then come the top-of-the-line Lenovo 12.5 inch business laptops, the ThinkPaD X230, and it’s tablet-pc version, the ThinkPad X230T.
Unlike the other machines above, that pack low-power hardware (ULV processors), these ones are motorized by full-voltage latest generation Intel platforms (the ones usually found on multimedia 15 inch laptops), thus are significantly more powerful.
The ThinkPads come with a classic design and are very sturdy, thus truly meant for life on the run. You can configure these devices however you might want, with options for the fastest Core i7 processors, up to 8 GB of memory, fast HDD or SSD storage, top connectivity with mobile broadband, big 9 cell batteries and even extended ones that will push the battery life to 15+ hours. Plus IPS matte displays with a bunch of resolution options to choose from. Unfortunately, there’s no option for a higher resolution screen, but I for one can live with that.
Thus, if you want a rugged and classic looking notebook with fast hardware, awesome keyboard and long battery life, you’ll hardly find competition for these ThinkPads. But all these don’t come cheap. The X230 starts at a little under $850 , while the X230 Convertible Tablet starts at around $1300. You can configure your own models on Lenovo’s website by following the links before.
Business 12 inchers: Lenovo ThinkPad X230 and X230 Convertible Tablet
The 12.5 inch hybrid ultrabooks
Ultrabooks are a special breed of thin, light and powerful laptops, as they are built on Intel hardware and have to meet a special set of requirements in order to get the “ultrabook” brand.
Among them, hybrid ultrabooks have some special features of their own, as they are meant to be used either as tablets or laptops, thus pack convertible touchscreens and run Windows 8. The Lenovo ThinkPad Twist mentioned above is one of these hybrids. There are a couple of other 12 inchers, and I’ll tell you more about them below, but if you want to find the best ultrabook hybrid, regarding of screen size, you should definitely check out this article from my other mobile-technology focused website, Ultrabookreview.com .
Back to the topic of this post, the Dell XPS 12 is another great device in this category. It comes with a Full HD IPS touchscreen, Intel ULV hardware inside, good keyboard and all the standard goodies (although there’s no SD card slot). Unlike other convertible ultrabooks though, on the Dell XPS the screen rotates inside its own frame, and the entire solution definitely feels more robust than any of the others I’ve seen. Besides that, the XPS 12 is one of the most beautiful and solid built ultrabooks on the market. However, the battery life is once again lower than we’d expect, averaging around 4.5 hours of everyday use, although you can definitely do worst with other options.
But then, the Dell XPS 12 is more expensive than its competitors, starting at no less than $1200, and in this price range there’s really no room for mistake. More details are available on Dell’s website.
Dell XPS 12 – a solid and beautiful convertible ultrabook
The Toshiba U920T is another 12.5-inch tablet/laptop hybrid with a slightly different design, as its screen slides and folds on top of the body when used in tablet mode, or the other way around when used as a laptop. The entire mechanism seems a bit flimsy and you’ll need some time to actually get used to how it should work without breaking it.
Other than that, the entire laptop looks alright and feels solid, despite its weird form factor, but having the screen always exposed like that doesn’t make me very comfortable, although it is covered in protective glass and should be just fine.
What else? Well, the hardware inside this Toshiba is standard, with Intel processors and SSD storage. The keyboard is alright, while the trackpad is way too small. The screen is also rather bad, especially when compared to that awesome display on the Dell XPS 12, with only HD ready resolution. And given that it can’t bend forward, you might have problems viewing the content on it. And then there’s the battery life, around 4 hours of daily use, which is once again short of impressive.
So are you willing to spend $1,149 for all these? You could and you’d get yourself an unique looking device, but different is not necessarily better, that’s why I do feel that your money could be better spent on other similar devices.
Toshiba U920T hybrid ultrabook – different, but not necesarily better
The Panasonic Toughbook C2
Last but not necessarily least in this category comes the ToughBook C2 from Panasonic, a truly rugged 12.5 inch laptop built for the harsher of conditions.
The rugged Panasonic Toughbook C2
Hardware wise, this is a tablet PC built on Intel’s latest mobile hardware solution, like the ThinkPad X230 Convertible tablet mentioned earlier. It comes with a bright IPS toushcreen and a pen, LTE modem embedded, decent keyboard and 10+ hours of battery life with an extra battery.
Hardware and software aside though, the Toughbook C2 is a beast. Its magnesium frame and chassis is designed to last, and the laptop can survive falls from around 2 m high, is waterproof, dust-proof and so on. You can even step on it and it won’t care. And then come all the security software and hardware features built into this machine.
Of course, it’s obvious that this is not a laptop meant for the average Joe, it’s meant for those who need a tough business laptop in the most difficult conditions, like in the Arctics, in mines, on constructions sites or Oil rigs. And those in fact will not mind paying $3000 or more for the Panasonic ToughBook C2, as they get an awesome product with 3 year warranty and Panasonic’s unbeatable customer support. See Panasonic’s website for more details on this unit.
Wrap-up
That’s about it with my list of recommended 12 inch laptops, for now.
Like I already said, these days you don’t get as many laptops in this class as you used to, especially in the affordable sub 500 dollars price category. Producers migrated most of the cheap entries towards the smaller 11.6 inch class, while the premium entries got slightly bigger 12.5 inch screens, but do pack solid performances and sleek looks, alongside quite hefty price tags. And I believe that we’ll be seeing even less 12 inch mini laptops in the future.
In the end, if you’re looking for more affordable mini laptops, i would also suggest taking a look at the list of recommended 11.6 inch devices. and if you’re just after a compact and portable laptop, you might also want to check out my list of best ultrabooks you can buy these days.
As for this post, is going to be constantly updated in time, so be sure to check it out periodically for changes. Also, feel free to add your comments, remarks and questions below and I’ll be here to reply.
hello…am presently here in riyadh,ksa.this month i want to buy netbook,13.3″ or 15.3″.am still confused what to buy.just affordable less than 300US$.for office use & personal.help me whats good & proven and tested in the markets.pls.reply
Stephanie, I’d love to help you, but i don’t think you can get anything bigger than 10 inches right now for 300 US $ . IF you want a 13 incher, i would suggest going on ebay or something like that and shop for an used device. Still, that’s kind of risky, It would be wise to try and get some extra bucks and go for a new device.
I am looking to buy a good lightweight netbook at around 12″ screen size, and Asus UL20A seems almost perfect. I would love to get another 2-3 hrs of battery life so that I can use it for 10+ hrs a day w/o charging. Since Asus UL20A has been out for 5+ months, should I wait for the next update? How often do they update the netbook product lines?
Jack, I don’t think you’ll see an update on this line too soon, that’s because intel plans to update their ULV lines and the first processor should be available in Q3 2010. Add 1-2 months for Asus to implement the new platform and you’ll probably end with a new 12 incher by Ocotber – November, or even later…
Hi… was almost settled on the Asus 1201N with Ion1 till I saw your link on the Asus UL20A. Have some basic queries which would really help me decide which one to buy…budgets upto 550$.
1.Which one is better purely for graphics Ion1 or Ion2 with Optimus tech? heard that there is/will be an upgrade on the 1201N with the Ion2? I Dont really worry bout battery life (3-4 hrs is fine) my main considerations are portability and processing/gaming/graphics/multitasking power and seems the upgrade to 1201N wont ahve a dul core processor. How do I deceide?
2. Given my considerations above im confused bout the Asus UL20A. Is the processor (also a dual core) and graphics card better than the 1021N? Basically is it a faster better option than the one you help me decide in the 1st question?
3. What is PineTrail?
Sorry for the bother, but im pretty confused. Tks!
Angel, first, PineTrail is the name of the hardware used for netbooks these days, with processor like the n450, n470, etc.
As for your questions.
1. The Ion2 will be better. For now, the only 12 inch device announced with it on board and a dual-core atom (N500) – yet to be launched, is the Asus 1215N . It should be unveiled in June and should reach stores by July-August. You can read more about it in here: http://www.tlbhd.com/asus-eee-pc-1215n-dual-core-atom-new-ion-and-optimus-3387/
2. Yes, the processor on the Ul20A is definitely faster that on the 1201N and also faster than what the future 1215N would have to offer. So, in terms of everyday performance and multitasking, the Ul20A will be better. In terms of graphics, the 1215N wins though. Both will be able to play 1080p content (and 720p flash), but the one with ION will be better in games (not by much and don’t expect too much out of it, but will be better). However, you do have to wait a couple of months for the 1215N and we don’t know how much is it going to cost.
Hope i helped. Also, check the Guide in here for more answers to your potential questions: http://www.tlbhd.com/netbook-buying-guide-v2.pdf Or reply if you still are confused
Hey.. i realy like the asus ul20a I want to buy it for studing and light gaming(world of warcraft) but i need it to be very light in some reviews people mention that it weights more than 3.3 lbs with the battery. So is it realy 3.3 lbs? and wil there be a better 12 incher to suit my needs in the next couple of month?
Yes Sasha, it’s 3.3 pounds. I don’t know, the most interesting 12 inchers ready to enter the amrket right now are the Asus 1215N : http://www.tlbhd.com/asus-eee-pc-1215n-dual-core-atom-new-ion-and-optimus-3387/ and the Asus 1218: http://www.tlbhd.com/award-winning-asus-1218-eee-pc-pops-out-3423/ . See if you like them
hi need some help. Trying to decide between the asus ul 20a ame the toshiba t215. Performance, keyboard ame sound are important to me as i am blind. I really like the t215. I also read about the upcoming ul 20at. Should i wait? Oh i will be using it for school ame scanning me text
Hi, Mike. Do you still think the Asus UL20A is best affordable 12 incher available? I’m trying to decide between the Asus UL20A and UL30A…unless there’s something else you’d recommend more now? Thanks!!!
I do Amy, but there will be some updates pretty soon. For instance, we’re waiting for the updated versions of the UL20A, the UL20FT : http://www.tlbhd.com/asups-ul20ft-improved-12-incher-with-better-performance-3643/ . Also, there’s the updated version of the 1201N, called 1215N : http://www.tlbhd.com/asus-eee-pc-1215n-review-power-in-a-compact-sleek-body-4092/ . Both of them should be available in early September (but delays may occur). And while I did test the 1215N, I did not have the chance to play with the UL20VT. So if you can wait, well… You should. If not, the UL20A is just fine (Be aware that the new version will be more powerful, but also probably 10-20% more expensive, while offering less battery life and being hotter – however, these are now only suppositions based on experience, so take them with grain and salt). Hope I helped.
Awesome, thanks Mike. This is very helpful, and I can definitely wait for the updated versions to come out. Also, do you expect an updated version of the UL30A to come out any time soon?
There is already the UL30VT you can check out, which is ul30A with better graphics. Or, the UL30JT which i tested in my other site: http://allabouteeepc.com/asus-ul30jt-13-incher-with-extra-muscles-and-good-autonomy/ . that one is already available in some parts of the world, but not yet in the US. This one is the update, with core i5 CPU and even more improved graphics. But will be pricier. I will let you guys know when these hit the States, so be sure to subscribe to keep in touch :p
Hi, Mike…Amy again. Last question (for now): If you were in the markiet for a 12 or 13 inch laptop for school and battery life and weight/size were two of your top priorities but you also wanted a decent amount of memory and power, what would you buy? I’ll primarily be using it for MS Office and the Internet. Price is a factor but not top priority. I’d prefer to pay less than $600. Thanks so much!!
Well, for sure I would buy something with Intel ULV inside, if you want battery life and power. Something with an SU7300 processor and 2-4 GB of memory should do fine, like the UL20A. Or even better, something with Core i3, like the UL20FT (which just became available at Amazon and got a nice review. See this link: http://www.tlbhd.com/asus-ul20ft-new-12-inch-notebook-brings-extra-power-4505/ ). There will be others, soon, but mainly in the 11.6 inch class. As for 13 inchers, the UL30A, UL30VT (with better graphics, but more expensive) or Toshiba T135 , these would be my picks right now and I believe within your budget.
Anyway, once you settled for a couple of models, go on google and search “Model Review” and look for more details in those texts. Sites like engadget.com, cnet.com, trustedreviews.com, notebookreviews.com , those are all trustful sources. And this one, of course, only I didn’t have the chance to actually play with all these machines
MSI Wind12 U230 with AMD inside
U230 comes with a dual-core Atom Neo – WTF ?! IS ATOM NEO ?
Asus UL20A – best affordable 12 incher – my review of the Asus UL20A
Inside you’ll find the dual-core Intel SU7300 processor, Nvidia GMA4500 graphics, 2 GB of RAM, 250 GB HDD and Wi-Fi N/Bluetoot – WTF !! DUDE typos all over the place NVIDIA GMA4500 ?!!! seriously ?
@Friend Hmm, you’re so right. Thanks for pointing those to me, such mistakes are unpardonable
Hello to all,
I just wanted to ask if you happen to know, that spare parts for the HP TM2 won’t be available until 2015?!? Dou you know if that is true?
I’ve jsut read an Amazon.de site obout one of this netbooks and one customer had a problem and HP support told him that. I’m just wondering if this could actualy be true.
don’t know anything about that…
Hello,
I would like to buy a netbook
.
Main reasons and wishes are:
- 11, 12 or maybe 13 inch screen
- to be mobile at least 4h
- to run Photoshop CS4
- to use it with my digital SLR as preview tool and for timelapse photos
- 720p screen resolution
- if possible to run Premiere CS4 for simple operations and smaller video files
..now from reading this page I see 1215N and UL20FT as candidates..
please help, I have real problems selecting one
Thank you.
Premiere and Photoshop will get any Atom powered machine down to their knees.
The ul20FT would be OK. If you can go for a bigger 13.3 incher, than i suggest the Asus ul35JC , especially if you’ll find the Core i5 version. However, that will go for around 800 bucks, so i’m not sure if you’re willing to spend that kind of money… But for those Adobe programs, you’ll need at least a Core i3 CPU to run decently on a mini laptop.
Hi!
I really want to but a new mini laptop and consider a 12″ as an ideal size (big enough). Ive earlier had a Asus eee 1000H and im pretty unhappy with the small atom processor. I only my computer for smaller normal day tasks but would love to have a good processor and graphic on it so it could be ideal for video an streaming without turning slow. From what i can see Asus eee 1215N and the UL20FT are the best candidates, and i can get them for 700$ and 770$ in Norway. Imnot sure how it will be with warranty if i buy from abroad. My question is, what computer do ou recommend if you take price and hardware/processor for consideration.
Sincerely, very unpatient buyer
Momo, if you need power, you can go for that 12 inch UL30VT. Or even better, a 13.3 incher like the UL35JC
And btw if you have any laptops in 11-13″ you would like to recommend more (taken the processor/graphics and price to consideration) im fully open for that
Any better if i upgrade a 1215N with 1GB extra RAM? (total approx 2,72GB)
am used to macs and the comfort of their keyboard (i have a 13 inch ibook.
does your top 12 inch asus ‘netbook’ have a full sized or at least comfortable keyboard.
@s Stern : none of the devices in here have a better keyboard than the Macs unfortunately. The chiclet on that Asus 12 incher is nice, but still feels quite flimpsy when compared to the one on Macbooks
followup to above question. am fast typist but have some arthritis in fingers
For just a lightweight backup to my desktop and 15″laptop, I was considering the Asus 1215N with the new Nvidia ION. I would mostly do web surfing, some photo editing and some light editing with video and FTPing photos and small 2-minute video clips. But after reading your review on the Asus UL20FT I’m now considering this laptop.
My requirements are that as a journalist I need to have my camera and laptop 24hr. Most of my heavy photo and video editing would be done on my desktop or my larger laptop, but I just need a SMALLER laptop that offers decent performance for smaller assignments. I thought about the 13inch laptops, but then I may as well carry my 15inch laptop brick.
What are your thoughts on the 2 laptops? Or do you have another suggested laptop in the 12inch range.
Greetings.
Nicely and simply laid out infos here.
I have an HP DV2 with Radeon HD3200, the pioneer of performance netbooks for some time now, and I think it actually delivered on its premise of afftordable fast (relatively speaking) net/notebook. Yeah, it has its limitations, but hey, what did you expect from a computer this size (not to mention price)?
Now I want something even better. could you help suggesting some net/notebook 11-13″ wide, with some fast graphics and processor, screen specs that’s friendly to the eyes (I read A LOT, from blogs to textbooks to comics), excelling built-in speakers (I listen to music while reading), as lightweight as possible (I travel a lot too, can’t be helped), preferably keyboard as ergonomic as possible (I also write) and that comes in other color than black. Pardon me if this is asking too much, but from what I read, I like the way you said your words. If you don’t feel like detailing, please just mention/list the brand(s), series and price(s) and I’d research alone. It would be very helpful. Thanks.
Hey Andre, sry for not answering your comment, it probably slipped my attention. It’s hard to recommend anything without knowing what kind of budget you have in mind. Please contact me by mail (there’s a contact link in the menu on top of the site) and I’ll gladly help you. Also, the posts on 11.6 and 12 inch devices are up to date here on the site and they should help you. Once again sry for not answering before.
Makes no sense to post if the author is so inconsiderate as to not answer any questions from his readers. Just simply an inconsiderate person!!
Bill, I’m trying to answer all of the questions, however some might slip unanswered from time to time…
Hi
im a student. i don’t want to play game or edit pic or videos. just ofice software and some other software help analyzing information. other hand i don’t want to buy cheap one because i have to had it long time. which do yo think is better in 11.6 or 12 inches. thanks
Mehron, see the post above for my opinions and also the other one on the 11.6 inchers here on the site
I received for Christmas the Asus UL20FT and love this this laptop. I would like to upgrade the memory to the maximum, however I can’t find in any of the info cars that came with my laptop which specific type of memory I need to use. Can you help me with which type and the maximum?
@Liz try and see what type of memory you have installed right now on your machine and get another identical module. I do not have the UL20FT myself so I can’t check it out for you
Curious. It seemed that virtually every question here was answered, except for mine and the one before.
Well, keep up the good work anyway, Mike.
Mike opened it up and all I was able to get was a series of numbers. I ran the numbers through Google along with keywords, DDR memory ram,.. however no hits. Unfortunately no sticker for model or speed. Any other ideals would greatly be appreciated.
Liz, can you please take a photo of the RAM module inside and send it to me via email? mike at netbooklive dot net . I’ll try and help you based on that. Or at least send me those numbers written on the module .
Mike thank your so much for your help!:) I was able to online get Crucial Memory to scan my new laptop and identify the memory as 2GB PC3-8500 1066MHz DDR3 204-Pin SO-DIMM. Crucial scan further indicates that I have 2 slots (which I new) and that I can install up to 8Gb (which I didn’t know).
Do you know if my new Asus UL20FT will recognize 8Gb of installed ram? I tried to check Asus web site, but I can’t find my laptop listed.
Hey Liz, what you found out is correct. There are 2 memory slots in the UL20FT and it can use up to 8 GB of memory. However, I believe a 2x 2 GB kit would be enough for most tasks.
As for the memory, I advice getting DDR3 1066 MHz modules, exactly as the one installed inside. Brand shouldn’t really matter.
However, other Asus products are known for some problems with RAM upgrade. Now, I couldn’t find anything about this on the UL20FT, but it’s important to know that they exist. This post should tell you more: http://www.tlbhd.com/upgrade-memory-on-asus-1018p-and-asus-1215n-4595/
Unfortunately I cannot recommend any memory that will for sure work, but like I said, i would go for a DDR3 1066 MHz Dual-channel kit and make sure you buy it from a proper place, that will allow 30 days money back guarantee just in case it won’t work (although chances for that are actually slim, but it’s wise to be safe
)
Mike, can you site your sources for this claim? I actually bit the bullet, and purchased the UL20ft with the intentions of moving my currently owned 8gb DDR3 1333 mhz modules over to the ul20ft.
Everywhere online claims 4gb max, but I can’t help but just assume (read: hope) that the spec charts are indicating what the previous refresh [UL20a] was capable of. My 1333 modules downclock to 1066 in my current HP DM1z, BUT isn’t dual-channel.
I guess my question is two parts:
1) I’m betting 8gb works in the UL20ft, but I’m curious as you how you came to your own conclusion.
2) Is the UL20ft DUAL-CHANNEL capable?
Thanks Mike! You’ve done great replying to so many inquisitors!
please tell me what CPU exactly you have on your ul20ft so i can check on Intel’s site
Mike is the link broken?…… it says I need a password.
Oi, sry Liz, I’ve updated the comment with the correct one: http://www.tlbhd.com/upgrade-memory-on-asus-1018p-and-asus-1215n-4595/
Hey, i saw you are recommending the best mini laptops to buy? just want to know can you update and now comment on which one is best? i want a fast one and one that will be able to handle programs like photoshop?
Ruth, the post is up to date for the moment, Changes will happen in the next months, but for now, these are the best choices in my opinion
I have the Asus UL20FT with CS5 Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Elements and I use it as my grab-and-go laptop when I don’t really want to take my larger and much heavier laptop. Though my Asus is not meant to my primary laptop, it does a very good job when I just need to something lightweight and still need to edit photos out in the field.
Hope this helps.
I should have mentioned I did upgrade my Asus UL20FT to 4Gb of memory. I would however like to upgrade the HD to the Seagate Momentus XT ST95005620AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache 2.5″ SATA 3.0Gb/s with NCQ Solid State Hybrid Drive,.. I’m not afraid of changing out he HD myself, but transfering the old image to the new HD I think that might be a harder task for me to do on my own.
why have you missed on 12 inch ASUS 1215T AND 1215P?
@AJIT There wil be a major update on this post soon. I haven’t miss those but they aren’t selling all over the globe and I’m not really sure they are actually worth included here.
I’m looking forward to the new post,. will it be on 12″ line of laptops?
Hey Mike. Is the Asus VX6 a worthy upgrade over the 1215N? I am looking to buy something by the end of April. Do you think anything will change by then?
It’s the same in terms of hardware. Only a few things differ so i would say no, but hey, if you got the money and want the fancy stuff, why not
Thanks Mike. Quick follow up. Are we looking at something new and exciting come May?
Yea, we should see new devices with AMD inside starting from March. Stay tuned for updates
There are some fascinating time limits on this article but I don’t know if I see all of them heart to heart. There may be some validity but I will take maintain opinion until I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we want extra! Added to FeedBurner as effectively
Hey Mike. I’m also thinking about buying the asus vx6. But it would be awful if a few months later was released a 12 inch netbook with i3 processor and nvidia grafics in the same pricerange. Should I wait? Will Asus launch a 12 incher with the above specs soon?
Keep up the great work.
SUZ
I wish I’d know Suz. No rumors about such a 12 incher yet. There’s the Ul20FT already on the market with Core I3/I5 processors but without the graphics, so it really depends if you plan on playing games or not…
Ohh and the vx6 has B&O ICE speakers plus two usb 3.0
But then again it’s 200 dollars more in price…hmmmm……
thank you for this Mike. it really helps. am planning to buy a new one @ 12-13 inches with best specs coz am working more on SEO so there were lots of software need to be installed. budget price is 20-28K. what can u suggest? right now am using Lenovo but its only 1GB. better if i could find a 4gb. i’l go for Lenovo, Toshiba, or HP if there is.
napz, 20-28K what? pls state an USD budget
Cant decide between the Asus 1215N (1.8ghz atom dual core) or the Ul20FT which has a 1.2ghz processor.
How is this a faster processor then the 1.8ghz?
Id like a 12inch laptop for use in everyday tasks and the occasional game here and there. But more for business use and some multitasking. Which would you prefer mike?
Frank, the ul20Ft seems better for you. There is quite a big difference in terms of everyday speed between the two and if you won’t play any games than there’s no point going for the device with ION
After research, in Australia the ul20FT isnt available, so would the 1215N still be ok for my usage mike?
Well… I wouldn’t go for it and better wait for the Asus 1215B (search for the review here on the site) or any of the other devices with AMD Zacate on board. There are a couple of 11.6 inchers already available, like the vaio yb, hp pavilion dm1, lenovo ideapad s205 and lenovo thinkpad x120e. Those offer overall better performances than the 1215N and come with good graphics and battery life as well. Don’t know which one of those are available Down Under but you should check… Of course, in terms of CPU none are as good as the Ul20FT though but should be enough for most everyday tasks.
Thanks for that mike, unfortunatly all the units u listed arent available here in aussie, which means i prob be waiting forever for the 1215B. so im prob gonna have to just take my chance with the 1215N or maybe even the VX6. Is performance really that bad on these units, like i wouldnt be playing any full on 3d games, its more for just multitasking and doing invoices on the go.
If u really think its not worth it, il just wait until something else hopefully pops up in the 12inch range???
Hi mike, what do you think of the MSI u270. Because that has the AMD Zacate and That is available in aussie but just a matter of finding one!
That one should do… however i would look for more reviews of it before buying. Haven’t seen that many poping along and although hardware platform is the same, there are those little details that make all the difference, like screen, battery, build quality.
Not, the 1215N ain’t bad at all. However, when I had my test unit, I had problems with 1080p clips and games. That was an rearly sample and drivers were defective at that time. Not sure if this has changed in the meantime but I do believe it did… Still, based entirely on my expeirence with both the 1215n and the 1215B, my money are on the later. Not to mention that it’s cheaper as well. The 1215B though ain’t yet available but was announced for April in Europe and US. So should reach you as well in the next months.
ASUS 1215 T is a very good affordable 12 inch laptop- stating from my own use.
It certainly deserves a review.
Didn’t have the chance to ever get my hands on this one so there’s nothing I can say about it
Hi Mike!!
Congratulations about that!
and congrats again!
I think you are doing and amazing job, by using all your knolewdge and experience to help us
I would like to make you a quick question, i want to buy a netbook and i want it to fast: wich one of this would you recommend me? HP DM1-3090 or ASUS 1215B? or another one that you consider that is about that price, but always with AMD.
Thank you so much
Gaby, both of them are very good so I would go for the one you like best and can find cheaper
Hey Mike, I heard that the real model 1215B is deprived of a LAN port. Is it true?
Not from what i know
I am wondering if there are portable laptops/netbooks with internal optical (DVD drive) available other than sky-highly priced Vaio entries.
And on another topic entirely, which is the largest (maybe around 12-13 inch) AND lightest portable laptop/netbook available? Which, among them, comes with dedicated graphics?
Thanks for your kind response.
Andre, you’ll hardly find any 12 incher with DVD unit these days and also anything with dedicated graphics (except for the 1215N – sort of – and the Dell Alienware M11X) . You’ll have to go to 13.3 or even 14.1 devices to find these for an affordable price
Hi Mike. Opposite to your recommendation above in your 1215B review you say it tops the N. Which is the better choice? Thanks
yea, i should fix that. Like I said in the review , the 1215N is theoretically slightly faster on paper, but in practice the 1215B performed better, because of the graphic bottlenecks of the Atom + ION architecture. I will write a post that will explain the differences between these two pretty soon, but if you guys have any more questions, just leave a comment or contact me by email
hi, love your reviews
i am looking for the right netbook. i will use it manly to browse, writing and watching movies on a hd tv. I was going to buy an ul20ft but i read on many reviews that a 1215b is better suited for watching movies because of its discrete graphics, what do you think?
Another question: which model of the 1215b has the 1.66 cpu and which one has the 1.0 one? i live in italy, in case its something country-based
thanks
e AMD The 1215B can play 1080P movies smoothly, while the UL20Ft cannot.
Also, on the 1215B, i would ge tthe version with the AMD E350 APU clocked at 1.66 Ghz. The version with the AMD C-50 APU is clocked at 1.0 GHz and also has poorer graphics, as this processor is developed for smaller 10 inch devices.
Man that U260 design is sooooo funky! Love it! But what’s with battery life (only 4 hrs)? It isn’t like it sports a discrete graphics there…
The Series 4 is rather nice also, although not as drool-inducing as Series 9.
What about the rumored orange, new and faster Lambo VX6? Is there any new news?
Which one in 11.1-12.5 inch range that comes (or soon comes!) with great graphics?
But for now, I’d just stick to Asus UL20FT. Best one all around.
Thanks and kudos!
No word on the new VX6X but I do know Asus is working on new 12 inchers, including the UX21 and some others. So stay tuned
Any word about the Asus 1225 series?
The new Asus 1225 laptops are actually 11.6 inchers now, and you can read my reviews of the two in the dedicated section (see the menu on top of this page)
Dear
Can you review or give comments regarding HP Pro book 4230s? Whatever I have seen on HP website seems to be impressive. Although about 1 year old now, I feel that is also a good alternative to all these mentioned above.
I am looking for mini laptop
My brother has recommended me Asus
My desire that it s comfortable to carry and I think I just use it for playing game or entertain but not net book ^__^
Could you recommend me anything else?
Thank you for future ^__*
TIne, the post above is upo to date and thois are my recommendation. You can also see my post on the Top 11.6 inch mini laptops, you can find it on the front page of this website.
hii mike…i want to buy samsung series 3 mini laptop 12.5 inch..But i am little scared as i heard i3 processor not go well with small screen..is it true?
also Amd processor i headr they got heating problem too
I wouldn’t say that. I don’t get what you are trying to say with the Core I3s not going well with Small screens, but these processors are fast and will work fine on any of these small laptops or bigger ones.
As for AMD APUs, I didn’t encountered overheating problems when using them
Hi Mike, I would like to buy a 12 inch laptop, my budget is $550. I spotted this Dell Inspiron 14z and the HP Folio 13-1029wm. Which one is better? Please advice me.