The SN12-E22B is a low-cost laptop, priced at just £469 and packing an impressive array of features for the price. Highly portable but relatively free of the ‘portability premium’ we’ve seen attached to other laptops, the Hannspree SN12-E22B is one of our favourite low-cost laptops in years.

With a slim case and solid build quality, the Hannspree SN12-E22B is both portable and reasonably strong. We’ve yet to test the case in high-risk situations, nor have we seen it survive under physical stress. However, judging by the system’s design, relatively rigid construction process, and limited number of failure points, this could be a laptop that lasts for several years without fault.

Power is reasonable, albeit slightly limited when compared with high-end laptops. An Intel Core 2 Duo processor provides usable power for programmers and office workers, while 2GB RAM keeps multiple programs easily manageable and slowdown at a minimum. While nothing next to high-end personal computers, the SN12-E22B certainly holds its own for basic computing.

Unfortunately, it’s a lack of graphical processing power that stops the SN12-E22B from becoming this generation’s go-to budget gaming platform. The system relies on an internal graphics card for video and 3D rendering, slowing performance and limiting compatibility with all but the most basic titles. Multimedia use is acceptable, albeit slightly choppy during high definition video.

Alongside the laptop’s impressive build quality is a keyboard that, quite unfortunately, lets this notebook down. Hannspree have eschewed the popular Macbook-style isolated keyboard layout, instead choosing to use a standard keyboard which is fixed in the middle. Key inputs are clumsy and difficult, while the keyboard’s annoying construction style makes entry slightly soft.

It’s much the same on the touchpad front. Hannspree are a fairly new laptop manufacturer, and in many ways it shows. Control is slightly finicky and precision is limited, with the touchpad proving difficult to use for gamers and power users. The mouse buttons are acceptable, although we’ve certainly grown more comfortable with the ‘invisible button’ style used by HP and Apple.

Application fans are in for a mixed bag. Hannspree have decided not to include an optical drive in the SN12-E22B, aiming to save space and maximize battery life in the process. It’s a non issue for power users and techies, although we can’t help but feel it will be missed; due to its low price, the SN12-E22B seems more likely to attract an audience with little use for online installers.

All in all, the SN12-E22B is certainly a worthwhile purchase. If you can live without an optical drive, work on a slightly uncomfortable keyboard, and get by without playing games, it could even be a great choice. For students, digital workers, and technology enthusiasts with a limited budget, this is the compact notebook to choose.

It’s also a surprisingly usable netbook. Weighing in at just 1.2 kilograms and boasting one of the best batteries we’ve seen in an ultra-portable computer, the Dot S2 is an inexpensive option for those in need of a portable workstation. While its performance leaves a little to be desired, the computer’s beautiful case and enduring battery make it one of our favourite netbooks of 2010.

As a subsidiary of netbook powerhouse Acer, it’s far from surprising that Packard Bell have produced one of our favourite recent netbooks. The Dot S2 shares numerous features with its Acer branded counterparts, including a smart battery system and some interesting software additions.

But at its heart, the Dot S2 is quite a different beast. The design is refreshingly industrial, sharing aluminium and brushed black plastic in equal quantities. The keyboard is compact and comfortable, using the isolated key system found on Apple’s Macbook Pro line and HP’s Envy series. Touchpad control is excellent, with a lightly textured surface giving users greater precision and usability.

The Dot S2‘s display is equally impressive. Packard Bell have opted to use a glossy display similar to that found on the Macbook Pro, exchanging the glare-friendly matte display for something more aesthetically pleasing. While the Dot S2 loses a small amount of its go-anywhere appeal, the screen remains bright and clear in almost all settings – certainly a welcome feature on a netbook.

System performance is slightly less impressive. The Dot S2 uses an Intel Atom processor, though it shares little in common with those found in more expensive high-end netbooks. Most applications run smoothly, although specialist graphic suites and demanding 3D applications will be held back by the system’s limited processing power and 3D graphics capabilities.

The inclusion of Packard Bell’s XSync USB file sharing system is a huge bonus for users. The Dot S2 can be connected to another personal computer via USB, allowing users to transfer files without the need to set up a local network or wireless connection. While most users will leave XSync as an untouched feature, we found ourselves using it between local laptops quite often.

The Packard Bell Dot S2 makes no pretensions about what it is – an inexpensive, underpowered and relatively limited netbook computer. But despite pulling few punches and offering little in the way of mobile performance, it’s one of our favourite netbooks.

The low price certainly helps make it so, along with the Dot S2‘s incredibly slick design; at just £299 it’s one of the most affordable ten-inch netbooks out there. For a system that’s equal parts industrial style and portable usability, the Packard Bell Dot S2 is very hard to fault.

The ThinkPad X100e continues this tradition in inexpensive, compact, and remarkably portable style. One of the smallest full-function laptops we’ve seen and a major proponent of functional design, the X100e is a portable, durable, and highly cost-effective piece of machinery.

Unlike other ThinkPads, the X100e is available from as little as £390. The entry-level laptop boasts the same features that have made the ThinkPad series famous, including a pointing control stick, liquid resistant keyboard, and dual-option mouse buttons and scroll controls.

What separates it from the remainder of the ThinkPad lineup is its performance. Lenovo’s high-end ThinkPad notebooks typically cost upwards of £1000 and feature modern components. The X100e offers the same prized design features and robust construction, though without the performance many mobile professionals have grown to expect from a ThinkPad.

The X100e‘s processor is quite basic – an inexpensive and simple AMD single-core unit which offers limited performance. All office applications are responsive and fast, as is internet browsing and basic photo editing. The X100e is ideal for mobile office use, though its limited power and tiny display can make multimedia tasks a nightmare.

But despite its compact screen – the ThinkPad’s display measures just eleven inches – the X100e is a decent mobile movie station. Graphics performance is adequate, allowing users to play dated PC games, while a 250GB hard drive allows for a sizeable compressed movie and music collection.

Of course, the vast majority of buyers aren’t looking at the X100e as a multimedia station, but as a business machine. The X100e features the same keyboard as other ThinkPad models, though it uses an isolated-key layout instead of the standard one-piece design. Water resistant and highly durable, the X100e‘s keyboard is one of the best on any consumer laptop.

Most business tasks are performed efficiently on the X100e, although the small display can make managing multiple windows quite difficult. The limited screen resolution can distort images and websites – an annoyance common amongst compact laptops and netbooks – and make presentations slightly more difficult to navigate.

The ThinkPad X100e is ultimately a mixed bag. Available at a significantly lower cost than similar models and boasting one of the most trusted designs in computing, it’s a reliable piece of equipment for business users and frequent travellers. The lack of a built-in optical drive reduces its multimedia power, though an integrated media card system allows users to carry out basic photo editing tasks.

For us, it’s a computer that’s equal parts netbook and notebook. Highly portable and surprisingly durable, the ThinkPad X100e beats out its netbook competitors while ultimately failing to deliver corporate-level performance. At £390 it’s a very inexpensive option for remote workers, albeit one that’s only viable for the most basic office tasks.