Viewsonic VNB101 netbook review

 

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Posted on 10 Jul 2009 at 12:14

VIEWSONIC
VNB101
****
£300 inc VAT
From TBC (released in August)

It would be easy to dismiss Viewsonic's VNB101 as yet another 'me too' netbook. After all, if you look down the list of specifications, there's not much difference compared to all of the other netbooks out there: there's the same 1.6GHz Atom N280 processor, 1GB of RAM, 160GB of RAM, Windows XP Home Edition and 10.2in screen that you'd expect.

The difference between this netbook and the plethora of similarly-specified models from other manufacturers is build quality. While there are a lot of cheap-looking netbooks out there, the NB101 looks like it is more expensive. It's more scaled down laptop than cheap portable computer, if you will.
Its looks are helped by the nicely sculptured case and glossy paint finish (red, black and a kind of bronze colours are active). The high-quality looks immediately set this laptop apart from the drab, plastic looking models that some manufacturers put out.

Fortunately, the VNB101 isn't just a pretty face and the build quality lives up to the design. The case feels incredibly firm and there's not flex in the screen. You get the impression that you wouldn't damage this laptop by slinging it in a bag and carrying it around all day.

Flip open the lid and the quality continues inside. Although the screen measures 10.2in, the large bezel means that the lid is just over 12in diagonally. It has the effect of making the display look slightly smaller, but the extra room means that there's room for a decent keyboard.

The keys are all fractionally smaller than you'd expect on a standard laptop, but nothing to complain about. Touch typing was incredibly easy, particularly as the keys feel nice and firm with no flex and provide plenty of feedback. The keys are also mostly in the right place; only the backslash key has been relocated above the Enter key, but it's easy enough to get used to.

One niggle we often have with netbooks is a small touchpad and difficult-to-reach buttons. With the VNB101 this isn't a problem, as the touchpad is the same size as you'd expect to find on a regular laptop. It's responsive and easy to use as a result and also has multi-touch gestures, so you can do things like zoom into a web page by pinching your fingers together.

The screen's got an LED backlight, which requires less power than a traditional CCFL-lit screen. It's evenly lit and bright too. Its glossy finish helps improve contrast, although reflections can be picked up. We didn't find this a problem under office lighting, but outside it will be harder to read than a matte screen.

There are only two USB2 ports, so you'll need to use a USB hub at home if you've got lots of devices to plug in. There's also a VGA output, so that you can connect an external monitor, and an SDHC card slot.
All-in-all the VBN101 feels like a superior netbook. It's a shame, then, that the battery life is a paltry 2h 44m. This limits this laptop's use on the move, although it's enough power for use around the home. The battery life's the fault of the 3,600mAh battery; the company's previous VNB100 had a larger 4,600mAh battery.

That said, the VNB101 is still a decent netbook, but if you spend a lot of time away from the power plug MSI's similarly-priced Wind U100 has almost two hours more battery life.

VERDICT
A smart, well-built netbook with a great screen and comfortable keyboard. It's just a shame that its battery life isn't longer.

SUMMARY

NETBOOK 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280, 1.00GB RAM, 160GB disk, Intel 945 Express graphics, , 10.2in widescreen LCD, Windows XP Home Edition, one year RTB warranty, 25x265x185mm, 1.1kg.