Honestly, the idea behind nettops is a bit baffling. Netbooks, I get. They offer low-power components and compact designs to extend battery life and increase portability. A nettop offers a stripped down configuration—many use the Intel Atom processor found in netbooks—but for what? Battery life and portability aren't factors here. We suppose an argument can be made for nettops as green Internet devices, saving on electricity compared with a full-powered desktop when all that power isn't needed. But in that case, we'd argue that you'd get the same energy savings, more versatility, and roughly the same screen size from a low-voltage laptop.

Nettop performance pales in comparison to even the lowest-end desktop. A nettop only makes sense if you have $300 to spend on a machine that you'll use only as a stationary e-mail and a Web browser. A modern, dual-core configuration can be found inside a small-form-factor system for less than $500.

Blurring the line between nettop and netbook are, a so-called all-in-one nettops such as the Asus Eee Top 1602 and Lenovo C300 that feature an integrated monitor. When you add a touch-sensitive display and a dual-core processor, the nettop idea begins to gain some traction.

Nettops for Spring:

Acer Aspire Revo AR3610-U9012 : Full SetAcer AspireRevo R3610-U9022

Polywell Giada ION-100 : Side Polywell Giada Ion-100


Dell Inspiron Zino HD : Front Dell Inspiron Zino HD (Inspiron 400)

The Dell Inspiron Zino HD's compact design is derivative of the Apple Mac mini, but it has all the connectors it needs to sit under that big HDTV you bought last holiday season. —next: Small Form Factor Desktops >