They're small, practical and effectively mobile. Netbooks have been a hot computer category over the last year, and that shows no signs of abating as the new school year draws closer.

For the most part, there isn't a huge variation between netbook models because they tend to use some of the same key components. But that doesn't mean they all feel the same or necessarily function in the same way. I've outlined five different models that I've either tried or put my hands on in retail.  

Acer Aspire 10.1"

Acer has found itself as the top netbook seller, partly because they keep refining the models to get them right. One of their smarter moves was doing away with small 7" screens and opting to go with larger ones like this Aspire 10.1". It runs on Intel's Atom 1.6GHz processor N270, which you will find to be pretty standard amongst many netbooks. There's a 160GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, built-in Wi-Fi and runs on Windows XP Home Edition. A 5-in-1 memory card reader is on the side and the touchpad can recognize multiple gestures. Zoom in and out using two fingers, flip pages with a finger flick and rotate images in a circular motion. You can find the Aspire 10.1" in retail for $329 and in up to five colours.

HP Mini 110

If you're one who needs access to the Internet pretty much all the time, then the HP Mini 110 might not be a good option for you. It has built-in Wi-Fi and 3G cellular access offered through Rogers. To take advantage of it, you will need to sign up for a service contract separate from your cell phone, which is a downside to this. But you aren't obligated to go for that. The Mini 110 has one of the nicer keyboards of the netbooks out there, as it's close to what a full size keyboard would normally be. It runs on Intel's Atom 1.6GHz processor N270, has a 10.1" screen, 160GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM and runs on Windows XP Home Edition. You can find it retailing for under $400.

Dell Mini 10 and Mini 10v

Just Dell offers three versions of the Mini 10v, while the Mini 10 is the flagship of the group. The three 10v's run on Intel's Atom 1.6GHz processor N270, while the Mini 10 runs on a 1.33GHz Atom processor Z520. You can opt to go with a Mini 10v that runs Linux Ubuntu, which is a free operating system that you can also customize - or you can go with one that uses Windows Home Edition. All four have 10.1" screens, carry 160GB hard drives and run 1GB of RAM, so the specifications don't change all that much. You can find it in up to six colours and retail prices start at $329 for the Mini 10v models, and $399 for the Mini 10.

Sony VAIO W-Series Mini Notebook

In order Sony is one of a few companies that seem to avoid using the word "netbook", but the Mini Notebook is very much like the others in this roundup. It runs on a slightly faster Intel Atom 1.66GHz processor N280. There's a 160GB hard drive inside, as well as the 1GB of RAM, built-in Wi-Fi and memory card reader. The reader, unfortunately, is limited to Sony's proprietary Memory Stick format and the more commonly found SD format. It also has some integration with the Sony Playstation 3, where you can stream content from the Mini Notebook onto the gaming console for viewing on your TV. While a very nice product, be prepared to spend more for it, as it retails for $599.

Toshiba NB200

What Toshiba has here is a nice little unit that also looks funky and sophisticated at the same time. The NB200 runs on the same specs as Sony's Mini Notebook, though it has a 5-in-1 memory card reader. In terms of hard drive size and RAM, it has the same specs as the other netbooks in this roundup, so there isn't much differentiation there. It also runs on Windows XP Home Edition, like the others. Like Sony, Toshiba shies away from using the word "netbook", but given the 10.1" screen size and the familiar specs, it's hard to call it anything but that. The NB200 comes in three different colours and retail prices start at $419.