If you want to buy an ultraportable / netbook comes with Nvidia ION platform but do not know which model to choose, the comparison proposed by our colleagues for four LaptopMag ION-based netbook, might be very interesting.

The LaptopMag our colleagues have compared according to different parameters netbooks / ultraportables 311C HP Compaq Mini, Lenovo IdeaPad S12, Asus Eee PC 1201N and Samsung N510. They each take a 11.6-inch diagonal display, or 12.1 inches, with the exception of the Mini-311C which has a design close to 10-inch netbook. While HP Compaq Mini-311C and Asus Eee PC 1201N treatment have a chassis with glossy (shiny), Lenovo IdeaPad S12 and Samsung N510 show off a cover mat.

IdeaPad S12 offers the best keyboard, but HP Compaq Mini-311C is the best in design and ergonomics. Regarding overall performance, the Eee PC 1201N comes at the top with 1488 points in PCMark Vantage, compared with IdeaPad S12, Samsung N510 Mini and 311C which represent respectively a score of 1306 points, 1249 points and 1227 points. As for graphics performance, the Eee PC 1201N is placed first in 3DMark06 with a score of 1538 points against 1450 points for Mini 311C, 1377 points and 1259 points for IdeaPad S12 for Samsung N510.

In video decoding, however, is HP Compaq Mini-311C to get the best time, 4 minutes and 5 seconds, followed by Samsung N510 (5 min, and 26 seconds), Eee PC 1201N (7 minutes and 51 seconds) and IdeaPad S12 (9 minutes and 30 / 2). Compaq Mini 311C is again crowned the winner. To measure performance in video mode after installing Flash Player 10.1, LaptopMag did read every model a video trailer for Star Trek to 720p and launched a test video to full screen Nvidia (PureVideo).

Here, the Asus Eee PC 1201N is square in the head with Nvidia 30fps in the test and 24 fps for the trailer for Star Trek. S12 Mini and 311C are equal (22 fps and 24 fps) and Samsung N510 ended last (7 fps and 24 fps). To determine their behavior in games, the ultraportable have been tested with World of Warcraft auto mode and max. Unsurprisingly, Asus Eee PC 1201N comes first car with 48fps and 14 fps at most IdeaPad S12 Mini-311C and HP once again get very close scores (36/35 fps and 14 fps), followed by Samsung N510 (30 fps 12 fps).

However, with regard to autonomy, Samsung N510 beats everyone with 4:57 hours followed closely by HP Compaq Mini-311C (4:52 hours). Behind there IdeaPad S12 (3:56 hours) and Eee PC 1201N (3.53 hours). Price, the Asus Eee PC and HP Compaq Mini 1201N 311C are the most interesting. In the end, we opt for an Eee PC 1201N if you want better performance or to point to an HP Compaq Mini-311C if you search for the best performance / battery life.