Price: Although most netbook have very similar features, more and more models are starting to differentiate themselves whether in terms of price, specs or performance. The Acer Aspire One and the HP Mini are considered as budget-friendly or entry-level models (as opposed to high end models like the Toshiba Mini or the Asus 1005HA netbook). These two models are about the cheapest in the market, with the Acer model retailing at around $319 each and the HP model costing around $328 each. Winner: Acer Aspire One.
Design: While being aware that the preference of a design is very much a subjective matter, I just can’t bring myself to declare this as a draw between the Acer and the HP netbook. The Acer netbook has a much more edgier design, while the HP sports a more traditional look with rounded corners and symmetrical layout. Don’t hold this against me, but I have to say that I find the design of the Acer model much more attractive than the HP model. Winner: Acer Aspire One.
Features & Performance: In their efforts to produce a super affordable netbook, Acer has pulled all the stops. As the result, you have a netbook with most of the basic netbook features. Unfortunately, I found it quite difficult to find a feature/performance aspect where it is better than other brands in the market. Although the HP Mini netbook fares similarly, it does have one outstanding feature. Its keyboard design is legendary in the netbook world. Many as the best in the netbook market consider the HP netbook keyboard, up to today. It feels very good to type on, unlike the cramped designs from many other brands. Other than that, both models have almost identical features and performance levels. Winner: HP Mini Netbook.