The Apple Macbook 13 inch model is an impressive machine which gives performance levels very close to the Pro version, according to an expert.

Chris Hall, reviewing the machine for Pocket-Lint.com, said that stacked up against the most basic Macbook Pro, the 13 inch Macbook looks “pretty good”, having the same processor, RAM , graphics and a larger capacity hard drive, all for less money.

He added that the machine has a certain elegance about it, with the lid fitting perfectly when closed and providing a sturdy casing for carrying around in a bag.

“Inside you get the isolated keyboard, which is very comfortable to type on. There is less of a definition between the trackpad and the body of the Mac on this plastic model than there is on the aluminium versions, but … we didn’t find that to be a problem,” he added.

The Macbook 13 inch also has a battery which lasts seven hours off one single charge, meaning that it can be taken anywhere for work or play.

The popularity of netbooks appears to be growing as they are becoming a viable choice when people are shopping for a new computer, according to an industry blog.

Ecommercejunkie said that netbook manufacturers are making a dent in the market with older consumers, as they are people who do not necessarily need huge high-definition screens and beefy processors.

A recent survey by PriceGrabber.com found that 55 per cent of respondents said that netbooks were still a complementary tool to a laptop rather than a replacement. However, the assertion that 45 per cent think that they definatley are a good replacement was a good sign.

“It represents a significant increase in popularity over a very short period of time for a new product competing against one that has had a solid hold in the marketplace and the consumer psyche for quite a while,” added the blogger.

Last week, technology giant Samsung unveiled its new 4G netbook, the N150, which could be the face of super-fast broadband portable computing.

Netbooks are turning into one of the hottest sellers in the computer market, according to an expert.

Ray Saitz, writing for the Peterborough Examiner, said that after years of systems growing larger and more powerful, portable computers are now getting smaller.

“At first glance everything about a netbook looks stripped down. The average screen size is only slightly larger than ten inches, the keyboard is about 80 per cent the size of a regular version and the whole thing could hide under a letter-sized piece of paper,” he added.

However, My Saitz added that netbooks are selling at remarkable rates, as they can wirelessly connect to the internet, do word processing and store large amounts of data.

He commented that with a total weight of less than a kilogram, netbooks are ideal for students, travellers or businessmen.

People who have bought netbooks can install a range of software, including Microsoft Office and iTunes, to allow them to carry out tasks that they normally would on their desktop PC.