Top Ten Toys

What are the top ten toys in terms of sales in the world today? You may be surprised to see some of the toys on the list but according to my research, these are the top ten best selling toys at the moment.
The top ten toys sold in the world today include:
1. World Cup Stadium Horn
This horn has been a hit at the World Cup. Fans blow into the mouthpiece and it makes very loud noises. It's also collapsible, which makes it easy to transport.
2. Silly Bandz
These are colorful bands that are molded into different fun shapes. They can be worn as a bracelet, necklace, or even a ponytail holder. Some popular shapes include: fantasy, princess, sea creatures, and dinosaurs.
3. Water Wheel Activity Play Table
In this activity, kids pour water into a funnel which activates a water wheel that spills water into different harbors. This play table is meant to encourage creative exploration as well as cause and effect learning.
4. Insect Lore Live Butterfly Garden
It's a reusable and collapsible habitat that gives kids the chance to witness metamorphosis up close. After the caterpillar's are transformed to butterflies, the lid can be lifted to release them into the wild.
5. Bananagrams
In this word game, players use tiles to create words in a cross-word style play. It's both educational and fun for the whole family. Even better, it comes in a travel kit. Therefore, no paper, pencils, or board is required.
6. The Settlers of Catan
This award-winning strategy game has players collect resources and use them to build roads, settlements, and cities in the mythical world of Catan. It comes with a variable board, so each game is different from the next.
7. Fisher-Price's Brilliant Baby's First Blocks
This comes with ten bright blocks for a baby to drop into an open bucket. The bucket has a shape-sorting lid, which makes it great for eye-hand coordination. Babies may also enjoy sorting and stacking them, as well.
8. Cars Shake N Go Red Ramone
This hit toy was created by Fisher-Price. It comes from the popular Pixar film, Cars. If you shake Ramone, his engine will start. The more he's shaken, the longer he will go.
9. Leap Frog Learn & Groove Musical Table
This innovative toy is full of forty different songs and melodies. It keeps babies entertained and also provides visual and auditory stimulation, as well as motor skill development.
10. Lego Ultimate Building Set
It's the perfect Lego starter kit. There are 405 pieces, a house and wheel element, and a mini figurine. Kids can build a house, a helicopter, a car, or even a dog. If desired, the pieces can also be incorporated into future Lego sets.
Of course this list is always changing, but it gives a good indication of the current global trends in terms of toy sales worldwide.

To find out more on the Top Ten Toys, plus lots more info on the latest toys and gadgets, visit Top Ten Toys

Top Ten GPS Features to Consider Before You Buy

All GPS models come with basic features, such as preloaded maps, automatic rerouting for when you miss a turn, and spoken directions. The top ten GPS features are extras that you'll want to consider before you make your final choice. This article breaks down the top ten GPS features available in a GPS unit today!
1. Spoken Street Names. Of the top ten GPS features, this one is absolutely necessary! With this feature you never have to take your eyes off of the road to look at your GPS. It tells you when to turn and the name of the street you'll be turning onto. Nothing could make traveling by car simpler. Or Safer. The last thing you need while driving is another distraction to take your eyes off the road.
2. Real Time Traffic Reports. This can be a useful feature to help you avoid traffic accidents and construction, but you need to be aware of the downsides before you buy based on this option. First, this feature may only work in certain major cities. Check the manufacturers web site to see if your area is covered. Second, you may be required to buy an additional receiver for this feature to work. Read the packaging carefully. And third, you may have to pay a subscription for this service. Some units are now offering this feature for free with purchase.
3. Routing Option. Some GPS units allow you to set up for multiple points on one trip before you even start driving. Some units will let you know when there is a toll road on your route and give you an alternative route to avoid it if you want.
4. Detour Feature. When you have a GPS unit with real time traffic reports, it can warn you of traffic backups and provide alternative routes. If that feature is not available to you, some units have a manual detour button you can use when you notice traffic starting to slow down. At this point it would provide you with an alternative route.
5. Bluetooth Compatibility. This is a cool top ten GPS feature. If you have a Bluetooth enabled cell phone you can sync it with your GPS unit to make and receive hands free phone calls through the internal speaker in the GPS. It can also display the caller ID on the GPS's screen.
6. Screen Size. As of right now GPS units come with screen sizes ranging from 2.5 inches to 7 inches. The smallest units allow for ultra portability but can be difficult to see and type addresses on. The largest units are really easy to see and type on but can take up more room than necessary and are bulky to carry around. You can definitely get by with a 3.5 inch screen, but a 4.3 inch is optimal.
7. MP3 Player. If you already have an mp3 player or a cell phone with music capabilities this feature may be overkill. If not, you could turn your GPS into a multitasking device. Some units have an expansion slot for an SD card for extra memory. You can then use your GPS as a portable music player.
8. Video Player. In order to use this feature you would need to download videos to your GPS from a computer or from an SD card. Obviously this has nothing to do with navigation, but it could be a nice feature to preview your family videos while on a trip.
9. Photo Viewer. This top ten GPS feature basically turns your GPS unit into a digital picture frame. As with video, you would have to download pics from your computer or an SD card.
10. Predictive Data Entry. This top ten GPS feature is common on most models, but is still worth mentioning here. When you start typing in a destination, the unit will predict and list destinations similar to what you're typing. This just helps to find and input your destinations faster.

Top Ten Reasons to Exercise - Read and Be Amazed

The idea of exercising would have seemed illogical in ancient times. Throughout much of history survival it self demanded a high level of physical activity that is already a form of exercise. Rarely have people been able to live in such comfort that they needed to exercise apart from their daily activities. But in our modern world today, most people do not have to hunt, fish, or work the fields to get food. Walking or running long distances to get from one place to another is already seen as history. Most of us sit while we work, travel, and especially during our leisure time. The word "exercise" is a distinctly modern invention.
What are the top ten reasons to exercise? Here are some of the top ten reasons to exercise. One of the main reasons to exercise is to be physically fit. Being physically fit is important for us because it aids us in completing tasks and activities in our daily life. Without fitness, our body will get tired easily because we lack the stamina and energy.
In addition, exercise is also important for those who desire to lose weight. It is a well known fact that exercising is the best natural way to lose weight. Those who are overweight or even obese need exercise so they can burn calories and prevent excessive weight gain. Taking diet pills and diets have been proven to be unreliable, inconsistent and sometimes even dangerous to the human body.
Next, on the "Top Ten Reasons to Exercise List", Exercise is very important to build a strong immune system that is able to resist infections and diseases. Our bodies evolve in very demanding environments and are meant to be used actively. If they are not used, they deteriorate faster than they should. Many of the illnesses that plague our society result from under use of the body. Clearly the prevalence of heart and artery disease correlates as much with lack of aerobic exercise as it does with unhealthy diets. Insufficient aerobic activity also predisposes us to musculoskeletal disorders, gastrointestinal problems, nervous and emotional illnesses, and a long list of other ailments. Research has even shown that a person who exercises regularly has a lower risk in getting infected by virus such as influenza and even some other fatal diseases.
De stressing is also among the top ten reasons to exercise. Most exercises are able to drive out stress from the body. This is mainly because when a person exercises the inhalation and exhalation process becomes more efficient thus helping an individual to relax.
Another one of the top ten reasons to exercise is building muscles. Some people exercise and workout in gyms for the main reason of a better and a more muscular looking body. In a nutshell, exercising not only produces a fitter body but also increases a person's self image and confidence level to incredible heights.
The sixth top ten reasons to exercise is to build up flexibility. A percentage of people especially those interested in dancing and aerobics often exercise. The exercises are in the forms of stretching and other light exercises to increase their body's flexibility thus aiding them to perform well and carry out their hobbies and interest for example, dancing. Flexibility is important in our daily life. Without a flexible body, it would definitely be hard especially for the elderly people to do basic household chores.
The number seven and eight of the top ten reasons to exercise is to occupy our time wisely and amazingly, improves sleep. Yes, exercise is indeed an important activity especially to youths because it is a good way for them to spend their time in a healthy and beneficial way. This can avoid countless social problems that may occur in youths for example drug addiction and even vandalism which occurs mainly because youths spend their free time with the wrong company. Believe it or not, exercise may really promote good sleep. The natural dip in body temperature five to six hours after you exercise might help you fall asleep.
Finally, the ninth and tenth top ten reasons to exercise are improving concentration and increasing discipline. It is indeed an undeniable fact that the power of concentration and discipline can be increased substantially by exercising. The implication of this fact is that when we exercise our brain transfers impulses to and fro at an extremely fast rate. In other words, it trains us to face situations which need fast reflexes and movement that is controlled by our brain. With frequent exercising, our body will be calmer when facing unexpected situations thus keeping our concentration widely intact during tense moments.
In conclusion, exercising is a must for people of all ages as the benefits are manifold. I hope these top ten reasons to exercise will convince you that exercising works!

Choosing The Top Ten Vacuum Cleaners

The top ten vacuum cleaners have been waiting to be unveiled ever since the recent changes in technology have improved the performance and function of vaccum cleaners. The vacuum cleaners of today have come a long way from the most primitive designs to the most advanced models. You might, by chance, already have one of these great vacuum cleaners in your hands.
One of the devices that have placed itself into one of the top ten vacuum cleanersis the Eureka 4870GZ Boss Upright Vacuum. This is one of the vacuum cleaners that have received the best ratings and reviews. It has a good price tag with it and can perform most tasks similar to your typical and expensive vacuum cleaners especially when it comes to cleaning carpets. Its noise test results were remarkable and it boasts of a brush roll that you can control whenever you want. It is also suitable for people who are suffering from allergies as it has a HEPA filter fitted inside its body.
Another contender for the top vacuum cleaner is the Bissell 37601 Lift-Off Revolution Turbo Upright Bagless Vacuum. Of course, the general advantage of a bagless vacuum is that it is a hassle and fuss-free device and you would be saving for additional bag changes. With this Bissell model, you can efficiently clean your floors and carpets. It has a detachable main suction and can be instantly transformed into a canister cleaning device. It even comes at a reasonable price.
The robotic vacuum cleaner, specifically the iRobot Roomba 4210 Discovery Floorvac Robotic Vacuum has also made its way into the top ten vacuum cleaners category. This model of a vacuum is shaped like a disk and is deemed as one of the top quality cleaners in today's market. It is battery-powered and has a petite frame that is great for accessing small nooks and crannies that cannot be reached by conventional vacuum cleaners.
Halo UVX vacuum cleaner was given the title "Most Innovative" and has a place in the top vacuum cleaners category. What made it into the top ten? Only the fact that this vacuum cleaner has UVC rays that not only sucks the dust and dirt off your floors but effectively kills the dust mites contained in your home. Another vacuum cleaner that has reached its way to the top is the model labeled "Best Inexpensive Model" which just happens to be the Dirt Devil Kruz Stick Vac. It is agile and compact and has a price that would literally make your jaw drop, an amazing $99.00.
Other vacuum cleaners that deserves the title to be in the top ten is the Electrolux Intensity vacuum cleaner. Entitled "Lightweight Champ" this great cleaning device has great suction capacity and weighs only 16 pounds. Pretty good if you are going to be cleaning around the house for the whole day and don't want to be fatigued in the end. The "No Crevice Left Untouched" Dyson Slim vacuum cleaner also made it to the top ten because of its ability to access areas that aren't easily reached by standard vacuum cleaners.
The Miele vacuum cleaners, along with Bosch vacuum cleaners and Sebo air belt vacuum cleaners was also given a spot in the top ten of the greatest vacuum cleaners because of their HEPA filters and powerhead technology that allow it to clean effectively without compromising the health of the people in your home.
We feel that there is little doubt that candidates can be considered as the top ten vacuum cleaners today. You are welcome to search the Internet for vacuum cleaner information and do your own testing to come to a different conclusion. When you are done you may find that you agree with us.

Are You at the Top of the Top of the Top Ten - Why Not?

The other day someone asked me; Why do you have to be number one in everything you do? They said; "Why can't you be in the Top Ten or something like that?" I felt as if they did not understand and I retorted back;

I am in the Top Ten, in fact, I am in the top of the Top Ten and I just happen to be number one of the Top Ten, so what's the problem? I told them; Look, I was in at the bottom, then I made it to the top ten and then I went through the top ten to number one, now I am number one, what is wrong with being number one?

Then I asked them why they were not in the top ten and they said they did not want to try that hard. I agreed with them and I told them, this is why there are 9 other people in the Top Ten, other than me, they are not number one, because they accepted lesser. If there are two people in a contest one will be number one and one will be number two and if you are playing in such a game you need to decide where on the list is the place for you.Vince Lombardi's famous speech use to be on the back of my door to my room growing up, "There is only one place for me, and that is first place," and what is wrong with that? Amazingly, some people think that being the best all the time is wrong? How on Earth could winning be wrong? If winning is so wrong then stop competing all together, and certainly stop competing with me - there is nothing wrong with being number one, surely you can see? If you would like to explore these thoughts more, perhaps I can recommend the following book to you?
"The Enemy Called Average - Don't Settle for an Average Life" by John L. Mason - 1990.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

How Would You Define the Top Ten Websites?

I got to thinking about defining the term top ten websites. It seems that top ten websites is a reasonably of searched term so people must be trying to find the best of the best. I thought about my definition vs what other people had in mind. My definition would be as follows. The top ten websites world wide would be giving the owners and shareholders concrete results, as in monetary reward. Today's top ten websites could differ from tomorrows using that single criteria. I want to expand on my criteria although I have a feeling that the top ten sites will probably all meet the criteria. I would think that in order to be successful, you would need to meet a few simple standards.
A top ten website would be easy to navigate
Navigation must be one of the standards of adjudication. In my world, if I have to use the back key to try and find something on the website, I would immediately disqualify the website being judged. Navigation should always be simple, easy to understand and intuitive. I have noticed that many website designers try and reinvent the wheel where navigation is concerned. In a newspaper or magazine you turn the page to get to the next, your links will say continued on page 28 On the site finding page 28 is not as simple as turning the page. Navigation needs to make this easy to do.
A top ten website would offer information
In my world, I want to find the message, why is the site there? Does it help me make a buying decision, does it allow me to find the specifications I need. If you have a technical product, give me the data to understand. Do not make me phone to get basic information. I think here I will use as an example Virgin Mobile in South Africa's website. Virgin offer dial up access via my blue tooth enabled phone at a damned good price. I needed to set it up, not my first time, probably not my last. I know I need an added initialization string and the number to call. I went to the site to look for the details. I would guess that this is a FAQ. It gets asked many times a day, maybe I am wrong... I would put it in the site for people like me. I was made to spend half an hour on-line getting more and more annoyed to get a simple question answered. Don't do this to your clients. If you have regular questions, put them on the site, Maybe I won't have to spend an hour talking to some lackey that cannot answer a simple question without going through the 120 question script.
A top ten website would never confuse the visitor
Make damned sure your info is up to date and never conflicts. Do not have any information that contradicts something else on your website. If you confuse your client, he will turn to someone else that will clarify the issue.
Top ten websites will never force me to watch a flash intro
Sure flash intros are stunning and they give the website wow factor. The sad thing is that 70% of the world is still on a dial up connection. Even in the great US of A rural people still use old fashioned modems. Not everyone has all that glorious bandwidth you have to play with. Do what I do unplug the router and dial up with your mobile or land line. Does the site take longer than 30 seconds to appear? You have a problem. When I stumble using my broadband and the site is not fast, I move on smoothly and quickly.
Finally a top ten website will be cross browser compliant
I know CSS is great, I know the magic ajax can create, but if it needs a specific browser or plug in to work, you have lost me. No I don't have time to download the latest version of Java or Flash or some obscure peace of software you have chosen to use. I am here looking for information and I want it now.
How would you define a top ten website?

Guy McLaren has been designing websites since 1996, He has had many number one slots on most of the search engines. You can find him at Guy McLaren
His latest projects include the:
Meet Guy here [http://100bucksaday.com]

The Top Ten Most Popular Prehistoric Animals of 2010

At this time of year, there are a number of charts published. They cover a range of subjects, from the mundane such as the most popular type of burger served at a well-known international burger chain to the more interesting such as a list of the most searched for terms on the internet, favourite celebrities, most CDs sold, most successful movie of the year and so on. We at Everything Dinosaur, have for many years, kept a log of the extinct animals that students and children that we have met have asked about. We have recorded the number of emails about prehistoric animals that we have received. We have generated statistics about visits to our web pages and carried out our own research to build up a picture of what long dead creatures are still "hot" and which ones are not.
In the quite period between Christmas and New Year we compile all the material from our various research sources and then we publish a list of the top ten most popular prehistoric animals. There are only two criteria that an animal has to meet in order to be considered for our list. Firstly, the animal must be extinct, extant species are not allowed. Secondly, imagined animals and creatures are not allowed. For example, when the Harry Potter film "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" came out back in 2007, we encountered a lot of students on our teaching travels and school visits that wanted us to talk about this mythical creature. Unfortunately, the Phoenix as an imagined animal could not be included in our top ten most popular list.
Based on our research, in reverse order here are the numbers ten down to number six on our list of the most popular prehistoric animals compiled by Everything Dinosaur for 2010.
10). Liopleurodon (giant marine reptile)
This giant Jurassic sea monster makes an appearance in our top ten list for the first time. The popularity of Liopleurodon was down to a number of repeats of the "Walking with Dinosaurs" television series in which this giant marine reptile featured, plus its inclusion in the computer generated images of the "Dinosaurs Live" tour.
9). Sabre-Tooth Cat (Smilodon)
A perennial favourite and a regular in our top ten surveys. This prehistoric mammal was very popular especially with the younger children we surveyed. The "Ice Age" movies have helped maintain this fearsome carnivores popularity. The large amount of Sabre-Tooth Tiger merchandise and Sabre-Tooth Tiger toys has sustained this particular beast in our top ten.
8). Brachiosaurus (huge long-necked dinosaur)
The first dinosaur listed is a huge, but peaceful plant-eater. There have been a number of new models of Brachiosaurus launched this year, most notably by Safari Carnegie of the United States and Collecta. The introduction of these new hand-painted replicas and subsequent product sales propelled this goliath into our top ten.
7). Diplodocus (long-necked dinosaur)
Just in front, perhaps by neck, comes Diplodocus another very big dinosaur. Just like Brachiosaurus, Diplodocus was a Sauropod, but it was much more lightly built with a very long neck and tail. This peaceful, Jurassic plant-eater proved to be extremely popular amongst girl students that we met in 2010. We also received a number of emailed questions about this particular dinosaur. This helped swell the number of mentions Diplodocus got and hence it ended up in our top ten.
6). Pteranodon (flying reptile - Pterosaur)
Swooping into position number six on our top ten list comes Pteranodon. We get asked for lots of drawing materials for flying reptiles (Pterosaurs) and Pteranodon is the most popular. We had thought that the introduction of a model of a long-tailed Pterosaur - Rhamphorhynchus by Safari might affect the popularity of Pteranodon, but no, this huge Cretaceous flying reptile remains the most popular of its kind.
So this is the first part of our top ten list of the most popular prehistoric animals completed. It includes two dinosaurs and three non-dinosaurs (Pteranodon, Smilodon and Liopleurodon). The animals that make up this list lived millions of years apart, but they have all proved to be very popular with the children we met on our travels, museum work, school visits and such like over the last twelve months,
Let the countdown continue, from five down to the number one.
5). Stegosaurus (armoured dinosaur)
A real favourite amongst palaeontologists and researchers and one type of dinosaur animal that we love working on ourselves. Stegosaurus makes the top five and it proved to be the most popular prehistoric animal with all the girls that helped us with our survey. Stegosaurus is number one as far as they are concerned, but in our overall list it comes in at a credible number five.
4). Woolly Mammoth
Breaking up the dinosaur dominance of our top five, comes the Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) to give this particular creature its scientific name. Thanks to "Manny" of the "Ice Age" trilogy Woolly Mammoths have gone from strength to strength in terms of popularity in the last couple of years. The Chicago Field Museum's touring exhibition will probably help to maintain this animal in our top ten list for some years to come.
3). Velociraptor (fearsome Dinosaur)
The villain from the "Jurassic Park" movies continues to ride high in our chart. The huge number of Velociraptor models, toys and products have helped maintain this little Theropod's position in the top ten. It proved to be very popular with young boys, who seem to have a preference for the more blood thirsty dinosaurs.
2). Triceratops (three-horned face)
The horned dinosaur, otherwise known as three-horned face is this year's runner-up on our chart of the most popular prehistoric animals. Popular with both boys and girls this dinosaur has benefitted from the number of press articles related to horned dinosaurs (Ceratopsians) we covered. Triceratops holds onto the runners-up position.
Before we reveal the number one, the most popular prehistoric animal of 2010 according to our own research, it would be appropriate to mention at this point a few of the animals that did not quite make our list this year. Spinosaurus, Ankylosaurus and Apatosaurus are dinosaurs that just miss out. A special mention to the flying reptile Rhamphorhynchus and to the marine reptile Ichthyosaurus that nearly made it to.
However, the most popular prehistoric animal of the last year, based on our surveys, school work, dinosaur questions and so forth is...
1). Tyrannosaurus rex (King of the Tyrant Lizards)
No surprises, the most popular prehistoric animal is T. rex. Perhaps one of the most famous of all the creatures ever to exist on the planet, this large, meat-eater, known from just a handful of articulated specimens and numerous fragmentary finds continues to dominate. The "King of the Tyrant Lizards" is our number one, by quite a considerable margin. Doubts may have been raised about T. rex being the biggest land carnivore of all time, but it remains firmly established at the top of our annual survey.

Everything Dinosaur is a company run by parents, teachers and real dinosaur experts. It specialises in developing educational dinosaur toys, models, clothing and games and strives to help young people learn more about science through their fascination with prehistoric animals. Many of the items featured on the Everything Dinosaur website http://everythingdinosaur.com/ have been designed and tested by the teachers and real dinosaur experts in the company.
To learn more about the products and services we offer at Everything Dinosaur click on our website links.
Our aim is to help young people learn more about Earth sciences through their fascination with dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. Team members are happy to provide advice and support supplying free quizzes, drawing materials, puzzles, games even recipes for dinosaur themed biscuits and birthday cakes. With something like 600 products on line including dinosaur party supplies, Everything Dinosaur http://everythingdinosaur.com/  has built up a strong reputation assisting parents, guardians and fellow teachers, helping young people to learn more about science through creative play.

Top Ten Mini Laptops

Our latest Top Ten Mini Laptops as of May 2009. Once again we've trawled through dozens of our own and other peoples reviews and tried out the models and drawn our conclusions. We've based our results on practicality, functionality, cost and looks.
This month has seen the departure of several models from our Top Ten Mini Laptops rankings, as newer models come out. These include:
Dell Inspiron Mini 9
The original Dell netbook whilst small and compact was a compromised netbook, lacking the function keys, offering limited battery life, colour choice and storage and so it has exited our Top Ten Mini Laptops rankings this month. However, the new larger Inspiron Mini 10 solves some of these problems. We've yet to review it, but on the face of it they've sorted out the keyboard, which is incidentally quite large and some other problems.
The Dell Inspiron Mini 9 remains very good value on a Vodafone contract however, from around £20 per month. Consider separating the bundle and buying an Inspiron Mini 9 and USB modem contract separately and you would be spending around £30 more in total. Definetly worth a look...
Asus Eee PC 1000
Asus introduced the Eee PC 1000 after MSI brought out the first 10 inch netbook, the MSI Wind. With it's brother, the Eee PC 901 they introduced a whole range of new features to the successful Eee PC range including large 6-cell batteries as standard and the now industry standard Intel Atom 1.6GHz N270 processor.
However, as larger brands have put together there netbook offerings, the big Asus netbook has slid down the tables. Asus have updated the model bringing out the Asus Eee PC 1000H, Eee PC1002HA and gorgeous variant - the Eee PC S101.
MSI Wind
The MSI Wind although loved by some has exited our rankings for two simple reasons. Firstly, there are now bigger brands with better products such as the Samsung NC10. Secondly, even if you did want to buy an MSI Wind you'd be wasting your money buying one. Why? Because you can buy an Advent 4211 instead! It's the same computer, with different logos, but about £50 cheaper depending on where you buy. Even then, you'd be losing out. The new LG X110 is not in fact that new - it's a restyled version of the MSI Wind which looks quite attractive. It also comes with 3G embedded.
So here we arrive at the Top Ten Mini Laptops Rankings... starting at the bottom:
#10 - Asus Eee PC 701
The first netbook unveiled by Asus at COMPUTEX Taipei in 2007, which kicked off this entire industry trend, has once again reappeared in our rankings. Yes, it isn't as powerful as newer models, yes it does have a smaller screen and yes it does cost up to half the price of the newer models. True to its netbook routes, it is still one of the smallest, cheapest and lightest netbook.
If you were considering going for a budget mini laptop (fair enough during harsh economic times!) there are some unbranded models. But it's always worth buying branded particularly with computers since you can take advantage of the after sales support network. For what it is, the Asus Eee PC 701 is still a bargain!
Overall: 2 stars - previous ranking February 09: Back in the Top Ten Mini Laptops rankings!
#9 - Asus Eee PC S101
Although we've previously ranked this netbook quite highly, Cnet still ranks it highly at their #3, but under it's delicious skin there's not very much there, especially for the price they're asking - £449. On closer inspection there's a derated battery - 4-cell instead of 6 like it more functionable brothers or not integrated 3G option like on the Eee PC 901. At about twice the price of similar spec, yet more powerful models it's harder to justify a higher ranking anymore.
Overall: 3 stars - previous ranking February 09: #6
#8 - Toshiba NB100
The Toshiba mini laptop has climbed the rankings thanks to some incredible price cuts. The Editor has found Amazon.co.uk shaved £50 off the £299 RRP, with LaptopsDirect cutting a further £50 off that during April in a clearance sale. The computer isn't as good as some competitors such as the Asus Eee PC 901, but the build quality is pretty solid and the brand holds a lot in its name so we consider it a safe buy.
Toshiba have also unveiled plans for a larger 10 inch model boasting 160GB of storage and 3G embedded. See New Mini Laptops
Overall: 3 stars - previous ranking February 09: #10
#7 - LG X110
This pretty new laptop is infact based upon the pioneering 10 inch laptop, the MSI Wind. The corners have been rounded off to give quite an attractive chassis, and the price tag isn't too bad either. The addition of integrated 3G allows for connectivity wherever you can get mobile phone signal, not yet available on competing models such as the HP Compaq mini 700 or Samsung NC10.
Overall: 3 stars - previous ranking February 09: New ranking in this months Top Ten Mini Laptops, but the MSI Wind hit #9
#6 - Acer Aspire One
The Acer Aspire One family has grown to include the new D150 10 inch netbook. We've decided to merge the two for the sake of rankings. The price range for new model is similarly good value to its smaller brother, significantly cheaper than the £300 odd you'd expect to pay for the very latest netbook.
Despite the addition to the range, the Acer has slipped slightly down the rankings as newer and better models enter the Top Ten Mini Laptops rankings.
Overall: 3 stars - previous ranking February 09: #5
#5 - Asus Eee PC 901
The Asus Eee PC 901 is a truly complete netbook. It replaced Asus' earlier 9 inch models, the Eee PC 900 series introducing 6-cell batteries and Intel Atom processors as standard. Now available for FREE on contract with Orange in a variety of colours the options are vast. We consider it the best 9 inch portable mini laptop.
At the time of writing, the Asus Eee PC is available for around £25 per month on Orange Pay Month Mobile Broadband.
Overall: 4 stars - previous ranking February 09: #4
#4 - Asus Eee PC 1002HA
The top end of the Asus Eee PC range comes in the shape of the Eee PC 1002HA. Complete with a restyled chassis with inspiration taken from the seductively sleek Eee PC S101 and the insides of the Eee PC 1000H. Unfortunately, they've stopped a hairs breath away from making something quite amazing by failing to offer the 6-cell battery as standard like the earlier Eee PC 901/1000 models. None the less it hit's #4 in our Top Ten Mini Laptops rankings - a new entry.
Overall: 4 stars - previous ranking February 09: New ranking!
#3 - Samsung NC10
Samsungs low-key entry into the netbook world has been met with overwhelming sales success. The keyboard, crafted to make the letter keys larger and the number keys smaller to help with typing is almost a match for an HP netbook. Recently, O2 have partnered up with Samsung to offer a range of laptops on mobile broadband contract including the NC10. O2 offers one of the better networks, with it being the sole provider for the infamous Apple iPhone in the UK. As well as providing an excellent network, they also offer free Home Broadband for mobile broadband customers.
Samsungs confidence in netbooks has become overwhelming, with the larger Samsung NC20 now available and more models unveiled and waiting in the pipeline. See mini-laptops-and-notebooks.com and click on 'New Mini Laptops' for details including pictures!
#2 - HP Compaq Mini 700
Not shifting from last months Top Ten Mini Laptops is the HP Compaq mini 700 which boasts the best keyboard in the netbooking world. You'd think it obvious to stretch it right to the edges woudn't you, but few mini laptops do so. Although it does leave the trackpad a tad on the slim side, it's a much better interface than other competing models. Keeping it high in the rankings is it's price which has dropped significantly over the last few months to around £250-260, far less than the Samsung NC10.
The HP Compaq mini 700 is also available on mobile broadband contract, with Orange and 3, although all in we don't find it as good value on contract as the providers other offerings. For example, on Orange you pay a fiver extra for the Compaq over the Asus Eee PC 901 for the same service - so it'll cost an extra £120 over the duration of the contract.
Overall: 4 stars - previous ranking February 09: #2
and our #1 mini laptop is...
Sony VAIO P Series
The new Sony VAIO P Series mini laptop was unveiled at CES. Sony's new 8 inch, £849 "lifestyle pc" (Sony are vary wary to avoid the term "netbook") is less than 2cm thick and only slightly larger than an office envelope. It comes with a world of features including 3G Mobile Broadband, inbuilt GPS, Windows Vista, battery life of up to 8 hours, SSD storage of up to 128GB and amazingly weighs less than 640g!

Funny Top Ten Lists - Why Are They So Popular?

(1) They solve a very common problem.
Whether it's caused by our increasingly short national attention span, or a lack of time for unwholesome entertainment, funny top 10 lists solve the same problem: the need for a quick, easily obtained humor fix. Funny top ten lists are just like reading ten short jokes: there's a single set-up line (the headline), followed by ten targeted punch lines. Just the ticket for those of us with attention deficit disorder ... or solitary social lives.
(2) The number ten has symbolic meaning.
The number 10 is the basis for the decimal system; the most common numbering system in the world. Mathematical scholars tell us that the number 10 was chosen by early humans because, whenever they looked down, they always saw 10 digits. Since most early humans ran around naked, it's pretty clear that we have women to thank for devising the decimal system.
(3) The headlines grab our attention.
Since most of these lists appear on the Internet, they're largely uncensored. As a result, they're often designed to appeal to our baser interests. You remember our "baser interests," don't you? They're the subconscious thoughts about y-rated sex that keep popping into our heads every 10 or 15-seconds. As a general rule, funny top 10 lists feature all the best and worst elements of The National Enquirer.
(4) They're highly addictive.
You can never read just one! Unless you have an Actual Life, they invariably draw you in; and pretty soon, you're spending more time with funny top ten lists than a rocker spends in rehab. Although individual lists can be read rather quickly, they typically appear as part of a large group of lists. If you enjoy the first few lists, the hook is set. Now you've got to read on, in order to find out if the others are equally funny.
(5) They draw attention to a website.
Experts in search engine optimization have long known that the addition of funny top ten lists to a website is one of the best ways to increase visitor traffic and links from other sites. This technique often attracts attention so effectively that these lists are frequently referred to as "link bait" within the SEO industry. Since funny top 10 lists are known to attract a lot of eyeballs, sites that showcase them are extremely popular with online advertisers.
(6) Most lists are evergreen.
Whether funny top ten lists target current or historical topics, public interest in these lists is essentially timeless. Although former N.Y. Governor Eliot Spitzer and O.J. Simpson would probably like to believe otherwise, the public does not quickly forget the people or events that have attracted the media spotlight. Plus, skillful composers of funny top ten lists can easily bring readers up to speed by incorporating any necessary background information into the lists themselves.
(7) They appeal to a very diverse audience.
Although individual composers of funny top 10 lists must remain focused upon a specific target audience, collectively, these lists have widespread appeal. Anyone with a troubled childhood, a wet sense of humor, or a depraved indifference to Paris Hilton is likely to become an instant fan. As Larry the Cable Guy is fond of saying, "I don't care who you are; that's funny!"
(8) They poke fun at every imaginable topic.
When it comes to comedy, nothing (and no one) is sacred. Just ask any Ayatollah in your neighborhood. In fact, the more supposedly sacred the target, the greater the added shock value. And remember: one funny top ten list equals ten total shocks!
(9) David Letterman keeps public awareness high.
Even though he's just a reader, rather than a creator, of humorous top 10 lists, Letterman's name has been synonymous with these lists for the past 25-years. His reading of a top 10 list is always one of the most eagerly anticipated events on his Late Night television show. Of course, it helps to be as goofy-looking as David Letterman, and have a backup band musically punctuating every punch line when you're presenting a funny top 10 list.
On the other hand, since he's not allowed to use any of The Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television, his team of comedy writers deserve a great deal of praise for maintaining the long-term popularity of top 10 lists.