Toshiba's really cranking out the hardware this week, now launching the new 10.1-inch Mini NB250 netbook as well as updating the NB305's firepower. The company says it designed the NB250 to be "as easy on the budget as it is to carry" – and at $299, it is quite wallet-friendly.

Key specs don't drift far from the norm, and both clamshells pack a similar kit: an LED-backlit 1024x600 display, a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455, up to a gig of DDR3 RAM, up to a 250GB HDD, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, a couple USB 2.0 ports, and a three or six-cell battery. Both ship with the Windows 7 Starter, although it appears XP is also an option for the NB305.


Priced at $379, the NB305 has a few niceties absent on the NB250. For instance, one of its USB ports supports Sleep-and-Charge, it has Bluetooth 2.1 and mobile broadband connectivity, a 3D impact sensor for data protection, and stereo speakers. It's also more efficient, boasting 11 hours of life on a six-cell battery versus the NB250's 8.5 hours.

The NB250 will be available this summer in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, but a release date for North America isn't clear.