[quote name='Rocko']So my grandma is going to buy me a netbook for college. Since she's paying for it, I want to shop more for the best possible specs (battery life, keyboard size, etc.) than for hot deals. So what manufacturer should I be looking at? I don't really know where to start since, for once, I'm looking for something other than the cheapest option.[/QUOTE]
First, I recommend not buying a netbook. Only buy it if you plan on using it as a 21st century typewriter that can also grab your email.
If you are still want a netbook, there aren't many options. The last time I checked up on netbooks, the best ones had the Intel Atom processor and maxed out at 1GB of RAM. Unless I'm already out of the loop, that's what you'll want.
I recommend the HP netbooks, my cousin has one and it does him well; looks pretty sturdy. Toshiba is also a good brand. I have always had Toshiba laptops (just a coincidence) and they were both well constructed.
EDIT: As others said, Asus is also good for netbooks. I don't really like their laptops though.