The Cheapskate

This Aspire One Netbook sports a roomy 11.6-inch screen.

(Credit: Buy.com)

Quick note before I dive into today's deal: Because so many items sell out so quickly these days, I'm adding a "backup deal" to each post. Seems only logical, right? You'll find it at the bottom.

But don't skip ahead just yet. For the next 7 seconds or so (I'm guessing), Buy.com has the refurbished Acer Aspire One AO751H-1948 Netbook for $249.99 shipped.

What's the big deal? The big screen: whereas most Netbooks in this price range sport a 10-inch LCD, this One packs a 12-incher. (Actually, an 11.6-incher; in the computer biz they round up.)

Needless to say, that makes for a much more comfortable computing experience, in part thanks to the higher screen resolution (1,366x768 pixels). The 10-inch Netbook I use is livable, but definitely cramped.

The rest of the specs offer no surprises: an Intel Z520 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and Windows XP Home.

The battery's a three-cell, so don't expect more than 3 to 4 hours of runtime. Also, because this is a refurb, the warranty expires at the 90-day mark. These aren't showstoppers in my opinion, just limitations worth considering.

Also, while CNET hasn't reviewed this exact configuration, the almost identical AO751h-1545 scored 3.5 stars. The big ding: slow performance. (News flash: All Netbooks are slow.)

At least you don't have to pay sales tax (unless you live wherever Buy.com is located) or deal with rebates. Bottom line: this is a mighty sweet deal on a spacious, comfy Netbook.

Backup deal: From now until December 15, Digiarty Software is offering WinX HD Video Converter absolutely free (it's normally $39.99). This Windows app can convert nearly any video format (including high-def formats) to nearly any other video format.

Score a 22-inch Acer LCD for $109.99--and get a three-year warranty!

(Credit: Staples)

Update (10:10 a.m. PT): Looks like everything but the Dell laptop is sold out. Sorry, folks! It's worth checking back on the other items, though, as sometimes stock gets replenished.

Ah, Cyber Monday. Now this is a day of deals I can get behind. No crowded parking lots, no unruly mobs, no pushing and shoving. (What? The old lady got in my way!)

Of course, as regular visitors to The Cheapskate know, nearly every day is Cyber Monday--the deals keep coming all year 'round.

But this Monday is special, so I've rounded up four particularly sweet bargains that are good today only. And, as always, the sellout risk is high, so get your mouse-clickin' finger(s) warmed up.

1) In the market for a monitor? Staples has the Acer X213HBbd 21.5-inch LCD for $109.99 shipped (plus sales tax in most states). Specs include VGA/DVI (HDCP) inputs, a 5-ms response time, and a three-year warranty (score!). This is the lowest price I've seen on a new 22-inch monitor.

2) Need a desktop replacement? Dell has an Inspiron 17 laptop for $549 shipped. It sports a whopping 17.3-inch display, a Core 2 Duo processor, and Windows 7 Home Premium. You can customize just about every feature to your liking, but the base configuration is mighty solid. That's the best deal on a 17-inch lappie I've seen all year--not the lowest price, mind you, but the best bang for the buck.

3) Still shopping for the perfect portable PC? Best Buy has the Samsung N140-14R Netbook for $279.99 shipped (plus sales tax in most states). That's higher than other models I've posted recently, but this is a decidedly high-end Netbook. Specs include Intel's Atom N280 processor, a 10.1-inch screen, a 250GB hard drive, 802.11n, and a six-cell battery. The OS: Windows 7 Starter.

4) Here's a great stocking stuffer: Newegg has the Zune Premium Headphones for $9.99 shipped. I've had a pair for years; they're my preferred earbuds for travel. They do a great job isolating outside noise (like airplane engines), and they're extremely comfortable. Obviously you don't need a Zune to use them; they'll work with any phone or MP3 player. Microsoft sells them for $39.99, so I can't recommend this deal highly enough.

Well? See anything you like? If not, don't worry--there's always tomorrow. In the meantime, hit the comments to share your tales of Cyber Monday scores.

P.S. Anybody catch me on Good Morning America today? No worries: you can catch me daily on CNET's Holiday Help Desk at 1 p.m. PST.

Update 2 (10 a.m. PT): Looks like it's back up again. See? Told ya. Crazy Dell. Why do you torment us this way?

Update (8 a.m. PT): Well, I am NOT giving thanks for Dell this year, as this deal has already expired. My apologies, peeps. Watch for something even better later today--you have my word.

Still on the prowl for a Netbook? Sorry for all the grief with that Lenovo deal last week. (Anyone actually get one?) Hopefully this one makes up for it.

Dell is offering the Inspiron Mini 10v Netbook for $229 shipped. That's after removing the Bluetooth card from the configuration (switch to List View and scroll all the way to the bottom).

Of course, if you need Bluetooth, the $249 price tag is nothing to sneeze at. Indeed, it was nary a few months ago that finding a 10-inch Netbook for under $300 was virtually impossible.

I have little use for Bluetooth, but I'd probably think about dropping an extra $30 to get Windows 7 Starter (the Mini 10v comes standard with Windows XP Home). That'd get you out the door for $259--still a solid deal.

The system's other specs are fairly standard: an Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and a 1.3-megapixel Webcam. It comes with a three-cell battery; an extra $35 buys you a six-cell--another upgrade worth considering.

CNET had lots of good things to say about the Mini 10v, which, incidentally, was $334 (with the six-cell battery) when we reviewed it just three months ago. Not sure why we dinged it for a lack of configuration options, though--Dell offers more than most Netbook vendors.

I'm hoping this doesn't sell out, like, five minutes after I post it. (We've been down that road, right?) If it does, check back later in the day and even in the days to come; Dell often gets replenished stock.

I'm off tomorrow, so let me take this opportunity to wish everyone who celebrates it a happy Thanksgiving. I'll be back on Friday (and Saturday), and in the meantime you can catch me embarrassing myself almost daily on CNET's Holiday Help Desk, which airs live at 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET. (Here's yesterday's show if you just can't wait.)

The 10.1-inch Acer Aspire One.

(Credit: Acer)

This Sunday we have a pair of old-school Netbook deals for you.

First up is a 10.1-inch Acer Aspire One with a 1.6GHz Atom processor at Target for $199. It's listed at $289.99, but the price drops to $199 when you add it to your shopping cart. That's a savings of 28 percent.

It comes with a 160GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM (expandable to 2GB), 802.11g, an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950, a three-cell Lithium ion battery, and a built-in Webcam. This Netbook runs Windows XP Home (for those of you who are quite happy with XP, shied away from Vista, and not ready for Windows 7).

So what so old school about this deal? No rebates, no coupons, no secret handshakes, no hoops to jump through. Also, no shipping--meaning you gotta head to your nearest Target store and pick it up.

Besides the no-shipping, there's one potential drawback. At this price, it's available in only one color: blue. But at a price less than $200, you could probably put up with any color.

The 10.1-inch Gateway LT2005u.

(Credit: Gateway)

If the color is an issue, Best Buy has the 10.1-inch Gateway LT2005u for $230. It comes with the same 1.6GHz Atom processor, a 160GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, 802.11g wireless, an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950, Webcam, and Windows XP Home.

So what's better about this model? It's in "NightSky Black" and comes with a six-cell Lithium ion battery. Is that worth $30 more? That's up to you to decide. But you can also have it shipped, which adds $12 to the deal, but you can opt to pick it up at your local Best Buy if you want to have it now and avoid the shipping costs.

This is one of five designer colors you can choose for this dirt-cheap Netbook.

(Credit: Lenovo)

Update No. 5 (7:40 a.m. PST, Sunday): Now Target has that same 10-inch Aspire One for $199! It's in-store only, though, so call before you drive. Thanks to reader Travisp11 for the heads-up!

Update No. 4 (7:45 a.m. PST, Saturday): Amazon has a deal that's nearly as good: the Acer Aspire One for $229 shipped. (Note: Add any of the available colors to your cart to see that price.) I've reviewed this netbook; it's superb.

Update No. 3 (11 a.m. PST): Sorry, folks, looks like the deal is definitely dead this time.

Update No. 2: Working again! Make sure you follow step 5 and add Bluetooth, otherwise you won't get the color choices.

Update: Sigh. I knew this wouldn't last. Looks like Lenovo has already taken it down (or at least removed the custom-color options necessary to drop the price). My apologies. Deals are so ephemeral right now.

Best Netbook deal of the year, right here, right now. I have no idea how long it will last, so let's get to it.

Lenovo has a 10-inch IdeaPad S10-2 Netbook for $208.70 shipped. The specs are pretty standard, including a 160GB hard drive, Bluetooth, and Windows XP Home. And it's new, not a refurb!

There's a little hoop-jumping here, so stay with me:

1. Head to the Lenovo Family and Friends page.

2. Enter passcode familyandfriends and click Sign In.

3. Wait for the red Holiday Gift Ideas banner to appear, click it, and then click it again on the subsequent page.

4. Click the Netbooks tab, then click Customize & Buy on the IdeaPad S10-2 at the far left.

5. Scroll down and add Bluetooth. Then choose one of the five designer color options (Flower Sea is pictured here). Alas, there's no preview, but they're all pretty gorgeous.

6. Click Continue a couple times and then add the S10 to your cart. Finally, apply coupon code USP12NETBOOK for a final price of $208.70.

Awesome. Just plain awesome. Gotta give shout-out credit to Dealnews for this deal, which should tickle those who've been waiting for a Netbook.

I don't even need a Netbook, and I'm this close to grabbing one anyway. How about you?

This 10-inch Netbook is loaded, and it sells for a mere $239.99 (with coupon).

(Credit: Mwave)

I'll cop to posting a lot of Netbook deals these days, but that's only because the deals just keep getting better. Witness Mwave's latest: a refurbished Asus Eee PC 1005HAB 10-inch Netbook for $239.99 shipped.

(Don't be alarmed when you see $249.99 on the product page. You need to apply coupon code FALLSVG09 to get the lower price.)

This midnight-blue Eee PC sports a 10-inch screen (which I consider the minimum for computing comfort) and the usual core-spec suspects: a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and Windows XP Home.

The Eee also features a Webcam, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and a multitouch touch pad, so it's actually a bit ahead of the curve, spec-wise. Only the three-cell battery disappoints, though Asus promises better than 4 hours of runtime.

Because this is a refurb, the warranty tops out at 90 days. (Also, take note of Mwave's return policy: the Eee can't be returned for a refund, only exchanged for a replacement if it's defective.)

Consequently, you might actually be better off with last week's $279.99 Acer Aspire One, which is new and has an 11.6-inch screen.

Still, not everybody who wants a Netbook wants a Netbook that big, and $40 saved is $40 saved. (How profound am I this morning!) I just think it's remarkable how much further your Netbook dollar goes than it did just six months ago.

Netbooks keep getting bigger and better, but somehow their prices keep getting lower.

(Credit: Acer)

It wasn't too long ago that finding a 10-inch Netbook for less than $300 was cause for whoopin' and hollerin'. Now Amazon has the 12-inch (well, 11.6-inch, technically) Acer Aspire One AO751h-1378 for $279.99 shipped.

That's a full $100 less than when CNET reviewed this model just two months ago.

By "12-inch," of course, I'm referring to the size of the screen. As noted, this One actually has an 11.6-inch screen; I rounded up.

What's particularly impressive about this LED-backlit display is its 1,366x768 resolution--way higher than what you find on 10-inch Netbooks, and about on par with 13- and even 15-inch laptops. Translation: you'll have a much easier time working in your Web browser, word processor, etc.

Despite the "big" screen, the Aspire manages to keep to a trim 11.2 inches by 7.8 inches by 1 inches and 2.8 pounds. Dimensions like those are a big part of Netbooks' appeal.

The AO751h should run a bit faster--and longer--than previous models, thanks to its 1.3GHz Intel Atom Z520 processor. Alas, according to CNET, it was a bit on the pokey side, though battery life was indeed excellent.

(Note: CNET tested the six-cell battery; the $279 model highlighted here comes with a three-cell. However, you can get the six-cell Aspire for just $295. That's an extra $16 I guarantee you won't regret spending.)

Everything else is pretty standard: 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, a Webcam, three USB ports, and Windows XP. You also get Acer's cool multitouch touchpad.

How big can a Netbook get before it's no longer a Netbook? That's a debate for another day. But there's no debating that this is a stellar deal on a portable PC.

Bonus deals: In case you haven't heard, you can now buy a Nintendo Wii for $199.99 and an Xbox 360 Elite for $249.99 (after rebate). Great time to be a gamer!

Apple's Netbook-like iBook is on sale for just $399.99 shipped.

(Credit: Buy.com)

Apple has yet to join the exploding Netbook market, right? Wrong: It joined the market nearly six years ago. It may have even pioneered it!

OK, let me explain. The Apple iBook G4, which debuted in late 2003 and has since been discontinued, has specs that remind me a lot of modern Netbooks. Pokey processor, smallish screen and hard drive, compact design, low price--sound familiar?

Buy.com has refurbished Apple iBook G4 laptops for $399.99 shipped. There are caveats, yes indeed, but this might be just the Apple Netbook you've been waiting for.

The iBook sports a 1.33GHz PowerPC G4 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 40GB hard drive, and a 12.1-inch LCD. It's perfect for the basics, right? You won't do a lot of video editing on it, but word processing, Web browsing, e-mail, and the like are fair game.

At five pounds, it's obviously heavier than most Netbooks, but there's a reason for that: the slot-loading DVD/CD-RW drive. That's definitely something you won't find in a traditional Netbook, but do you mind having one?

I'm no expert when it comes to Apple systems (CNET is--check its review of the iBook G4), and I have no hands-on experience with this model. I do know it comes with OS X 10.5, so at least you're getting (almost) the latest and greatest version of the Mac OS. (FYI, Snow Leopard, a.k.a. 10.6, will not run on PowerPC Macs.)

The only major hiccup here is the warranty: a scant 30 days (and provided by Buy.com, I'm guessing). I'm sure that'll be a deal breaker for some people, and perhaps rightly so, but think about it: The slot-loading drive is the most likely trouble spot, and if it breaks, the iBook is that much closer to a typical Netbook. (How's that for a positive spin?)

Anyway, let me know what you think of Apple's almost-Netbook. Or if you think I'm cuckoo for making the analogy.

The super-slim, USB-powered Samsung drive makes a perfect Netbook companion.

(Credit: Newegg)

Got a Netbook? Then at some point you've probably longed for an optical drive, whether to install software, watch a DVD, burn a CD, or whatever.

Newegg has a Samsung SE-S084 portable CD/DVD drive for $48.99 shipped. It's perfect for netbooks, though obviously it's compatible with desktops and laptops as well.

The SE-S084 is about as compact and lightweight as an optical drive can get, weighing 14 ounces and measuring just 0.75 inch by 5.5 inches by 6.2 inches (HWD). You'll barely notice it in your travel bag.

Better still, the drive runs on USB power, so there's no AC adapter to bring along. However, it does require two close-proximity USB ports; if your Netbook has one on either side, you'll need a cable extender (not included) to reach both.

(Or maybe not: A few of the user reviews on Newegg's product page indicate the drive needs that second port only for power-intensive tasks like burning discs.)

I haven't tried this drive firsthand, but there's a fairly extensive review over at Hardware Secrets. Verdict: very positive.

What do you think, Netbook owners? Have you been dying for a drive like this, or do you get by fine on downloads and other CD/DVD workarounds?