Get an Acer Aspire One Netbook for $199.97
Originally $350, the Aspire One can be yours for just $199.97.
(Credit: CompUSA)These will sell out quickly, so let's dive right in: CompUSA has the Acer Aspire One AOA150-1786 Netbook for $199.97. Its shipping runs a very reasonable $1.99.
Because this is a refurbished unit, the warranty expires after 90 days. That's not a deal-breaker to me, as the only mechanical part in the thing is the hard drive.
The last time I posted an Aspire One Netbook, it was a Linux-powered model with a 16GB solid-state drive--for $239. For 40 bucks less, the AOA150-1786 features Windows XP and a 120GB hard drive.
It also comes with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM, an 8.9-inch LCD, a Webcam, 802.11b/g, and a three-cell battery. In other words, it's a full-featured PC, but one that measures just 9.8 inches by 6.7 inches by 1.1 inches and weighs a scant 2.3 pounds.
I own a nearly identical model, the AOA150-1570, which I chronicled in the Netbook Diaries. In a nutshell: Its battery life is pretty crummy, and I don't like the small track pad or its button placement.
Of course, most Netbooks that have three-cell batteries have crummy battery life. I like the Aspire One a lot, more than I ever thought I would. It's a great little travel companion, especially if your needs are minimal (e-mail, Web browsing, word processing, and so on). At $202 out the door, this model is almost impossible to beat.
Want to make your Netbook more like a notebook? I recently wrote an article on that subject.
Rick Broida, a technology writer for nearly 20 years, is the author of more than a dozen books. In addition to writing CNET's The Cheapskate blog, he oversees BNET's Business Hacks. Rick is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CBS Interactive. Disclosure. Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers. Follow Rick on Twitter at cheapskateblog. 
Also, can you get a spare battery or is the battery non replaceable?
I already picked one up, I have been waiting for a $200 XP netbook for a while.
Thanks!
As for the trackpad buttons, after you use it for a while, you will find that the button placement is optimal. Since it is so small, you tend to hold it by the sides, you won't have to move your left hand to click a center placed button (I have the MSI wind as well so conventional button placement is a problem with small machines).
The bottom line is that you can get a real, truly portable computer for half the price of an iPhone. Buy it, get yourself a bluetooth dongle for another $10, a skype account for $3/month, cut your cell phone minutes to the minimum and the savings from your cell phone minutes will make the computer FREE in about a year.
http://www.compusa.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=4348755&sku=S445-89001&srkey=S445-89001