Get a 12-inch Acer Netbook for $279.99
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!
On Sale Now: $359.99
View the latest prices for Acer Aspire One 751h-1378 (blue)
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. 
That atom just does not have much power, though it may be good for just surfing the net where there are not many places to plug in at.
Maybe it's time to come up wth a dual CPU laptop with the ability switch between Atom and regular CPU. A new type of dual core?
Keep up the good work.
What is the complete obsession and fascination with Win7? Is it Vista with SP2 added in and they added a revised set of things and called it Win7?
I think a mass of people should be nicknamed Ba BA for the sheep droning they do.
Vista works for me.
I guess with the release of windows 7 soon, everybody wants to clear out their inventory?
But great find.
I guess I'll wait for Windows 7 and Ion netbooks to come out. I really like it otherwise though.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4240174&CatId=2629
http://www.amazon.com/Gateway-4200-09-DX4200-09-Desktop-PC/dp/B001NVW8F0/
AMD Phenom X4 Quad-Core 9100e 1.8 GHz Processor
4 GB RAM
Not the fastest quad core, but not a bad price either.
for $339.99 - if you want to mess with Bing Cashback you can get it a few bucks lower.
- by jfcherry September 29, 2009 7:55 PM PDT
- I am perplexed. The review of this laptop has a sentence that reads: "The AO751h should run a bit faster--and longer--than previous models, thanks to its 1.3GHz Intel Atom Z520 processor." A review of the Acer Aspire One 751h-1378 with the same microprocessor reads: "...but the slower-than-usual processor can lead to frustration."
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(22 Comments)Can someone help me understand if the processor is fast enough?
Jerome