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.
On Sale Now: $255.95 - $299.99
View the latest prices for Acer Aspire One D250 (Atom N270 1.6GHz, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, XP Home, blue)
The Toshiba Satellite L455-S5980.
(Credit: Toshiba)If you are in the market for an inexpensive laptop to make the jump to Windows 7, we may have just what you're looking for.
Office Depot has the Toshiba Satellite L455-S5980 15.6-inch widescreen notebook for $349.99 with free shipping, $130 off the list price and a good $100 cheaper than the closest deal we could find for this model.
Toshiba's laptop features an Intel 1.8GHz dual-core Celeron T3000, 2GB of RAM, a 250GB 5400 rpm SATA hard drive, a SuperMulti DVD drive, 802.11g Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Windows 7 Home Premium.
The deal includes a one-year warranty and expires Saturday.
Veterans Day bonus
With Veterans Day approaching this week, Amazon is giving away a collection of songs to honor the brave men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces.
The e-tailer's MP3 store is offering for free download "Veterans Day Honor" by the bands and ensembles of the U.S. armed forces, a DRM-free collection of patriotic music that usually retails for $8.99 on the site ($9.99 on iTunes).
This collection of 12 songs includes "The Star Spangled Banner" by the U.S. Coast Guard Band, "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" by the U.S. Air Force Airmen, and "Retreat" and "Taps" by the U.S. Marine Band.
On Sale Now: $479.99
View the latest prices for Toshiba Satellite L455-S5980
You wouldn't know to look at it, but this $400 laptop is among the first to come with Windows 7.
(Credit: CompUSA)The Windows 7 systems are coming! The Windows 7 systems are coming! One if by laptop, two if by... Um. Hmm.
As you may possibly have heard by now, the new OS drops this Thursday, October 22. But starting today, you can preorder a 15.6-inch MSI A5000 laptop with Windows 7 for $399.99 shipped.
This is one of the best configurations I've seen at this price, with one small exception: the processor.
It's a 1.8GHz dual-core Celeron T3000. Normally I wouldn't go near a Celeron with a 10-foot pole, but I've seen Windows 7 run at a sprightly clip even on Atom-powered netbooks, so the A5000 should be a decent enough performer.
The rest of the specs look rock-solid: 3GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and a SuperMulti DVD drive. It even has an HDMI port for connecting an external display, just in case the 15.6-inch, 720p LCD isn't doing it for you.
And, drum roll...Windows 7 Home Premium. I'm not as wild about the OS as some of my fellow technologists, but it's definitely an improvement over XP. That's right: XP.
Perhaps best of all, the MSI A5000 is backed by a three-year warranty--a real rarity these days. And in a $400 notebook!
CompUSA doesn't say when these "preorders" will ship, but obviously it'll be Thursday at the latest. If you're in the market for a new PC and you've been waiting for Windows 7, wait no longer.
Unlike most drive enclosures, this one has a built-in USB cable.
(Credit: Froobi)If you've ever upgraded the hard drive in your laptop (or thought about doing so), you've probably wondered what to do with the old drive. After all, it's still perfectly good storage.
Answer: Turn it into an external, USB hard drive. All you need is an enclosure, a sturdy casing for the drive that provides an IDE interface and USB connection.
Today only, deal-a-day site Froobi has a SimpleTech 2.5-inch USB external hard drive enclosure for free (plus $5.95 for shipping).
The enclosure is very compact, measuring roughly 0.75 inch thick by 3 inches wide by 5.1 inches long. It'll slip easily into any carry-on bag.
What I like most is the built-in USB cable, which tucks away inside the enclosure when not in use. That's one less cable to remember to bring along, to potentially lose, or to add extra clutter to your carry-on.
I've performed laptop hard-drive transplants before; they're a cinch. And trust me when I say you'll love having a small, lightweight, portable hard drive. They're perfect for on-the-run backups, transferring large files, and extra storage when you need it.
This deal expires at midnight tonight (ET), and it could definitely sell out before then. If you're planning a laptop upgrade (or you've already got a naked displaced drive lying around), this is a no-brainer buy.
(By the way, if you miss out on this offer, there's a vendor on eBay selling similar enclosures for $7 shipped--though they don't have the built-in USB cable.)
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: $305.99
View the latest prices for Acer Aspire One 751h-1378 (blue)
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.
It's not perfect, but it's still a 17-inch desktop replacement for $350!
(Credit: Toshiba)If you missed out on Walmart's recent $348 Toshiba laptop, fear not: Buy.com has an almost identical Toshiba Satellite L355-S7905 for $349.95, with free shipping.
That's a pretty jaw-dropping price, but there are a couple caveats. First, the out-the-door price is $399.95; you'll have to wait 8 weeks or so on a $50 mail-in rebate [PDF].
Second, this is a refurbished system, so the warranty expires after 90 days. You can extend it to one year for $60, but at that point you might be better off with a new model.
Finally, I don't love the Toshiba's 2.16GHz Intel Celeron processor. (Celerons are notoriously pokey.) At least the remaining specs are solid, including 3GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and a SuperMulti DVD drive.
Oh, and that glorious 17-inch LCD, which has a native resolution of 1,440 x 900 (that's better than 720p, if you prefer to think in HDTV terms).
Alas, there's no Webcam, and the OS is Vista Home Basic. You can always upgrade to Windows 7 when the time comes, but there's no free upgrade included here.
So, yeah, this deal definitely has a few compromises. On the other hand, I continue to be blown away that you can get a 17-inch desktop replacement for just $350. A year ago, you'd have paid twice that.
And make no mistake, the Satellite has plenty of horsepower for everyday computing. Indeed, it's faster and way better equipped than your average Netbook, which sells for about the same price.
While you're mulling that over, keep in mind that the rebate offer expires in two days (Sunday, Sept. 6). Have a great holiday weekend, and I'll see you back here on Tuesday!
For less than $400, the business-savvy Lenovo G550 features a full-size numeric keypad.
(Credit: Lenovo)In the market for a new laptop for home, work, or school? Lenovo has the nicely appointed G550-29582CU for $399 (plus sales tax in some states) shipped.
That's after applying coupon code USPG550CU, which expires after 700 uses--but still seemed to be active as of this morning.
Whenever I find a notebook selling for under $400, I start looking for compromises: a slow processor, a short warranty, Vista Home Basic, that kind of thing.
The G550 seems pretty compromise-free. In addition to its dual-core, 2GHz Pentium T4200 processor, it sports a 250GB hard drive, a 15.6-inch LED-backlit screen, a DVD burner, and Vista Home Premium.
Other goodies include a Webcam, an HDMI output, and a six-cell battery.
Lenovo backs all that with a one-year warranty on parts and labor (including the battery). You're also eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 7 when the time comes.
Alas, you can't customize the configuration, and I couldn't find any information on the G550's size or weight. In fact, the site has no detailed specs at all. (Seriously, Lenovo?)
With a little detective work, however, I learned that the system weighs about 5.9 pounds and measures 14.9 inches wide by 9.6 inches long by 1.4 inches thick. That extra width is to accommodate a full-size numeric keypad--good news for number-crunchers.
This model normally sells for $649, so to get out the door with it for $399 is mighty nice. Definitely worth a look!
A 17-inch laptop for under $500? Yes! Until you add shipping and sales tax, that is.
(Credit: Dell)By now you've probably heard about the $348 Toshiba 17-inch laptop that's available at Walmart starting this Sunday.
That's a pretty amazing deal, but I see two downsides. First, it requires a trip to Walmart (and possibly some throwing of elbows, as this is a Black Friday-class price). Second, that Toshiba comes with a seriously pokey Celeron processor.
If you've got a little more room in the budget and want a system that's a tad more robust, you can get a Dell Inspiron 17 dual-core laptop for $499.
In addition to a 17.3-inch LED display and 2GHz Pentium T4200 processor, the Inspiron features 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and all the other standard goodies.
In other words, it's a fine choice for students heading back to school or anyone looking for a no-frills desktop replacement.
Unfortunately, shipping will run you $29, and you may have to pay sales tax as well. Plus, the system comes with Vista Home Basic. I think it's worth spending an extra $30 for Vista Home Premium, which comes with a free Windows 7 upgrade.
By the time you get out the door, then, you may be spending closer to $600. That's still a very solid deal on a 17-inch notebook.
That said, how many of you will be lining up at Walmart Sunday morning? Mighty tempting.
A mere $189.99 buys you a Windows XP-powered Netbook.
(Credit: Asus)New rules for Netbooks: Don't pay more than $300 for a model with a 10-inch screen, and don't pay more than $200 for an 8.9-incher.
Mwave has a pretty sweet deal on one of the latter: A refurbished red Asus Eee PC 900HDB for $189.99 shipped.
What are the specs? They are solid, starting with a 900MHz Intel Celeron M 353 processor (which may not be faster than the more common Atom CPU--I've read varying opinions), the Eee offers 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, Windows XP Home, and the aforementioned 8.9-inch screen.
And it's red! It's pretty rare to find a cheap Netbook that's anything but black (or occasionally white). This one's downright purty.
It's also a refurbished unit, meaning the warranty is a fairly typical 90 days. I'm going to state once again for the record that I don't consider that a negative, especially considering the $60 or so you're saving on a new unit.
I will, however, direct you to the return policy (at the bottom of the product page) for the Asus. It states that this is a nonrefundable item. You can return it within 30 days, but only for a replacement.
Hello, gorgeous! Love the Eee PC's deep red shell.
(Credit: Asus)While this would make a fine portable PC for children and students, I think business users would find it a welcome travel companion as well. It's a svelte 2.5 pounds and its four-cell battery should be good for at least a couple hours' work.
Agree? Disagree? What's everyone thinking about Netbooks these days: Getting better all the time, or still too underpowered (or uncomfortable) to be practical? Share your thoughts in the comments.
