Top 5 Netbooks by Affordability
Let’s face it, we’re in a recession. We’d all love to splurge and buy ourselves the latest gadgets, but money doesn’t grow on trees anymore. Which makes netbooks perfect. But it’s hard to choose from the wide variety of specs and features out there.
This list focuses on the top 5 affordable netbooks. You won’t see the light weight Vaio P or the gamer’s Asus N10J here. Nope, we’re talking pure functionality meets decent looks and low low prices.
1. Acer Aspire One 8.9” – $50 (+ a 2year AT&T contract)
The more I think about it, the more this netbook makes sense. If you pay for your entire monthly Comcast bill yourself and travel a lot, you could probably use a 2-year contract with access to a 3G network. Use it as your primary internet connection, and say hello to a subsidized Acer Aspire One at $50. (Available at Radio Shack’s online store). Do not choose this if you frequently watch online videos and Hulu.
The 8.9” Aspire One is a lightweight sturdy netbook which runs on XP Home. The only downfall is the lackluster 2.5hour battery life. Read our post on 3G netbooks to learn more.
2. Dell Mini 10v – $300
The beauty of Dell netbooks is that they’re easily customizable. The base Mini 10v comes with a choice of either Ubuntu or Windows XP for a neat tiny $300. This price includes most basic specs – the N270 processor, 1GB RAM, a 120GB hard drive — and weighs a decently light 2.5lbs. It’s only available in black at this price, and you can upgrade to a cell battery for an additional $30.
The Mini 10v is the top 10” netbook on the list because of its standard specs, light weight, and its sleek looks and easy-to-use keyboard.
3. Asus Eee PC 900HA 8.9” – $260
The cheapest 8.9” netbook on the market, the Eee PC 900HA is even cheaper than the MSI Wind U-100. It’s your standard small netbook, with the same specs as the 10.1” Acer – but it weights 2.2lbs, comes with a 4 cell battery and 10GB Eee storage online.
4. Acer Aspire One AOD150 10.1” – $329
It isn’t the Asus 1000 HE, but it gets the job done. You’re looking at a 6 cell battery, 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB RAM, 160GB hard drive, Windows XP running netbook that weights 3lbs. Available from Amazon in sapphire blue, diamond black, ruby red and seashell white.
Opt for the 3cell battery and get it for $30 less and half a pound lighter. (Not recommended)
5. Asus Eee PC 1000HE 10” – $383
The 1000HE is probably the most well rounded netbook available. It costs under $400, has an upgraded N280 processor, 1GB RAM, 160 GB HD, Bluetooth, runs on Windows XP and lasts an amazing 9.5 hours on its 6 cell battery. It’s a little heavy at 3.2lbs, but hey, it’s a great netbook.
Whether you’re looking to use a low-priced netbook as your primary computer or your secondary one – or just one for the kids – these 5 netbooks are all great buys and all affordable at under $400. Happy shopping!
This post is part of the Top 5 Netbooks By… series. Enjoy!
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