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A service of the News & Record, Greensboro, North Carolina
Consumer Reports magazine rates more than 60 computers including those light and cheap netbooks you've been hearing about. (Link to story online available to subscribers only).
Models that stand out in the netbook category, according to the magazine, are the Samsung NC10-14GB ($450), Acer Aspire One AOD150-1165 ($350), and the Asus Eee PC 1000H ($330).
An open-source set of programs called "OfficeSuite" has all the features of Microsoft Office but you can get it for free.
Download it for free at www.OpenOffice.org.
It's also available on DVD ($20 plus $6 in shipping). The DVD version can be updated for free at any time.
Consumer Reports ranks mini-laptops, or netbooks, in its latest issue (subscriber-only access to story online).
The magazine tested the least expensive Windows models on the market, and "found plenty of trade-offs, among weight, battery life, size, storage capacity and ergonomics."
Three netbooks that had particular advantages, according to Consumer Reports:
* Asus EeePC 904HA ($308-$480)
Features include 1 gigabyte of memory, 160-gigabyte hard drive, Microsoft Works and Skype for Internet phone calls. Battery lasts more than 5 hours. Weighs 3.1 pounds.
* Lenovo IdealPad S10 ($349-$399)
Features include 80-gigabyte hard drive, 504 megabytes of memory, Norton Protection Center. Battery life is 2 hours, 40 minutes. Weighs 2.7 pounds.
* MSI Wind U100-016US (around $400)
Features include 1 gigabyte of memory, 120-gigabyte hard drive, 60-day trial versions of Microsoft Office 2007 and Norton Internet Security. Battery life is 2 hours, 23 minutes. Weighs 2.5 pounds.
MomsWhoSave mentions on its Twitter feed a pretty good deal on a refurbished netbook via TigerDirect.com. Sells for $249.97.
It's an Acer Aspire One AOA150-1006. Features include: 1.60GHz, 802.11b/g wireless, 1GB DDR2, 120GB HDD, 8.9" WSVGA, Integrated Webcam, Windows XP Home.
A sampling of some of the best deals on laptops regarding retailers with locations in the Triad:
Best Buy has a Gateway (1 GB DDR2 memory, 160 GB hard drive) for $499.
Circuit City has an Acer (1 GB DDR2 memory, 160 GB hard drive) for $479.
Office Depot has a Compaq Presario (1 GB DDR2 memory, 120GB hard drive) for $449 (after $165 mail-in rebate).
