All throughout the last 2 years, there was a big push for many laptop manufacturers was to try to make netbooks for around or under 200 bucks. Did that ever happen, or did everybody wanting “their cut” make it not possible?
I think a few have, but they use crappy arm processors and the like. I don’t know of any mainstream quality netbooks that dropped that low.
I’m not looking for anything ultra-powerful. My needs are rather modest. I’d just use the netbook in question for web browsing on the road, reading ebooks (pdf, pdb, txt, and html), or occasionally running Mame for emus or kmplayer to watch video. Does the “arm” processor have trouble with doing these things?
Unfortunately, most of these use cell phone networks and as such require contracts but if you’re cool with that:
HP Mini 311-1037NR
http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/hp-mini-311-1037nr/4505-3121_7-33788408.html?tag=mncolBtm;rnav
Samsung GO N310
http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/samsung-go-n310-at/4505-3121_7-33898348.html?tag=mncol;lst
Acer Aspire One 531h-1766
http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/acer-aspire-one-531h/4505-3121_7-33711141.html?tag=mncol;lst
Gateway LT2016u
http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/gateway-lt2016u-verizon-wireless/4505-3121_7-33775554.html?tag=mncol;lst
HP Mini 110-1046NR
http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/hp-mini-110-1046nr/4505-3121_7-33785663.html?tag=mncol;lst
They usually get down to $200 when it’s on sale… You can probably get a used one in good condition for $200.
The original line up of netbooks are under 200. This means the Asus Eee 701 and Acer Aspire One 8.9".