One of the most common questions that I get is about places that you can find affordable Powerbook parts and repairs. Quite frankly, I had never really thought about it until I wrote on this blog, so I asked my friends that owned Macs.
And all I heard was silence – at least from everyone except for Bruce.
Bruce has been a hardcore Mac user since the day that I met him, and I have failed to woo him to the dark side (using a PC). But that also means that he has been an invaluable expert when it comes to questions relating to computers that I know little about.
He suggested that the best place that has worked for him has been PowerbookMedic.com. He had purchased a memory upgrade from them in the past, and was very happy with their service and prices.
I decided to look a little deeper, and all I found was countless praises for their prices and service. Their site also offers free repair manuals which is perfect if you want to attempt to repair your gadgets yourself.
I was able to find a coupon where you can get 5% off $50 at PowerBookMedic.com which is a great way to try them out.
Feel free to leave feedback about their service below – I’d love to hear from you.
One of the things that can really help your laptop (or desktop computer) perform at its best is by having the most up to date drivers on your computer. Manufacturers are working all the time to increase the speed, compatibility and efficiency of their driver software to make sure that the hardware in your machine works the best it possibly can for you. Quite often, updating the drivers on your computer can create noticeable speed improvements.
But when you consider the number of devices that are in your computer, the thought of trying to upgrade the driver for each one becomes a tedious process. There has never really been an easy way to do this, and even if you were a computer guru, updating the drivers on your computer could take hours.
But not anymore.
For the past few weeks, I have been trying a new piece of software called Driver Robot. The software is designed to keep your drivers on your computer up to date automatically. This means that you don’t have to waste hours of your time trying to do it yourself, or hire a computer technician to do it for you. It is also smart enough to install drivers that work specifically with your machine so you don’t accidentally install the wrong ones (which if you have ever done that, you know what a disaster it can be).
I recommend Driver Robot as the software of choice for my computer consulting clients, and even though it has meant less work for me as a computer repair tech, I know that they appreciate having a machine that is working well all of the time.
After many years of paying an accountant a pile of money to do my taxes, I have taken it upon myself to do things myself. Now, I don’t want to have to wade through a pile of books and write the thing out by hand, so I am trying my hand with tax preparation software.
It seems like there are plenty of offerings over at Amazon, and I picked up a copy of TurboTax for myself. If you are in need of some tax software this year (or in the future if you are reading this next year), then feel free to pick from the offerings below – they are well worth the price.
![H&R Block At Home Deluxe + State 2011 Win [Download]](http://www.laptopsblog.com/images/i/41-y30wtWxL._SL75_.jpg) |
H&R Block At Home Deluxe + State 2011 Win [Download] List Price: $44.99 Sale Price: $25.22  |
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H&R Block At Home: Deluxe--Homeowners/Investors, Federal + State H&R Block At Home Deluxe is the right choice for those with more complex tax situations to easily complete their federal and state returns... |
![TurboTax Premier Federal + E-file + State 2011 for PC [Download]](http://www.laptopsblog.com/images/i/41%2BFnXRS2tL._SL75_.jpg) |
TurboTax Premier Federal + E-file + State 2011 for PC [Download] List Price: $89.95 Sale Price: $45.43 |
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TurboTax Premier: Extra guidance for investments & rental property income |
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H&R Block At Home 2011 Deluxe + State List Price: $44.99 Sale Price: $2.99 |
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H&R Block At Home: Deluxe--Homeowners/Investors, Federal + State H&R Block At Home Deluxe is the right choice for those with more complex tax situations to easily complete their federal and state returns... |
![H&R Block At Home Deluxe 2011 Win [Download]](http://www.laptopsblog.com/images/i/41xc%2BYXNa6L._SL75_.jpg) |
H&R Block At Home Deluxe 2011 Win [Download] List Price: $34.99 Sale Price: $13.18 |
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H&R Block At Home: Deluxe--Homeowners/Investors, Federal H&R Block At Home Deluxe is the right choice for those with more complex tax situations to easily complete their federal returns. It includes the H&R Block tax expertise you trust--plus H&R Block's maximum refund guarantee... |
![TurboTax Deluxe Federal + E-file 2011 for PC [Download]](http://www.laptopsblog.com/images/i/41JM9f-wxEL._SL75_.jpg) |
TurboTax Deluxe Federal + E-file 2011 for PC [Download] List Price: $49.95 Sale Price: $23.42 |
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TurboTax Deluxe: Guides you step-by-step to maximize your deductions |
![TurboTax Deluxe Federal + E-file + State 2011 for Mac [Download]](http://www.laptopsblog.com/images/i/41vdnwn1qlL._SL75_.jpg) |
TurboTax Deluxe Federal + E-file + State 2011 for Mac [Download] List Price: $59.95 Sale Price: $29.22 |
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TurboTax Deluxe: Guides you step-by-step to maximize your deductions |
![H&R Block At Home Premium + State 2011 Win [Download]](http://www.laptopsblog.com/images/i/41YBHoggVoL._SL75_.jpg) |
H&R Block At Home Premium + State 2011 Win [Download] List Price: $64.99 Sale Price: $24.21 |
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H&R Block At Home: Premium--Self-Employed/Rental Property Owners, Federal + State H&R Block At Home Premium is the right choice for those with more complex tax situations to easily complete their federal and state returns... |
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H&R Block At Home 2011 Premium List Price: $64.99 Sale Price: $4.90 |
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H&R Block At Home: Premium--Self-Employed/Rental Property Owners, Federal + State H&R Block At Home Premium is the right choice for those with more complex tax situations to easily complete their federal and state returns... |
![H&R Block At Home 2010 Deluxe Federal + State + eFile [Download] [OLD VERSION]](http://www.laptopsblog.com/images/i/411OjjvB3sL._SL75_.jpg) |
H&R Block At Home 2010 Deluxe Federal + State + eFile [Download] [OLD VERSION] List Price: $44.99 Sale Price: $15.12 |
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H&R Block At Home Deluxe Ideal for Investors and Homeowners The right choice for customers with more complex tax situations to easily complete their federal and state returns. Includes the H&R Block tax expertise your customers trust--plus our Maximum Refund Guarantee... |
![H&R Block At Home 2010 Deluxe Federal + State + eFile [Old Version]](http://www.laptopsblog.com/images/i/41bPsl6jmUL._SL75_.jpg) |
H&R Block At Home 2010 Deluxe Federal + State + eFile [Old Version] List Price: $44.99 Sale Price: $4.00 |
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H&R Block At Home Deluxe Ideal for Investors and Homeowners The right choice for customers with more complex tax situations to easily complete their federal and state returns. Includes the H&R Block tax expertise your customers trust--plus our Maximum Refund Guarantee... |
After trying to figure out whether or not to buy a netbook over a laptop, I decided on the netbook. Specifically, I bought a ASUS 1000HE as it came as one of the most highly rated netbooks on the market. But like with any computer purchase, you don’t know how it will work in “real life” until you get it home and try it out. So, after a month using it, I thought that I would report back and let you know the good and the bad about the netbook.
One of my biggest concerns when I bought the computer was that I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to type effectively on the keyboard. With it being only 92% of normal size, I was worried that my man hands would have some issues. But after just a couple of days, it turns out that typing on the keyboard was almost second nature, and I have had few problems since. My only gripe would be the right shift key – though it is in the right place, it can be hard to hit since it is smaller than normal.
My only other gripe with the keyboard area would be the quick keys in the top left hand corner. They allow you to change the resolution, shut off the backlight, engage the super-hybrid engine and launch Skype. My “man hands” have some issues pushing them – I guess if I had pointier hands it might be easier.
Moving on to the display, it works very well, and I find myself usually in the 1024x768 compress mode because some of the software that I routinely use needs the extra height to fit on the screen properly. It also works very well hooked up to my 24” LCD monitor – you can use up to 1920x1200 with no problems. I only have one complaint with the screen – if you use an application like Microsoft Excel, you can’t see the lines on every second cell.
Otherwise, my experience with the computer has been wonderful. The touchpad works well (though I had to shut off the zooming function), the sound from the speakers is louder than I would have expected, and the webcam works okay (unless there is a ton of movement). If someone would ask me if I’d recommend it, I certainly would – it has been one of the best laptops that I have ever purchased.
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DURAGADGET Car Headrest mount Holder cradle for Netbooks up to 11 inchs Sale Price: $26.17 |
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for 'backseat entertainment'. Don't use a flimsy bag that is difficult to install, frustratingly unstable and makes your car interior look cheap and tacky. Instead use DURAGADGET mount, the perfect alternative... |
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Crucial Technology CT25664AC800 2GB 200-pin SODIMM DDR2 PC2-6400 Memory Module List Price: $29.99 Sale Price: $24.99 |
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Go faster and further with a netbook/notebook memory upgrade from Crucial. We've got quality notebook memory for your mobile systems. And because a memory upgrade is one of the easiest, most affordable ways to improve system performance, it's the ideal solution for on-the-go users... |
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Replacement Netbook Battery for Asus Eee PC Laptop AL23-901/AL24-1000 1000H 870AAQ159571 Black Sale Price: $19.91 |
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[Fit model] Asus Eee PC 901 [Replace] AL23-901 [Voltage(V)] 7.4 [Cells]:6 [Capacity(mAh)] 6600mAh/49Wh [Dimension(mm)] 139.10 x 55.90 x 38.00 [N.W(g)] 320 [Color] Black (The color is optional, Black and White are available) [Type] Li-ion Replacement For AL23-901, 870AAQ159571 Fit Machine Models ASUS Asus Eee PC Series Eee PC 901, Eee PC 1000, Eee PC 1000H, Eee PC 904HD, Eee PC 1000HD Guarantee Quality, Brand New, Factory Package, Fast Shipping! Our batteries are made using high quality cells available and certified by CE and RoHS... |
![36W Laptop Notebook AC Adapter Charger Power Supply for ASUS Eee PC 900 900A 900HA 901 1000 1000H R2H R2 R2H R2Hv 900HD 900SD 901 904HA 1000 1000H 1000HA 1002HA 1000XP S101 series Laptops Notebook [12V--3A 36W ]](http://www.laptopsblog.com/images/i/41K3zkt2kkL._SL75_.jpg) |
36W Laptop Notebook AC Adapter Charger Power Supply for ASUS Eee PC 900 900A 900HA 901 1000 1000H R2H R2 R2H R2Hv 900HD 900SD 901 904HA 1000 1000H 1000HA 1002HA 1000XP S101 series Laptops Notebook [12V--3A 36W ] Sale Price: $0.01 |
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INPUT: 100-240V 50-60HZ OUTPUT:12V--3A 36W DC connector:4.8x1.7MM Compatible with the following models: ASUS Eee PC Series 900, 900A, 900HA, 900HD, 900SD, 901, 904HA, 1000, 1000H, 1000HA, 1002HA, 1000XP, S101,etc... |
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CaseCrown Durable Laptop Messenger Bag with Multi-Pockets for ASUS EEE PC 1000HE List Price: $49.99 Sale Price: $24.18 |
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Laptop Messenger Bag with Multi-Pockets for ASUS EEE PC 1000HE provides perfect protection for your valuable notebook. It is perfect bag to carry your laptop and its accessories! Light weight, multiple pockets for other accessories, Perfect for planes, trains, offices or on campus. |
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Red Laptop Notebook Sleeve Case for 10 inch ASUS Eee PC 1015PEM-PU17-BU, 1000HE, 1015PX-PU17-RD + An Ekatomi Hook. List Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $11.99 |
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This is a Laptop Sleeve Case Bag that provides protection and convenience for your 10 inch Coby Kyros MID1024-4G, MID1125-4G Tablet. Includes A Carabiner Hook. |
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mCover® PINK Hard Shell Case for Asus Eee PC 1000 Series Netbook - Compatible with 1000/1000HA/1000HE List Price: $39.95 Sale Price: $14.95 |
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# Made of USA-made high-quality translucent DOW polycarbonate material, which is shatter-proof and will protect your Asus Eee PC 10-inch netbook all around. # Designed to fit the 10-inch Asus Eee PC 1000 Series perfectly # Designed to protect ALL corners for Asus Eee PC 1000 series netbook # The ONLY Asus Eee PC hard case with Retractable feet at the rear bottom to let you type more comfortably... |
You might not think that you could get a laptop of any sort of value for under $300, but there are a number of machines you can buy at this price point.
What should you expect?
Well, for less that $300, it won’t be playing cutting edge games and it won’t last for over 8 hours on the battery.
But, it can work as a desktop replacement, a good second computer, or a computer that will work for a high school or college student. I should also note that in most cases the battery will not hold much if any charge, so if you expect to work while the laptop isn’t plugged in, you might want to get a replacement battery.
Check out this selection of laptops under $300
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One of the things that most of us take for granted is the cleanliness of our laptop and other electronics. But the truth of the matter is that a laptop is a dust magnet and the dust can cause the eventual failure of your notebook.
What you need to do is take the time to clean your notebook regularly. For most people, you will only really need to clean it once or twice per year. But if you live somewhere that is extremely dusty, or if you have pets (think dog, cat, etc.), then you should do it a little more regularly because the pet hair can end up in the laptop as well.
Cleaning a laptop is relatively easy – all you need is a can of air. These can be found at most office supply stores and if you want a really good deal, Costco usually has the lowest price (typically half of the price of an office supply store, but you end up with a larger pack).
What you use the can of air to do is blow out all of the vents on the laptop. The goal here is to get as much dust out of the laptop as possible. You might want to do this somewhere outside or where dust won’t be a big issue as in some instances, you would be surprised at how much dust does come out of them. Make sure to shut off the laptop before you do clean it.
You should also blow out the keyboard to get any dust and skin particles out of it. Usually start at one side of your keyboard and work your way across to get everything out.
That’s it. It should only take you about 10 minutes at the most and will ensure that your computer runs as cool as possible and will prolong your laptop life.
When it comes to laptop screens, there is really only two “types'” of screens: matte or glossy. Though matte used to be the only choice, over the last few years, glossy has almost become the only option.
But to make your decision to get a glossy screen you need to consider a few things including who will be using the computer, where you will be primarily using it and what you expect from your notebook screen.
First, you need to decide where you are going to be primarily going to use it. If you will be using it mostly indoors in a room without windows, then it would be a good choice. On the other hand, if the room that you are going to be using the computer in does have windows, or if you will be using the laptop primarily outside, you might not want a glossy screen because you will get reflections which will make it harder for you to see the screen.
Secondly, the person using it will have a large bearing on whether or not you want a glossy screen. For adults it is usually not a problem, but if you have little kids that are using it, you might want to pass on the glossy screen. The reason that glossy screens can be a problem is that fingerprints show up easily, and chances are little hands will touch the screen resulting in difficulty viewing the picture.
Lastly, you need to decide your expectations when it comes to the laptop screen. If you are expecting vibrant and lifelike pictures and videos, then glossy is the right option for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a screen that will work in a multitude of situations that won’t be difficult to use, then matte might be a better choice.
Be sure to consider the above points when buying a laptop and get the one that suits your needs.
If you are looking for a new desktop computer but you don’t have a lot of room, I would suggest that you consider buying a broken laptop.
Now, I don’t mean a laptop that isn’t working (which wouldn’t make a lot of sense), but rather a laptop with a broken screen. Even if the screen isn’t working, usually the computer portion of the laptop still is, and as a result, usually you can get a really good deal.
All you need to do is hook up the laptop to a monitor and it is a full-fledged desktop with a smaller footprint. It can be great as a second computer, or a perfect computer for your kids that won’t blow the budget.
Take a look at some of these great deals on laptops with broken screens below and you’ll see what I mean.
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ASUS N55SF DH71 156 Inch Laptop i7 22ghz 8GB RAM 750GB HDD BROKEN SCREEN |  |
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US $699.99 | 27d 13h 4m |
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Apple MacBook Pro 133 Laptop Mid 2009 AND iPhone 3GS Broken Screenextras | |
0 Bid | US $500.00 | 5d 20h 36m |
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Lot of 75 broken or cracked laptop LCD screens of various sizes | |
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US $399.00 | 12d 11h 50m |
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HP EliteBook 2540p i7 213GHz 121 LCD Screen DVDRW Battery Laptop Warranty a | |
US $379.99 | 15d 18h 38m |
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TOSHIBA LAPTOP i5 480M 4GB RAM 640GB 156 SCREEN POWER ON AS IS | |
0 Bid | US $373.60 | 3d 11h 6m |
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Apple MacBook 133 Laptop MB403LL A February 2008 broken screen | |
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US $550.00 | 3d 13h 13m |
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Apple MacBook Pro 17 SCREEN Laptop 160GB HD 2GB RAM DVD AC A1212 PARTS REPAIR | |
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US $349.99 | 29d 6h 34m |
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Lenovo ThinkPad T410 Type 2522 25U Core i5 253GHz 141 LCD Screen Laptop IBM a | |
US $299.99 | 26d 11h 32m |
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Apple MacBook Air 133 Laptop MB003LL A January 2008 Needs screen | |
0 Bid | US $299.00 | 2d 21h 22m |
One of the biggest complaints I have with laptops is the cost of replacement batteries. For most of us with older laptops who want to use them when they are not plugged into the wall, we usually don’t get much time. It is a fact of life that as laptop batteries age, their maximum life decreases as well.
If you have looked for replacement batteries, you know that they aren’t cheap. This can especially be a problem if you laptop is really old – the harder the batteries are to find, the more expensive they are.
But there are alternatives. If you watch the following video, you can watch to see how you can replace your old cells inside of your notebook battery with new ones.
If you are looking for the replacement cells mentioned in the video, you can find them at any local battery specialist store, or online on places like eBay.
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Whole Sale Lot 400 Laptop Parts Hard Drives Screens Keyboards Battery | |
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US $3,000.00 | 23d 23h 34m |
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Pneumatic Spot Welder For Laptop Battery Ni MH and NI CD Battery Pack | |
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US $2,725.00 | 19d 19h |
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Spot Welder For Laptop Battery Ni MH Pack Mobile Battery | |
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US $2,525.00 | 20d 22h 37m |
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Ridgid 35983 Laptop Interface NTSC Cameras W Battery | |
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US $2,283.47 | 22d 10h 55m |
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Ridgid 35983 SeeSnake LT1000 Laptop Interface System with Battery Charger | |
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US $2,001.63 | 14h 3m |
Unlike the olden days, we are now faced with many options when it comes to the size and power of our laptop. You can buy everything from a small netbook (as small as a 7” screen) to larger than life notebooks that have screens over 18”. With this buffet of laptops available to the consumer, how do you decide which one to buy?
For me, the toughest decision is whether or not I should buy a netbook. You see, I work at home and it would be convenient to have a computer that I could use away from the office (like at the kitchen table) or when we go on the road traveling. I already have a desktop that satisfies my gaming needs (at the moment), and really I am looking for portability.
But when it comes down to making the decision whether to buy a notebook or netbook, you have to consider the following:
- Are you willing to sacrifice computing power for mobility? If you are just working on basic stuff such as word processing, surfing the Internet or checking email, this won’t be an issue. But if you are expecting your computer to be able to do something a little more complex (such as video rendering or games) you might be disappointed with the speed and responsiveness of a netbook.
- Is weight an issue? If you are a student or business person that will be carrying your laptop with you wherever you go for extended periods during the day, a lighter notebook will be better for you and your back. Also, if you go with a smaller notebook or netbook, you will be able to carry more without having to have a large bag as they take up less space.
- Are you going to be running primarily on the battery? If you will be away from being able to plug in your notebook during the day, a netbook provides better battery life since they are designed to be more power friendly. In fact, some of the netbooks can even run 8 hours on a full charge, which should be good enough for most of your working day.
- Do you have problems reading or seeing text on a computer screen? If you are wearing bifocals or don’t have the greatest vision, the screen size of a netbook may be a challenge for you. If you find yourself in this predicament, you can go with a netbook, but chances are you will have to increase the font size to ensure that you are able to read the screen or go with a notebook that would have a bigger screen and therefore bigger font.
- Are you going to be playing a lot of games? If you are an avid computer gamer, then a netbook won’t work very well for you. There currently is only one that I can think of that has a dedicated video card (the ASUS N10 in particular) and even that netbook can only play games on the most basic settings.
Make sure to consider the above questions when deciding on whether to buy a netbook or a notebook, and if you do, you should be happy with your decision.
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HP Mini 210-4150NR 10.1-Inch Netbook (Charcoal Gray) List Price: $396.00 Sale Price: $289.99 |
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Hear music the way the artist intended with Beats Audio on the HP Mini 210-4150NR netbook, a companion PC that lets you rock wherever you roll. This lightweight design with the HP Imprint finish in super-matte charcoal gray is great for on-the-go computing... |
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Acer Aspire One AO722-0473 11.6-Inch HD Netbook (Espresso Black) List Price: $329.99 Sale Price: $319.00 |
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The Aspire One AO722, 11.6" Netbook, is the perfect combination of usability and portability in a thin and light design, while boasting a full-size keyboard and excellent connectivity for the best of both worlds... |
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Acer Aspire One AO722-0667 11.6-Inch HD Netbook (Aquamarine) List Price: $329.99 Sale Price: $329.99 |
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The Aspire One AO722, 11.6" Netbook, is the perfect combination of usability and portability in a thin and light design, while boasting a full-size keyboard and excellent connectivity for the best of both worlds... |
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Acer Aspire One AOD270-1410 10.1-Inch Netbook (Espresso Black) List Price: $279.99 Sale Price: $279.99 |
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Acer AOD270-1410 comes with these high level Specs. Intel Atom Dual-Core Processor N2600, Windows 7 Starter, 10.1" WSVGA LED-backlit Display, Mobile Intel NM10 Express Chipset, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3600, 1024MB DDR3 Memory, 320GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM), Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader, 802... |
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Toshiba NB505-N508BL 10.1-Inch Netbook (Blue) List Price: $299.99 Sale Price: $349.99 |
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Toshiba Mini NB505: Stylish, Highly Portable Netbook Perfect for your everyday computing needs when you're on the go, the Toshiba Mini NB505-N508BL is one of the thinnest netbooks on the market--just 1... |
