Advice for a small laptop/netbook

[DSF]

Hey all,

My sister is looking for a small, reasonably priced laptop to use for very basic work stuff when traveling. She doesn't play any games, she'll just be using Word/Excel and internet. She's open to pretty much any company, but would like it to be less than 11" if possible.

If you need a specific budget, under 500 would be great. I would say under 800 is a must. No brand preferences, just something that she can open up and use reliably.

Any recommendations? Any models/companies that are definitely to be avoided?

 

[Brainonska511]

How about this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-803-_-Product TimelineX 1830T from Acer; they claim 8+ hr with the timelinex series and you get a full-fledged computer at least with the latest CULV processor (unlike a gimped computer with a netbook).

You probably won't find much else beyond netbooks at that price and size. Maybe you could get lucky and nab a cheap Lenovo IdeaPad U150/U160 (but the U150 uses the older C2D CULV processors)

 

[CrossFyer]

I've been looking into this for my brother (similar situation/budget)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834115822

found this while looking for the Acer Aspire 1410 which Anandtech reviewed quite highly as cheap notebook at netbook-esque prices but with good performance. The 1410 has been really hard to find for sale from the normal places, so I've been looking around... I'm not quite sure, but this Aspire seems to be pretty good too. Anybody else have an opinion on it?

 

[JWade]

get a refurbished dell mini 1012 from delloutlet get it with the decoder chip in it, so it will have the 1366x768 screen,after a coupon code i got one for my wife for $320, with teh 6-cell battery too. it plays netflix, hulu, and youtube smooth as can be. she loves it.