Monday, October 26, 2009

News flash: Windows XP netbooks are still available (for now)

wind u110Today may be Windows 7 launch day, but you know what? Not everybody wants Windows 7. Sure, the OS is streamlined to run significantly better on netbooks than Windows Vista. And it has a number of nifty new features that you won't find in Windows XP including Windows Media Center and Aero Peek. But to be honest, Windows 7 Starter Edition, which is the version that will come with most netbooks, doesn't offer much that you can't find in Windows XP. And in fact, it's more limited in some ways due restrictions on personalization features like the ability to change desktop backgrounds.

But here's a little secret: You can still buy a netbook with Windows XP. Amazon and other retail outlets are full of deals on 10 inch and smaller laptops running Windows XP Home Edition. It's likely that many of these Windows XP will ride off into the sunset once supplies are depleted though, so if you want to grab a Windows XP netbook you've probably got just a few months left.

Here are some bargains I found today:

  • Acer Aspire One AOA150-1555 – 8.9 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display w/Windows XP, 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU, 2.5 hour battery for $269.99
  • Acer Aspire One AOD250-1580 – 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display w/Windows XP, 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU, 7.5 hour battery for $318.95
  • ASUS Eee PC 1005HA-PU1X-BK – 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display w/Windows XP, 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280 CPU, 10.5 hour battery for $354.99
  • Dell Inspiron Mini 9 – 8.9 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display w/Windows XP, 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU, 8GB SSD, 32WHr battery for $269 and up
  • Dell Inspiron Mini 10v – 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display w/Windows XP, 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU, 24WHr battery for $299 and up
  • Dell Inspiron Mini 10 – 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display w/Windows XP, 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520 CPU, 28Whr battery for $349 and up
  • HP Mini 110-1020NR – 10.1 inch, 1024 x 576 pixel display w/Windows XP, 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU, 3 cell battery for $298.97
  • HP Mini 110-1050NR – 10.1 inch, 1024 x 576 pixel display w/Windows XP, 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU, 6 cell battery for $324.99
  • HP Mini 311-1000NR – 11.6 inch, 1366 x 768 pixel display w/Windows XP, 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU, NVIDIA ION LE graphics, 6 hour battery for $399.99
  • MSI Wind U100-641US – 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display w/Windows XP, 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU, 3 cell battery for $289.95

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