10 Hot Netbooks — From Pricey to Dirt Cheap

Why are so many people buying netbooks? Well, they're light as a feather and fulfill all the basic computing needs. But it's the killer price that seals the deal for many. Here we highlight top-selling netbooks, from the (relatively) high end to the under-$300 range.

By Shane O'Neill

Consumers and business users are scooping up netbooks. While fourth-quarter sales in the PC industry in 2008 were dismal, netbooks showed growth, and these lightweight machines are also expected to drive laptop sales in the next couple years, according to IDC.

The reasons? They satisfy basic computing needs for e-mail, Web surfing and word processing. They're ultra-portable. And—best of all—they're a lot cheaper than general-purpose laptops, an important selling point in our cash-strapped times.

Sylvania GNET28001SO Meso Netbook

Sylvania's low-cost Meso netbooks are available in yellow, pink, black and white, and come preloaded with the Linux-based Ubuntu Netbook Remix operating system, with the option to switch to Windows XP Home.

Cost: $269 at Amazon
Screen size: 8.9 inches
CPU: 1.6-GHz Intel Atom processor
RAM: 1GB
Storage: 80GB Hard Drive
Battery: 4 cell
OS: Ubuntu Linux or Windows XP Home
Weight: 2.2 pounds
Image credit: Sylvaniacomputers.com