If a brand-new Windows Vista laptop is your target but funds are in short supply, you face limited options. A full retail copy of even the stripped-down version of Microsoft's new operating system, Windows Vista Home Basic, runs $199, to say nothing of the PC hardware to run it with. That's why a new system from Everex caught our eye. Despite underpowered specs--a Celeron M processor and only 512MB of RAM--the $498 Everex StepNote VA4101M (available at mainstream retailers such as Wal-Mart) makes for an acceptable second system for the most basic usage or a cheap system for kids. The next step up for Vista laptops right now is something akin to the Dell Inspiron E1505, which doubles the price to $999 for a base configuration that includes a dual-core CPU and Windows Vista Home Premium.



Link: CNET