Cheapest notebook possible...

[Loser777]

I'm looking to get the cheapest (NEW) notebook possible whether it's building one from a barebook or buying one...

Basically, I need this for a trip I'm going on in April (Yes long time from now), and it needs to be cheap because I'm broke.

My requirements are modest... basically, I don't want to be bored so I just need it to play StarCraft comfortably and have internet access.

Minimum requirements for StarCraft are:
Pentium I 90MHz
32MB of RAM
640x480 Screen Res
256 Colors

~150 MB of disk space. (I can load it on a thumdrive so no worries here)

[Klarko]

I would say get a asus netbook, but for that resolution you might need to get a slightly more expensive one

[Loser777]

I thought the 2G model was 800x600 standard.

[Nate P.]

Dell Inspirion Mini 9 (http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop-inspiron-9?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs)

Comparable to the ASUS EEE PC, but with much better build quality according to THIS (http://anandtech.com/mobile/showdoc.aspx?i=3399).

[bot@xs]

lowest i found
Acer Aspire one AOA150-1006 NoteBook Intel Atom N270(1.60GHz) 8.9" Wide SVGA 1GB Memory DDR2 533 120GB HDD 5400rpm Intel GMA950 - $399.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115495

or the linux version of it
Acer Aspire one AOA110-1295 NoteBook Intel Atom N270(1.60GHz) 8.9" Wide SVGA 512MB Memory DDR2 533 8GB SSD HDD Intel GMA950 - $329.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115489

next best
Acer Extensa EX4420-5239 NoteBook AMD Mobile Athlon 64 X2 TK-57(1.90GHz) 14.1" Wide XGA 2GB Memory DDR2 667 120GB HDD 5400rpm DVD Super Multi ATI Radeon X1250 IGP - $449.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115497

other linux based
Everex Zonbu Notebook PC - VIA C7-M 1.5GHz, 802.11b/g Wireless, 512MB DDR2, 60GB HDD, CD-RW/DVD Combo, 15.4" WXGA+, Zonbu OS - $349.99
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3742986&CatId=17

[makaka]

http://xtreview.com/addcomment-id-5890-view-npx-9000-world-cheapest-notebook-130-dollars-only.html
This one is only 130 $

[Loser777]

EEE PC 2G seems to be my best bet so far... I'm not buying a 128MB RAM POS.

[Bobsama]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115496
^ Acer Aspire One for $330 ^

Add onto that whatever OS you want to run for the game--be it WinXP or I assume Win98SE &c..

[Loser777]

Oh, I'd also prefer if the notebook was overclockable... not necessarily BIOS or heavily tweakable, but overclockable.

[Klarko]

I [think] the MSI wind has a turbo mode which self overclocks :P

[MrMacke]

Asus eee (atleast the 901) has 3 diferent mode's one underclocked, one normal, and one that boosts the atom to 1,8ghz. You can allways buy the 20gb linux verision and install XP on it instead :) or use wine or sumthing if u prefer linux :) The 901 allso has gr8 battery time, better then the 900 :D

[Loser777]

I'm thinking about getting the 2G surf... other models don't seem to be worth the price... I mean they're all Intel UMA or Intel GMA 950... 1.6GHz atom isn't very fast anyway.
I don't care much about storage, I just need it to hold an OS and maybe a web browser... stuff like music and videos I can keep on drives.

[Loser777]

Okay, this makes the wind look very tempting...
http://www.shopsharksystems.com/browse/currency-USD/product/1-notebook___desktop_pc/40-notebooks___laptops/U90X-005CA
I also heard that some have been clocking the Atom up to 1.9GHz without voltage change... stable!

[TRF-Inferno]

Okay, this makes the wind look very tempting...
http://www.shopsharksystems.com/browse/currency-USD/product/1-notebook___desktop_pc/40-notebooks___laptops/U90X-005CA
I also heard that some have been clocking the Atom up to 1.9GHz without voltage change... stable!

That model has Linux, you will need an external CD drive or USB drive, and a copy of Windows.

[Loser777]

Yeah, I have Windows, I got a IDE to USB converter so I can rig up a drive pretty easily... will be a pain to take a drive out of the system though... :(.

[TRF-Inferno]

Cool. So, how reliable is that SharkSystems site?

[Loser777]

No idea... I just happened to stumble upon it on slickdeals... heard the shipping is like $30 to CA... which sucks, but still a still as there are places selling the wind for $500+...
I'm gonna check reseller ratings.

EDIT: looks like it checks out, but 6 ratings is a lil' skimpy.
http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Shark_Systems#reviews

[TRF-Inferno]

Another thing I noticed too is that this particular one has a 8.9" screen instead of the normal 10.2", and that it has a Canadian keyboard -- English/French.

[Loser777]

Well, MSI Wind seems to be the best balance so far... hopefully price will drop by then...

Anyone have any other suggestions besides EEE PC 2G Surf and MSI Wind?

[TRF-Inferno]

Look at the Acer Aspire One. One configuration with a 8GB SSD costs $329, the other with 120GB HDD is $370-400.

[Bobsama]

EeePC 900 16G? Available with Windows or Linux.

[Loser777]

Price is not work it IMO, I'd prefer a slightly bigger keyboard also.

[Klarko]

Im just waiting for a white 6 cell wind and im set... only black so far

[Loser777]

Well, I came across another cheaparse notebook... anyone heard of this?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834204001

[TRF-Inferno]

Well, I came across another cheaparse notebook... anyone heard of this?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834204001

It's junk. Runs hot, slow 4200 RPM hard drive, and the fan is on all the time -- making it loud. Unless you need more than 8GB hard drive, this one would work out very well for you.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115489

[Loser777]

Well, I looked up some reviews and it turns out that the VIA processor sucks really bad... 1/2 as fast as the atom when it comes to encoding and stuff like that... So I think I'm gonna be waiting for the Price to drop on the wind...

I might even go for a cheap Turion Notebook... I'd prefer the dual-core even if it was slower core for core... and some of the cheap ones ever have discrete graphics... X1250 Mobility is better than GMA 950.