(Update: April 2015, I’m no longer recommending Netbooks.) Is your XP computer limping along or losing its battle with viruses? On a tight budget? Think you need $600 or more for a new PC? Well I just bought a new PC with Windows 7, a dual processor, 1 GB of RAM, and a 320 GB drive for less than $250 ! And it works great! Once again I’m astonished at the progress of Personal Computing. I bought what’s called a “Netbook” from Walmart for $248, $276 with tax and shipping to my door. Netbooks look like small laptops. The screens and keyboards are tiny, but there are simple work-arounds for that. A larger screen can be attached to a monitor (VGA) port on the side, and you can pick up a wireless keyboard and mouse combo from discount stores for as little as $25. The screen on my new Netbook is 10″ and has a resolution of 1024 by 600 pixels. The brand is Acer, which I’ve had pretty good luck with. Here’s a quick rundown of the pros and cons of such a purchase: Pros: Low cost Light-Portable-Small Upgradeable Dual Core Cons: Windows 7 “Starter” Longevity? Small Screen-Battery-RAM Performance WalMart? I’m not a fan of WalMart, but I think deals like this will become more widely available as time goes by. At $250 you are taking a bit of a gamble, as I can’t guarantee that such a computer will last more than a few years. If you’re lucky, maybe 5 or 7 years. If not, maybe only one or two. Even so, I’m still amazed with this purchase. Steve