If the cheap NX270S laptop from Gateway is still too much for your budget, here’s the StepNote VA4101M from Everex, also with Vista OS. Priced slightly below $500, or $498 to be precise, this 15.4-inch widescreen (1280×800) sub-notebook is powered by an Intel Celeron M (1.46GHz) processor, a 512MB of DDR2 main memory (upgradeable up to 2GB), a VIA Chrome9 HC graphics engine with up to 128MB of shared VRAM, and a 60GB of hard drive. It is also equipped with a DVD burner, three USB ports, VGA out, and various connectivity options, including WiFI, Ethernet LAN, and built-in 56K modem.

Weighs at just 5.9lb, Everex stepNote VA4101M is pre-loaded with Windows Vista Home Basic Edition operating system. No words on battery life.