Everex StepNote VA4101M

Cheapest way to get Windows Vista; big screen for a budget laptop; relatively speedy hard drive; DVD burner.

Low-end processor and meager allotment of memory leads to sluggish performance; tiny three-cell battery provides woeful battery life.

If you absolutely, positively need a new Windows Vista laptop but only have $500 to spend, the cheap but serviceable Everex StepNote VA4101M is the only game in town. Sluggish performance and exceedingly short battery life, however, prevent it from...