If basic web surfing is all you want then buy a first gen eeepc. I have a $1500 laptop with 3 times the performance of a curernt netbook, but its bigger than i want, heavier than i want, and the battery doesn't last. if i can get a smaller, lighter, more portable, longer battery life machine that will do what i need, for 1/3 the price...its a win. I want to be able to at least watch some movies in 720p on the go, run some simpler 3d games...