The Tech-pert: Killer Asus Netbook Deal

I don't normally think of Microsoft as a go-to source for good deals--quite the opposite, in fact -- but the Microsoft Store has a netbook deal that's one of the best I've seen.

Right now, you can get the Asus Eee PC 1005HA-MU17 netbook for $244.30 shipped. That's after applying the Microsoft Store coupon code at the confirmation page.

The Asus Eee PC series is pretty much synonymous with netbooks, having pretty much pioneered the product category. This particular model comes with a glossy pink shell, though it's also available in black.

Most of the netbooks I see in this price range are refurbished, meaning they have only a 90-day warranty and may show some signs of not being 100% new. This one, however, is indeed new--with one full year of warranty coverage.

The 1005HA's other specs are fairly typical for a netbook, with a couple above-average exceptions. For one thing, it features a 250-gigabyte (GB) hard drive, not the usual 160GB drive that's common to bargain-basement models.

It also comes with a 6-cell battery, which Asus says is a good for up to 8.5 hours of operation. Your real-world mileage may vary, but you'll definitely get longer life than you would from the 3-cell battery you'd normally find in a sub-$250 netbook.

Finally, the 1005HA offers both 802.11n Wi-Fi (a major step up over the still-common 802.11g) and Windows 7 Starter (a major step up over the still-common Windows XP).

In short, this is a nicely equipped netbook, one that would normally cost you closer to $350. The code expires April 7th--so if you're interested in this impressive deal, don't wait to jump on it.

Self-proclaimed cheapskate Rick Broida has been a technology writer for over 20 years. He has authored over a dozen books, including, most recently, "How to Do Everything: Palm Pre." Currently he writes the Cheapskate blog for CNET, the Hassle-Free PC blog for PC World, and technology stories for Popular Science, Wired, and other magazines.