Everex StepNote SA2053T Budget Ultraportable Notebook PC

The Bottom Line
If you really want a small and highly portable system but don't have a lot of money to spend, then the Everex StepNote SA2053T is probably a good alternative. It is an extremely affordable system that offers up a decent amount of performance but lacks software and has some of the worst battery life on the market.

Pros

* Very Inexpensive
* Reasonable Performance

Cons

* Lacks Bundled Software
* Limited Battery Life

Description

* Intel Pentium Dual-Core T2080 Mobile Processor
* 1GB PC2-4200 DDR2 Memory
* 100GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
* Dual Layer DVD+/-RW Burner
* 12.1" WXGA (1280x800) Display with Integrated Intel GMA 950 Graphics
* v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Fast Ethernet, 802.11b/g Wireless
* Three USB 2.0, One FireWire, ExpressCard/54
* 11.7" x 8.4" x 1.4" @ 3.8 lbs.
* Vista Home Premium

Guide Review - Everex StepNote SA2053T Budget Ultraportable Notebook PC

Most ultraportable notebooks are fairly expensive. The reason for this is that the engineering to pack in the features and performance into a small package while still allowing for a long battery life is complicated. This is why many of these notebooks are $1500 or more. For those looking for a low cost alternative but in a highly portable system, the Everex StepNote SA2053T is an option.

The 12.1-inch notebook computer weighs in under 4 pounds in weight and roughly half the cost of the average ultraportable. Performance isn't sacrificed too much on the system. It does come with a somewhat date Intel Pentium Dual-Core T2080 mobile processor, a full gigabyte of memory, 100GB of hard drive storage space and a dual layer DVD burner. All of this let's it perform admirably with internet and productivity applications for a very low price.

There are some significant drawbacks to the StepNote SA2053T. For example, the system has some of the worst battery life out of most notebooks on the market. Don't expect to even be able to watch through a 90-minute DVD movie on a single charge. This makes carrying around the power adapter pretty much a requirement that adds to the overall weight of the system. The notebook also lacks any formal software bundle at all either, so expect to spend a bit more to get some actual applications on it for use.

Does that means people should avoid the StepNote SA2053T? No, as it is one of the most affordable ultraportables on the market. Just be sure you can handle the battery life and software issues before investing in one.