Is this HP 311 with N280 + ION worth $550

[Lincoln Thurber]

HP 311

Case Color Black Swirl
Operating system Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit
Processor Intel(R) Atom(TM) Processor N280 (1.66GHz, 512KB L2, 667Mhz FSB)
Memory 3GB DDR3 System Memory (1 Dimm)
Hard drive 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
Graphics card NVIDIA ION with a 5-in-1 Digital Media slot (For the N280 processor)
Display 11.6" diagonal HD LED BrightView Widescreen Display (1366 x 768)
Personalization HP Mini Webcam
Networking Wireless-G Card with Bluetooth
Keyboard HP Color Matching Keyboard
Primary battery 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Extra software Microsoft(R) Works 9.0

[Lincoln Thurber]

That seems like a decnt deal, a bit pricey for a netbook, but with Win 7, 3GB RAM, 11.6 inch screen, Nvidia ION, and MS Works tossed in as well it SEEMS like a good deal.

[Paul Hawking]

Is it powerful?

[Lincoln Thurber]

Man, that above spec now costs $33 more it seems. Not much but the above for $550 just seemed, 'expensive' but maybe worth it for the ION functionality, Win 7, and 3GB of RAM.

I guess an extra $33 in't a huge issue and I think the Ion is now full Direct X10 capable not the Ion LE. Still I would hope that during this holiday season the HP 311 would come down in price by $33 not up.