Get a 13.3-inch Dell 3G laptop for $399.99
This is Dell's Vostro V13, a superslim, comfortably light ultraportable. This configuration normally sells for around $750. But don't worry: 3G service is optional.
What's this? Another laptop? Normally I wouldn't do the same kind of deal two days in a row, but hear me out.
See, yesterday's system was a 17.3-inch, 8-pound colossus, not so much a laptop as a lap-crusher. It was fine for anyone needing a desktop replacement, but not the right choice for folks looking to travel light.
If you're in the latter category, today's your lucky day. Dell is offering the Vostro V13 ultraportable laptop for $399 (plus $8 for shipping and sales tax in some states). The system is new, not refurbished, meaning it comes with a one-year warranty (including onsite service!).
If yesterday's Acer was The Hulk, the V13 is Bruce Banner. It's a skinny little bugger, measuring just 0.65 inches thick and weighing roughly 3.5 pounds.
Even so, it manages to pack in some beefy hardware, including an Intel Core 2 Duo processor (1.3GHz), 2GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, and a six-cell battery. You also get a Webcam, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and a 13.3-inch LED-backlit screen.
Of particular note is the built-in Verizon Mobile Broadband card, which could be a killer perk for business travelers. (Heck, you could even turn your Vostro into a Wi-Fi hots pot.) Thankfully, service is optional; you don't have to buy into a contract when you buy the laptop. (What I don't know is if there's a pay-as-you-go option. Most likely, you'd have to sign up for a two-year deal, just like with a typical modem.)
CNET hasn't reviewed the Vostro V13, but the Crave blog called it "a cheaper Adamo" (referring to Dell's ultrasexy MacBook Air clone). And, sure enough, this is one gorgeous laptop, a svelte, aluminum-sheathed looker.
At this price, the V13 could sell out fast. I'm mighty tempted to grab one myself, as I'm pretty sick of lugging around my bulky old Compaq.
Bonus deal: Still haven't pulled the trigger on an e-book reader? For the next couple days, Borders is offering the Kobo Wireless eReader for $99.99. It's not the best of the breed, but I do like the Kobo service (and some of the $5 e-book deals they've been offering of late).