X

Get a refurbished Acer 21.5-inch Android PC for $199

This all-in-one "desktop" features a 1080p touch screen, a wireless mouse and keyboard, and Android 4.0. Wait, what?

Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
Rick Broida
3 min read
The Acer DA220HQL all-in-one combines a 21.5-inch HD touch screen with a Very Special Operating System: Android 4.0.
The Acer DA220HQL all-in-one combines a 21.5-inch HD touch screen with a Very Special Operating System: Android 4.0. Acer

Now this, this is cool.

What would you say to a kitchen- or den-friendly all-in-one PC with a touch screen, wireless mouse and keyboard, and amazingly low price tag? I'd say, tell me more!

Through 8 a.m. PT tomorrow, and while supplies last, Acer (via eBay) has the refurbished Acer DA220HQL 21.5-inch all-in-one touch-screen PC for $199 shipped. It's regularly $249.99 (refurbished), and it sells new for $479.99 (!).

Ah, but is this really a PC? A little bit yes, a little bit no. The DA220HQL runs Android 4.0, not Windows, so in some ways you can look upon it as an oversize tablet. But it comes with a dual-core ARM processor, a wireless mouse and keyboard, built-in stereo speakers, and 8GB of expandable (via microSD and USB) storage, so it definitely has the air of a PC.

And let's talk about that screen for a second. It's a 21.5-inch multi-touch display (though it supports only two-point touch) that runs at 1,920x1,080 pixels. Because there's a Micro-HDMI input, you could actually use it as a primary or secondary monitor with your current PC and still be getting a great deal.

Of course, with Android 4.0 already baked in, you could use this as a PC of sorts. Browse the Web, check e-mail, update Facebook and Twitter, stream Netflix, play games -- all that stuff. Windows? Who needs Windows? Heck, now that QuickOffice is free, you've got yourself a basic office suite to boot. (Side note: the Zoho Writer word processor just debuted for Android, and it's free as well.)

I think for $200 out the door, this is a seriously compelling product. Do note, however, that it comes with only a 90-day warranty, and the handful of user reviews I've found have been fairly mixed. That said, many buyers seemed to be under the false impression that this is a full-blown Windows PC ("I can't get my Microsoft Word to run on it"), not a souped-up Android tablet. If you know what you're getting, I suspect you'll be pretty happy with this thing. Your thoughts?

Bonus deal: Looking to carve out your own corner of the Web? You'll need a domain, hosting, and support. Those things can add up, but for a limited time, StackSocial is offering one year of DreamHost Web hosting for $19. The package includes two domains, 24-7 tech support, and unlimited storage, bandwidth, and e-mail accounts. The offer is good for new DreamHost customers only.

Bonus deal No. 2: Like to win stuff? Of course you do! Enter CNET's new Home Smart Home sweepstakes and you could win an iRobot Roomba 790. All you have to do is be a registered CNET user, then leave a comment (not here, but there) explaining which home appliance you wish you could make smarter. I'm not eligible, alas, but here's my entry anyway: "Washing machine! It should be able to throw my clothes into the dryer and start that sucker up."

Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers.

Curious about what exactly The Cheapskate does and how it works? Read our FAQ.