The Compaq Presario has the same hard drive space and a gig more memory than my Mac, which I bought for $1,300+ two years ago. The times, they are a changin’.

Wal-Mart will also begin offering, on the same day, a 15.6-inch Acer ultrathin laptop for $548. The AS5810-4657 model will sport Windows Vista Home Premium (qualified for free Windows 7 upgrade); an Intel ULV (ultra low voltage) SU2700 processor; 3GB memory; a 320GB hard-disk drive; and “all-day” eight-hour battery, according to a Wal-Mart statement. In August, Wal-Mart will sell the new 10.1-inch HP Mini 110-131NR Netbook too.