Used to be all the cool gadgets were small, thin, and light. Now you can add cheap (I mean, "inexpensive") to the short list. Asus' Eee PC is an ultraportable laptop that measures 8.9 x 6.5 x 1.4 inches, weighs 32 ounces and costs less than $400.

How'd they do it? For one, Asus built the Eee PC around a Linux operating system that avoids costly Windows licensing fees. While that means this might not be a great choice for a computer that will work with your corporate IT setup, it also means it's got a simple, effective interface for Web browsing, Email, and multimedia, and it's a hacker's delight.

Cooler than that, though, the Eee PC literally fits in many a purse or jacket pocket. It's about half the size of a 14" laptop computer and weighs half as much, too. With built-in WiFi and a 7" color display, it's the perfect laptop for taking notes in class or catching up on Email at the cafe - especially if you don't want to shell out three times as much for something more powerful like a MacBook.

Learn more or buy one now: ASUS Eee PC 4G Notebook PC (7", 512 MB RAM), Pearl White