HP Intros $499 Mini-Notebook

Until recently, you could get a notebook for as little as $500—if you didn't mind it weighing at least 5 pounds. Or you could get one that weighed less than 4 pounds—if you didn't mind it costing between $1,000 and $3,000. New devices such as the Asus Eee and Everex Cloudbook tweaked this equation, with 2-pound configurations starting at $299 ... as long as you were willing to use Linux, on a 7-inch screen.

Reflecting the sudden hot growth of the sub-$1,000, sub-4-pound notebook market, Hewlett-Packard announced April 8 its new 2133 Mini-Note PC, a shiny, sturdy, full-function mini-notebook machine with an 8.9-inch WXGA wide screen and an operating system choice of two versions of Linux, or Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Vista Home or Vista Business, in a lightweight anodized aluminum shell. (I've been trying out a preproduction Vista model, and it is, as claimed, a real Windows computer, touch-typeable keyboard and all, in a sub-"ultralight" form factor.)

HP’s entry is the latest in what’s shaping up to be the year of mass-market ultraportable computers, said Michael Gartenberg, vice president and research director of emerging technology platforms at JupiterResearch. "HP has a very strong offering in this arena, which should compete nicely in the marketplace. It will have appeal across the board. It will be very strong in the student and education market, be relatively low cost, which is good for the consumer and education markets, and will also be strong for vertical markets. They'll have a broad set of configurations for consumers/individuals at low price points, or you can max it out for higher capabilities."

HP is explicitly not positioning the Mini-Note PC within the admittedly fuzzy UMPC (ultramobile PC) arena, instead painting it as powerful, rugged and affordable enough to be used by everybody from students on up to executives. "One reason behind the 'Mini-Note' name is that we feel it's above and beyond an 'ultramobile,'" said Jeremy Brody, marketing manager of WorldWide Business Notebook at HP. "The 2133 is a fully functional notebook. We include some features you don't usually get in this class of machine. We designed the 2133 around three main pillars: affordability, for classrooms; durability—rugged enough for even a 7-year-old to use it—and functional. We're seeing a lot of executives expressing interest—it's a true business notebook you'd be happy to carry into any boardroom."

Pricing for the 2133 Mini-Note PC will start at $499, for a sub-3-pound, 1.GHz Via CPU with 512MB RAM, a 4GB SSD (solid-state drive), 802.11b/g, three-cell battery and Linux, up to $749 for the slightly heavier 1.6GHz Via CPU with 2GB RAM, a 7,200-rpm 120GB hard drive, 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth, six-cell battery and Windows Vista Business. Features common to all models include ExpressCard/54 and SD (Secure Digital) slots, a keyboard that’s 92 percent the size of a full-size keyboard, a touchpad, Ethernet RJ-45, and video and audio ports. (A Webcam and other configurable options will also be available from HP.com.)

"That's competitive with the low- to midtier of notebook pricing," pointed out Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis for consumer electronics at the NPD Group. At the same time, Rubin noted, "HP will have a number of attractive upgrade options to tempt customers to higher price points, like Bluetooth, and larger hard drives. By putting in an ExpressCard slot, they've opened the door for wide-area broadband, which lets the machine aim at a higher level of users."

HP has selected educational users as the Mini-Note PC's initial market, but, said HP's Brody, HP recognizes that ultramobile professionals will be a big market. “We think this is an ideal second notebook for business users—professionals who are very mobile, [who] travel a lot. And it is an HP business notebook—it goes through the same HP Total Test process where we make sure a notebook can stand the test of time. And if you already have an HP business notebook, you can use the same AC adapter."

Key features, according to HP's Brody, include a spill-resistant keyboard. "There's a lining, so if you spill liquid, turn off the computer, take out the battery, and pour out the liquid," and you’re good to go, he said. It also includes HP's 3D DriveGuard motion sensor, which helps protect the hard drive, and HP's FastCharge, which will charge a battery up to 90 percent within 90 minutes.

HP has also included a number of features and options that will appeal to business users. "The Mini-Note PC has a lot of security features we have in our other notebooks, like HP ProtectTools, BIOS support for Absolute Software’s Computrace, the option of LoJack for Laptops, and you can add a smartcard reader," said HP's Brody.

The 2133 Mini-Note PC should be available for purchase April 15, according to HP, through commercial channels, including HP representatives and channel partners, and at HP.com.

"This will be the second, third or even fourth computer for many homes, but the attention to form and finish means you're not paying a price for the quality of the build," said JupiterResearch's Gartenberg. "The biggest challenge I think they'll have will be keeping up with demand."

Editor's note: This story was corrected to state that  the 2133 Mini-Note is shipping with Linux or Windows Vista. XP is available as a configurable option, but it's not available in any of the four pre-configured models.