Last term, I wrote a piece about the Asus Eee PC, a tiny Linux laptop with a seven-inch screen that starts at $300. Next month, Asus is updating the Eee with a larger nine-inch screen, Windows XP and FingerGlide -- their unfortunately named version of Apple's multi-touch trackpad, not some new type of interactive porn. The new version of the Eee will also have more storage space, like 12GB or 20GB of flash storage. This new version is set to launch May 12 and will cost $549.
Asus' update to its popular diminutive laptop could not come soon enough. Competition in the burgeoning mini-notebook field is heating up as a surfeit of competitors line up their entrants into the field. Intel is releasing Atom, a new low-cost, low-power chip just for these devices. Many manufacturers, including big names like Dell, are rumored to be planning devices based off Atom processors.
Hewlett-Packard, wanting to get in on the action as soon as possible, announced the 2133 Mini-Note PC last week. The Mini-Note is a lot more consumer-friendly than the Eee, which admittedly appeals mostly to tinkerers and do-it-yourselfers. It also compares quite favorably on paper.
The Mini-Note has a frameless nine-inch screen and a body encased in anodized aluminum. As a whole, HP's product is more aesthetically pleasing and looks more durable that the Eee.
HP's designers were also able to shoehorn in a nearly full-size keyboard, which is much easier for typing than the Chiclet-sized keys of the Eee. The large keyboard, however, comes at the sacrifice of slightly awkward touchpad. The touchpad buttons have been moved to its sides to make space for the keyboard. It is definitely a change that would require some degree of acclimation.
The Mini-Note comes in a few configurations. All models have a Via C7-M processor and Wi-Fi. The Via processor is definitely tuned for power-saving, but has adequate horsepower to do most computing tasks. The most basic Mini-Note costs $499 and has a 512MB RAM, a 4GB flash hard drive and Linux.
The top model in the lineup runs for $749 and ups the RAM to 2GB while giving you a 120GB hard drive, Bluetooth and Windows Vista Business. There are two other models that fall in between those two. HP has also said that there will be a built-to-order model next month that customers can customize, and Windows XP will even be an option.
In many ways, the Mini-Note compares favorably to the Eee, however, the prices of the higher-end versions run a little too far into the mainstream notebook market for what you actually get. At those prices, consumers may just want to invest in a bigger laptop that offers more capabilities.
Still, the Mini-Note could be watershed moment for these little laptops, bringing them into the mainstream. The market will get even more crowded and competitive as Atom is introduced. While underpowered compared to full-size laptops, these mini-notebooks have a light weight and a low price-point that make them an affordable choice for people on the go, like busy college students.
Luofei is a staff writer for The Mirror. He loves the FingerGlide.
