HP sells a lot of different kinds of laptops. A quick search on PriceGrabber.com provides 452 links. Here’s one that doesn’t show up in the list yet, but looks worthy of our attention when it does appear at the end of April.

The HP 2133 Mini-Note PC was announced today as a “student computer.” It’s small — about 2.5 pounds — and it includes a suite of wireless, multimedia and security capabilities.

Best, in the US it will sell for about $600 with Vista Home Basic. As Dave Nagel at THEJournal.com reports, the Mini-Note PC offers an 8.9-inch WXGA scratch-resistant display and full keyboard with a clear coat to resist wear. Although some coverage has reported on the slightly smaller keyboard, Nagel says he can use the keyboard with no problem.

Features include:

• HP DuraKeys, featuring a clear coating applied over the notebook keyboard that protects the finish and printed letters and characters.
• HP 3D DriveGuard, which sends a signal to shut down the hard drive upon sudden movement or shock by using a three-axis digital accelerometer chip.
• A Scratch-resistant display and magnesium hinge bracket.
• The ability to view video, still-image capture, web conferencing or video-enhanced instant messaging with no additional hardware to buy or carry. An optional integrated VGA webcam enables video and still-image capture to allow the addition of photos and video clips to presentations, documents and email.
• Two battery solutions – three-cell for lightest-weight configurations or optional six-cell for longer battery life.
• Wireless technologies including integrated Wi-Fi Certified WLAN and optional Bluetooth, allowing students to access the Internet as well as communicate via email, IM, chat, VOIP and blogging. The wireless technologies also enable connections at hotspots as well as with Bluetooth devices such as printers, mice and headsets.
• The optional Absolute Software Computrace, which allows IT professionals to work with local law enforcement to track and help recover stolen or missing computers, inventory computers district wide and detect changes in hardware and software.

The four basic configurations, according to Nagel’s coverage, encompass:

• 1.0 GHz Via processor, 512MB RAM, 4.0 GB solid-state disk, Novell Suse Linux ($499).
• 1.2 GHz Via processor, 1GB RAM, 120 GB hard drive, Novell Suse Linux ($549).
• 1.2 GHz Via processor, 1GB RAM, 120 GB hard drive, Windows Vista Home Basic ($599).
• 1.6 GHz Via processor, 2GB RAM, 120 GB hard drive, Windows Vista Business ($749).

Here’s why I’m excited about the Mini-Note PC. It sounds like a primo machine to get for my son. He’s a tough user, hard on keyboards and displays. He doesn’t need much storage space at all, since most of his computer use is limited to surfing. And the lightweight nature of the machine means he could hold it in his lap for those longer car rides. Finally, something to replace that Cars cartridge he plays on his Leapster.

Posted on April 8th, 2008 by dian