Significant Other just received a very generous check from her dad as a graduation present to apply to the purchase of a new notebook computer. (She’s getting a master’s in accountancy, a degree she’s been plugging away on since 2005. Yay!) So she went shopping all last week, online of course. Should she go with HP? Should she choose Dell? Was there another company out there people were talking about? Could she find what she wanted for that much money?

Here’s what we learned: Companies are willing to make great deals right now. If you pay sticker price, you’re probably paying too much.

Over the next few days, I’ll describe her shopping journey, in case there’s something useful for your next consumer jaunt too.

Since SO had mostly satisfactory experience with both HP and Dell, she felt comfortable going that direction.

As you probably know, it can be a lot of fun to spec out a dream machine on the HP and Dell sites. You start clicking this radio button over those, specifying this component as an add-on, that application suite over the other one, and as you go along, you get to see the price tag adjust itself.

But it can also be overwhelming. You have to decide if you’re going to shop through the business side or home & home office side of a company’s site, when it’s a machine you’ll be using at home but for business reasons. Then you have a myriad of laptop choices, depending on weight considerations, screen size and a slew of other details.

Plus, those shopping tools don’t always help you get what you’re really looking for. In her case, she wanted at least a 15-inch display with anti-glare.

Next: Live Chat to the Rescue!

The Mini-Notebook is causing a buzz in the PC market. Asus has just started selling the Asus Eee PC Notebook with Windows XP Home installed, and now HP has announced a series of mini-notebooks called the “HP 2133 Mini-Note PC” (see “A Student PC under 3 Pounds and $600“). If I did not already own an Asus Eee PC I would really be tempted, as I own several HP computers, from Pocket PCs to full-size desktop PCs. HP has seen that there is a market for light and cheap notebooks, with around 500,000 Eee PC’s sold last year, according to this article “PC Makers Race to Market With Low-Cost ‘Netbooks’” from the Wall Street Journal.

So what is the attraction of a mini notebook? I’ll use the Asus Eee PC with Linux installed as an example. The biggest attraction next to price is probably size and weight. It is easy to carry around, and ideal for traveling. Connecting to the Internet via Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable is a snap. The web browser is Firefox, which only differs from Firefox for Windows in the menu layout, but this is a general Firefox for Linux difference. Because it uses a solid state drive for a hard drive, the Asus Eee PC Notebook runs surprisingly quietly. The fast start up and shutdown (with Windows XP it will probably be a slower) is really great. It also supports SDHC Cards, which are up to 16GB, with 32 GB cards on the way – but the latter will cost more than the Eee PC!. There are three USB 2.0 ports available for USB devices. In my experience, using USB Flash drives (for transferring large files) on Windows and using them on the Eee PC is basically the same. If you are not going to do much more than word processing, writing emails or web browsing the Asus Eee PC is ideal. The trade off of course is that the keyboard is small and takes a some getting used to. The 7 inch screen is small, and sometimes requires scrolling to see an entire webpage or a dialog box.

Mini-Notebooks like the Asus Eee PC and the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC are called “Netbooks” (see the “Thoughts on Netbooks” article on the Technology@Intel Blog).

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.

A new category of computer appears to be emerging; the MID. Yet another acronym, this one stands for Mobile Internet Device. A year ago, Intel announced a Linux-based “Mobile Internet Device”, referred to in the article “Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) & Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPCs)” . The reason Intel is behind this is because of the Intel Atom processor technology, on which the new mobile devices are based. While researching MIDs, I came across multiple definitions – from the Mobile Internet Device being a cross between a UMPC and a smartphone to the iPhone being a MID. Intel says that the Mobile Internet Device is a UMPC aimed at consumers and “prosumers” (Prosumer being a Professional Consumer) and a UMPC is a device aimed at enterprise users. Also, MIDs appear to run Linux, and UMPCs run “heavy” Operating Systems like Windows Vista. (see the article “Intel explains: MID vs. UMPC” at Engadget.com).

I guess that would make the Asus Eee PC 4G Notebook a MID, and the Samsung Q1 Ultra Tablet PC (pictured above) a UMPC, although the Q1 looks a lot like early MID prototypes. Of course it isn’t that simple. Microsoft has just given the go ahead for Windows XP to continue to be sold on “ultra-low-cost PCs”, which could be a MID running Windows instead of Linux.

I can almost hear some people shudder at the thought of buying a new notebook running Windows XP. Fortunately the Toshiba Portege R500-S500 series of ultraportable laptops also has the R500-S5002 model which is pre-loaded with Windows Vista Business Edition. For those of us who wish to avoid Vista, the R500-S5002X model is pre-loaded with Windows XP Pro.

The CNET.com review of this ultraportable laptop says:
“Toshiba’s much-anticipated Portege R500 may be the best ultraportable laptop available right now”.

Weighing in at 2.4 pounds, with a size of 11.1 inches wide by 8.5 inches deep by 1 inch in height, this is no toy. The most amazing thing about it is that it features a DVD writer,
which is very rare for ultraportable laptops.

An ultralow-voltage 1.2 GHz Core 2 Duo CPU is complemented by an integrated Mobile Intel Express 950GM graphics card. The 1GB of RAM should have Windows XP Pro running quite nicely. The 12.1 inch TFT active matrix screen has a maximum resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. Add to that a 120GB hard drive, not bad for an ultraportable, and this is a pretty capable laptop. Naturally it includes wired 10/100 Ethernet, and 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n wireless as well as Bluetooth. To prevent others from using the notebook there is a fingerprint reader.

For expansion options, it has 3 USB 2.0 ports, PC Card, Firewire port, and an SD card reader.

After almost calling this blog posting “U810 > UX50?”, I realized that it may be a bit too cryptic. Actually the Fujitsu LifeBook U810 Tablet PC does remind me of a supersized Sony Clie UX50 dressed in black. It is probably because the screen of this clamshell Ultra Mobile PC swivels to form a tablet, just like the Clie UX40 and UX50. However, the U810 becomes an ultraportable tablet PC.

The specs of the Fujitsu LifeBook U810 Tablet PC are as follows:
Powered by a 800MHz Intel A110 Processor, with 1GB of RAM, it has a 40GB hard drive, integrated Mobile Intel Express 945GM Graphics, a 5.6 inch touchscreen (measured diagonally) and runs Windows Vista Premium. As for size, it is 6.6 by 6.5 by 1.1 inches, and weighs 1.6 pounds. It includes Bluetooth 2.0 and 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g wireless as well as wired 10/100 Ethernet. Of course there is the obligatory fingerprint reader, microphone, a VGA (0.3 Megapixel) camera and a card reader which supports Compact Flash and SecureDigital memory cards. Oh, and only one USB port, but because this UMPC is actually reasonably priced, small omissions like these can be overlooked.

Unfortunately the processor does seem a little underpowered to run Windows Vista. Apparently you can get the Operating System downgraded to Windows XP Tablet Edition, which would make for a much more pleasant user experience.

Last year I mentioned the Asus EeePC Notebook in “A Second Laptop“. The EeePC is surprisingly capable for such a small notebook. I know this from first hand experience, as I have written and posted blog entries with the Asus. It is aimed at people who already have a desktop or notebook computer though. In fact it ships with a recovery DVD but does not have an optical drive, so you need another PC or an external USB DVD drive.

The reason I’m stressing this point is that some technology writers seem to have missed the point and written than for just a few hundred dollars more you can buy a notebook that is more capable for everyday computing needs. However, then you are looking at a notebook in the budget notebook class which will weigh considerably more. Out of interest I looked around for a budget notebook for less than $600 (since the Asus Eee PC 4G Notebook costs about $399).

There was not much choice in this price range for a new notebook with semi-decent specs. What I found was two notebooks: the Dell Vostro 100 and the Acer Aspire 5520. Obviously other notebooks with better specs may be available on special. Both notebooks have AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core processors, with the Dell Vostro having 2GB of RAM. Unfortunately it only has Windows Vista Home Basic which is the most “basic” Windows Vista edition. The Acer has Windows Vista Home Premium, but is hobbled with only 1GB RAM. Both notebooks weigh three times as much as the Asus EeePC at over 6 pounds, so are not as portable. They do run Windows though, and have built-in DVD writers as well as 120GB hard drives, and are relatively suitable for everyday computing needs.

Well, when a Notebook is called a “Ferrari” for example the Acer Ferrari FR1100-5457 Notebook you are going to expect it to be screamingly fast. I guess they wouldn’t call a notebook the Acer Beetle – even though the Beetle may be a fine car, it just doesn’t give the impression of a top of the range notebook .

Also, this notebook is powered by an AMD processor, and in all the reviews and mentions I have made of desktop and notebook computers so far it may seem like I’m biased towards Pentium Dual Core processors. That would be a bit hypocritical on my part, as out of four Desktop computers of varying vintages at home, three have AMD processors, and only one has a Pentium processor. The one with a Pentium processor was bought second hand so I didn’t really have a choice of the processor. The others were bought because of the cost savings of buying a computer with an AMD processor instead of an Intel processor.

The Acer Ferrari notebook features a AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile processor, which may not be as fast as an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, but other than that it will run Windows Vista just fine, especially with 4GB of RAM. With the 250GB hard drive and only weighing just over 4 pounds it makes for a pretty decent thin and light notebook.

This may surprise you, but I’m not the most stylish person you’d know. Yes, although I’ve visited the fashion capitols of the world — Paris, London, Milan, New York — I’ve yet to succumb to their trendy allures. I mostly go for the food.

But this year may be a first. This year, maybe I’ll turn in my frequent buyer card from the Gap, start paying more attention to Ashley Heaton’s glamorous blog, “Chic Shopper,” right here on PriceGrabber.com and consider using moisturizer on my skin more often.

But I realize that these kinds of changes can be a shock to the system if you take them too fast. That’s why I’ll start slowly — by upgrading the skin my notebook wears. I stopped by the Case Logic booth at CES and checked out its latest line of “shuttles,” reversible sleeves that fit over a computer to give it padding when it’s rattling around inside your attaché or knapsack.

Since the newest line is reversible, you can have two different colors or patterns to coordinate with your shoes. Best, they’re made of neoprene. The way I figure it, if this synthetic rubber can keep divers mostly safe from great white sharks, it’s sure to protect your precious electronics. If that’s not enough, surely, the external “PowerPocket,” which can hold your extra gear, will convince you.

Now, if I could just learn not to trip on the runway…

The MacBook Air was announced at MacWorld this week. Apple calls it the “world’s thinnest notebook.”.
A nice thin ultraportable notebook from Apple, I thought. No, CNET says “The MacBook Air is not quite an ultraportable”, while PCWorld and other sites compare it with “other ultraportables”.
Controversy? Confusion? Hot Air?

I’m not going to try to figure out whether or not it meets some definition for an ultraportable. Even if it isn’t ultraportable, it is still pretty neat, a small, thin notebook. Oh, apparently it is not the thinnest notebook ever, according to CNET.

The specs have been mentioned on just about every tech website out there. The most notable is the trackpad which can recognize multi-touch gestures just like the Apple iPhone or iPod Touch. Now that is a trackpad and a half.

On the downside the MacBook Air doesn’t have a user replaceable battery, which is a serious omission for a notebook. Also, it is so thin that an optical drive just could not be squeezed in. An external optical drive is available from Apple for a mere $99.

Among the ultraportable competitors to the Air, the Sony VAIO TZ150N/B Notebook has a built-in DVD writer, a fingerprint reader, 100 GB hard drive and media card reader. It weighs in at 2.7 pounds, just under the MacBook Air’s 3 pounds.