HP guns for the Eee PC with £350 Mini-Note 2133

HP is the latest laptop manufacturer to launch an entry-level ultraportable in the wake of the Eee PC, but its new Mini-Note 2133 looks anything but low-cost. Though ostensibly aimed at the education market, the metal-clad Mini-Note will find a ready market of people looking for something a little more capable than the 7in screen models already offered by the likes of Asus and Packard Bell/Everex.

Available in the US later this month, the HP Mini-Note 2133 bears more than a passing resemblance to the lovely HP 2710p Tablet PC and it's is available in five different configurations. The cheapest KR922UT model costs $499 and has a VIA C7-M ULV processor (1.0GHz), 512Mb DDR2 RAM, 4Gb flash drive, 8.9in (1280 x 768) screen and SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10.

Intermediate models have faster processors, more memory, more storage and the option of Windows XP or Windows Vista. The top-of-the-range KX871AA has a 1.6GHz processor, 2Gb RAM, 120Gb 7200rpm hard drive and Windows Vista Business, all for $749. At 255 x 165 x 27mm, the Mini-Note 2133 is much the same size as the Eee PC but it's a little heavier (1.27kg), thanks to the aluminium case.

Reviews of the Mini-Note 2133 so far are very positive, citing the usable keyboard (92% full size), solid build, clear, high-resolution screen and long battery life (up to four hours with the six-cell battery) as major plus points. Less popular are the unusual mouse button arrangement (one button at either side of the touchpad) and the sluggish VIA processor, though the Mini-Note 2133 is perfectly capable of running Windows Vista smoothly in its 2Gb RAM configuration.

The HP Mini-Note 2133 will be available in the UK from May, starting from £350 inc VAT. Only two models are list on the UK HP site at the moment, though. 

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