Build quality counts for me. EEE is alright, but this looks a whole lot better. And presentable.

Ypoknons

This thing is a cloudbook with a bigger screen and a bigger hard drive. The processor and shared video memory couldn't even run my kid's games. The EEEPC I have configured with 2GB RAM, a 16GB SDHC card cost a little over $450. It runs everything I throw at it including games like Quake 3, Neverwinter Nights, AOE3 (yes, Age of Empires 3), and so on. The cloudbook I was so enamored of couldn't run squat because the VIA chrome video wouldn't even support DirectX 7. This HP has all the same processor, chipset, and video of the cloudbook, but with a larger screen (heaven help that video there), and a larger hard drive to store all those programs it won't run. Hehe. Long live the EEEPC!

DouglasThurman

@bigMoneyMIKE: Asus eee pc 4g = 4 gigabyte solidsnakedrive.

cyborgtroy

@electrikecho: Whats a 4G?

bigMoneyMIKE

Finally, my dreams of sub-notebooks being both reasonably-priced and decently-spec'd are being realized. When I first used my NEC Mobilepro, I longed for a laptop that was about that size that would work (Win CE 2000 sucked), and would cost a fraction of Sony's Crusoe notebooks.

Asus's EeePC has hit the spot, but for ~$700, I'm nearly sold on this, and gifting my 4G to my aunt.

electrikecho

I gotta say. I hate the way they configured the buttons for the trackpad. As a lefty, I don't like the way that would feel during prolonged use.

Kaiser-Machead

Sold. Solves the issues I'd had with the EEE: Looks, resolution, and screen size. I figure I'll buy the base model and hopefully upgrade my own RAM. Install a stripped XP and it should do wonders for me in school.

sergio_e

Id hit it.

Dook_In_The_Urinal

Looks fantastic except for the fricking goddamned Via! They just cannot get performance right, it really puts a damper on this otherwise great machine!

I can't believe this uses a 2.5" HDD whereas my larger Vaio TZ is stuck with a 1.8". : /

ninjakamster

Too bad it runs Windows.

jalarmo

The main use of these ultra portable units is a stopgap between those wimpy PDAs and the lower end full size laptops. I bought the EEEPC to take around with me job hunting. Coupled with a portable DVD writer I can burn CDs of my resume for prospective employers. It also helps wile away the time with a game or two. The battery life is twice what someone would get with a 14" laptop and about three times as long as my 17" laptop. The larger the screen the less time on the battery.

DouglasThurman

Maybe I'm out of line, but $750 just seems like quite a lot for a unit of this quality. It almost seems as if people are being swept away in a new "ultraportable" craze without realizing that they are creeping dangerously close to the price of a more dedicated computing unit.

Personally, I believe students would be better served purchasing previous year ultraportables along the lines of the Sony Vaio TX, Dell XPS 1210, or the Fujitsu p7230. All of these are quality units offering far superior performance, ports, battery life and expandability. Not to mentioned larger screens. With approximately the same dimensions as the HP 2133, you could purchase any of these used for anywhere from $500-$900. Of course, those are used prices, and there may be value in purchasing new to many people, but options do exist. Computer prices fall faster than even many of us realize sometimes.

I AM excited that these types of units are now being offered, and the $499 models do seem to be excellent units to toy around with.. They may very well be just what some people are looking for.

I didn't intend to be quite as negative in my comment as it turned out. It is a nice unit.

Seni

@cyborgtroy: Aaah, got it. SolidSnakeDrive included with the new HP? FWIW, I think that new HP design is pretty slick.

I also logged onto to their EPP discount site & you can configure a top-of-the line notebook OR desktop w/ Blu-Ray, 3GB RAM, x64 Vista, etc for less than $1300 Hundie shipped!

I owe some dude in another thread an apology...

bigMoneyMIKE

wow, surprised by this product.... i'll definitely wait for the eee900 to come out. perhaps the competition between these two similar products will help drive prices even lower.

chopstickhero

too bad it runs windows (2)

minjae

The pics in the Laptop Mag article show the battery jutting out the back?... is that the standard battery or some kind of extended battery?

sfokevin

You're paying more for a shrunken size. This doesn't surprise you?

dagamer34

I want!

auslander

Did you hear that the HP laptop division is expanding?

It is! They are moving into smaller quarters.

Gary_7vn

Apple could learn a thing from HP on the topic of what constitutes an ultraportable. On top of that, they could learn a thing or two concerning price on ultraportables. The top of the line HP mini is a full $1050 less.

Samifumi

don't know if i like the looks of the keyboard on that thing.

one pic i saw looked like it was bulging in the middle, that one above looks like some of the keys are out of alignment

Gonzie

Jiggering the trackpad is like trying out new keypad configurations on a cellphone - DON'T DO IT.

There's a reason the trackpad buttons are below the trackpad. It's so you can click with your thumb while your finger remains on the pad. Even Apple doesn't mess (too much) with the trackpad.

Add 1/2" below the pad, put the button(s) there, use the extra internal space for improved air flow and a slightly bigger screen.

OMG! Ponies!

@jalarmo:
So put something else on it and quit yer bitchin' Nancy!
---

I agree the trackpad might be funky to deal with, but overall it looks like a solid unit!

Gonna have to check this one out.

strider_mt2k

@DouglasThurman:

It has a Via Chrome 9 which supports Direct X 9.

You were saying?

Sleeper_Service

I will be buying one soon

kibets

Seeing that Mini-Notebooks (gotta admit, HP picked a perfect name for this device) are just starting out, im apprehensive about jumping in now. What im really waiting for is Nvidia to get involved in developing an ultra-low power graphics processor that is actually capable of driving intensive games on a small screen like that.

Getting this with the Atom on its way this summer is a big mistake. If you really need a Mini-Notebook, then i guess this is by far the nicest ive seen in this price range, but if this is a novelty item for you, then i would wait for some more advancements.

diabolusunknown

@minjae: So does a mac.

Get a Linux distro (or Hackintosh) and shut the hell up.

diabolusunknown

isn't funny:

"The product you selected is not available in HP's online store."

from hp online store, hp 2133 isn't avalaible for online buy yet. LOL.

iscangel

I wouldn't say ultraportables are just starting out. They've just recently enjoyed more fanfare as they are now becoming more affordable. I bought a Sony VGN T270P back in 2004, and although I spent a good chunk of change on it, I still have it and it runs like a champ. For students who attend classes and take notes on a computer, these are ideal machines. Only having 2.5 hours for the 3 cell battery on this HP Mini is a little restrictive, but with XP they may be able to extend the battery life.

Samifumi

Grrrr... Why did they have to go VIA?

Because of it, even though it cost more, it apparently performs worse than the Eee's underclocked Celery. I could have understood if that was a sacrifice made for portability or battery life.

Had this been equipped with a workable processor, it would have trounced the Eee 901; as of now it's just another option.

Guizzy

but how does it double as a pillow?

mitchel_stevens

This thing must be getting closer to real it is up on the hp website. Search mini note from the home page and get a pretty good look at the specs

catndhat

The full-size keyboard and better resolution are nice, but call me back when it's got an Atom processor (preferably Diamondville, but I'm curious about Pinview if you can wait for it).

Brock

waiting for atom powered UMPC's with touchscreen LED lit lcd's or oled screens, built in gps, and ssd.

gizak

For me, the usability and attractiveness override the price difference.

This is from a second laptop / tech toy perspective.

Ypoknons

Vista? Meh...

ps. Do any of the other apple fanboys out there want a REAL mac ultraportable? Like.. you know, something thats not just a thinner macbook made of aluminum with half the power for twice the price?

SweatshopArtist

Interesting... an ultraportable I'd actually consider buying.

Bokusatsu_Tenshi

@Samifumi: Apple has never marketed the Air as an ultraportable. They're marketing it as a fashion accessory.

Jesse in Japan

@Sleeper_Service:

HAH! Try running DXDiag on a VIA Chrome. It fails! Peh. At least the EEEPC has the Intel 915 chipset and the GMA900 video on it.

DouglasThurman

DXDiag runs on VIA Chrome 9.

Sleeper_Service

Also check out PCMag.com's review; it scores a 4/5.
[www.pcmag.com]

CorinneI