HP introduces Eee PC rival

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HP has today announced the launch of the HP 2133 Mini-note PC, which it says is aimed primarily at the education market, though it will certainly appeal to the mobile professional.

The Mini-Note, powered by a VIA C7-M Ultra-Low Voltage processor, weighs in at only 1.27Kg. It features a full Qwerty keyboard, a touchpad and a 8.9in WXGA (1,280 x 768) display, larger and higher resolution than the 7in screen 800 x 480 display of the rival Asus Eee PC, which has already shipped over a million units.

HP says that the Mini-Note is built into an anodized shell and thanks to a three axis accelerometer, shuts down the hard disk upon detecting sudden movement or shock.

The Mini-Note has a 3-cell battery as standard to keep the weight down, or an optional 6-cell for more staying power, available as an extra. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are also built-in as is an integrated web-cam is also available as a cost option.

The Mini-Note will be have a choice of operating systems and will be available with either Windows Vista or SuSe Linux.

"Don't be fooled by its size; this small wonder is a fully-functional notebook PC with an impressive combination of features," said David Wright, vice president and general manager of commercial products at HP's Personal Systems Group.

HP says the estimated price will be £299, with availability in May.

Other reports today suggest that Asus will be shipping its second generation Eee PC in Taiwan later this month and it currently expects to ship five million units by the end of 2008. PC maker Elonex is also readying a rival to the Eee PC and the HP unit.

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