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By Jing Garcia, Tech Times Editor
HP Philippines introduced on Friday what it
calls a “fully functional” mini notebook computer, the HP Compaq
2133 Mini-Note.
The new notebook PC is a new class of
subnotebook from HP, one of the biggest computer companies;
featuring a small mobile footprint with integrated WiFi, and an
almost full-sized QWERTY keyboard not found on any other subnotebook
or netbook.
However, HP does not want to call the Mini-Note
a netbook.
“The Mini-Note is a full-functional mini
notebook,” said Ian Reyes, market development manager, Personal
Systems Group at HP Philippines. “We really don’t identify it as
a netbook.”
Netbook is a new category of notebooks that is
somewhere in between the regular full-sized laptop PC and UMPC or
ultra mobile personal computer. The term was first coined by top
chipmaker, Intel, to differentiate the growing popularity of
low-cost networked computing devices started by the ASUS EeePC in
late 2007 as well as Intel’s very own Classmate PC.
“The 2133 works and runs like a regular
full-sized notebook, the only difference is the size.” Reyes
added.
Designed specifically for the mobile youth and
business professionals, the Mini-Note is one computing device people
would certainly love to carry around with its truly lightweight and
attractive look. With a starting weight of just 1.19kg and an
8.9-inch high-resolution display, the new HP subnotebook also has a
large QWERTY keyboard that many laptop users would find very
inviting, including its anodized aluminium chassis design giving the
Mini-Note a sleek and durable aesthetic not found on other low-cost
subnotebook computers.
However, for this HP Mini-Note version, HP
settled for a VIA C7 processor (check out this week’s Digital
Lifestyle) instead of the usual Intel CPU found on many netbooks
available today. Incidentally, Intel will be coming out with a new
CPU this month called Atom to directly address the computing power
needs of upcoming netbooks and other Internet-centric digital
portable devices, which will be launched by different computer
companies later this year.
“It’s more of a combination of the right
performance at a right price on a right size,” explained Reyes on
HP’s choice of the VIA chip.
Off-the-shelf buyers can choose a variety of
Mini-Note configurations: Starting at P24,950, the Mini-Note comes
with a VIA 1.0GHz, 1GB RAM, 120GB HDD, built-in Webcam, WiFi b/g and
SuSe Linux; at P29,950, the Mini-note comes with a VIA 1.2GHz, 2GB
RAM, 160HDD, built-in Webcam, WiFi b/g and Windows Vista Home; and
finally, at P34,950, same with the last configuration except that
the VIA CPU comes at 1.6GHz plus Vista Business for the OS.
“Although the Mini-Note will work with any
users, we are primarily targeting the students.” Reyes said.
“Our launch of this new computing device is perfect opportunity
for the school opening.”
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