HP 2133-KR922UT 8.9-Inch Mini-Note PC (C7-M 1.0 GHz Processor, 512 MB RAM, 4 GB Flash Drive, Linux)

Small but mighty, the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC (model KR922UT) offers you a full-function laptop that weighs just 2.8 pounds. Designed to go where you go without weighing you down, it's perfect for young students in your home, and robust enough to handle demanding business applications for road warriors. Despite its size, it features an 8.9-inch scratch-resistant display with a WXGA resolution and a nearly full-size keyboard (92 percent). A durable all-aluminum case encompasses the top and bottom of the notebook, while an internal magnesium alloy support structure helps protect sensitive components from damage.

The HP Mini-Note features a simple, refined design and anodized aluminum shell that is sleek and sturdy yet lightweight. See a larger view of all the external ports.

The HP DuraKeys have a clear coating applied over the notebook keyboard to protect the finish and printed letters and characters.

It's powered by the VIA C7-M ULV processor, which provides a 1.0 GHz clock speed and excellent power management capabilities. And because it uses solid state hard drive memory instead of a spinning hard disk drive (with 4 GB of storage), the Mini-Note is optimal for weathering rough handling and sharing space in overstuffed bags. Other features include 512 MB of installed RAM (2 GB maximum), 54g Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11b/g), lightning quick Gigabit Ethernet, VGA webcam built into the screen's bezel for video chats, and up to 2.25 hours of battery life. This model comes pre-installed with the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 operating system.

The Basics

• Processor: The VIA C7-M ULV (ultra-low voltage) processor has a 1.0 GHz speed, 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB) and a 128 KB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

  Operating at an average power of less than 1W, the VIA C7-M ULV processor is the embodiment of cool processing and sets the standard for next generation low power mobile and personal electronics systems. It also features VIA PowerSaver technology that further reduces power consumption by dynamically adjusting the frequency and the voltage of the VIA C7-M ULV processor as the system requires. This innovative technology can reduce power consumption by as much as 50 percent while still ensuring seamless mobile operation.

• Hard Drive: This model of the HP Mini-Note offers 4 GB of solid-state flash memory (NAND) storage, which is adequate for students and those who want to use the Mini-Note primarily as an email and web surfing device. Faster and more reliable, flash memory provides a rapid boot-up and quicker access to applications while improving battery life. Flash memory is also more reliable than hard disk memory, mainly because there are no moving parts. Since data is written to stationary flash memory instead of a spinning hard disk, you have less risk of hardware problems with the hard disk when you're on the move. It's an ideal feature for a travel notebook where knocks and sudden movements are par for the course.

• Memory: The 512 MB of installed RAM (1 x 512 MB, PC2-5300) offers a top-of-class 667 MHz speed. This notebook has a maximum capacity of 2 GB of RAM.

• DVD/CD Drive: The HP 2133 Mini-Note PC does not include an integrated optical drive, but HP offers optional drives that connect to the Mini-Note using the optional HP External MultiBay II.

• Keyboard & Mouse: The spill-resistant keyboard is 92 percent of full size, 101/102-key compatible with isolated inverted-T cursor control keys, both left and right control and alt keys, 12 function keys, and hotkey combinations for audio volume, power conservation, brightness, and other features. It also features HP DuraKeys, which have a clear coating applied over the keyboard to protects the finish and printed letters and characters. The touchpad includes a scroll zone and two soft-touch buttons.

Screen, Video & Audio
The 8.9-inch display has a 1280 x 768-pixel resolution, for native 720p high-resolution clarity, and the Mini-Note includes a VGA output for connecting to an external monitor or projector. Video is powered by the integrated Via Chrome 9 video/graphics card, and it includes an integrated high-definition audio card for crisp sound via the internal 2-watt stereo speakers.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
This notebook has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks. You also get super-fast wired connectivity via the Gigabit Ethernet port (10/100/1000). The Mini-Note also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 54/34 card slot (replacing the PCMCIA slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. And it offers a Secure Digital memory card slot for downloading pictures and videos from your digital camera, or filling up a card for your MP3 player. It includes the following ports:

• 2 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 ExpressCard/54 slot (also supports ExpressCard/34)
• 1 Secure Digital memory card slot
• 1 headphone/line-out and 1 microphone
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 RJ-45 for 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity

Operating System
The open source platform SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 operating system offers an easy-to-learn interface that's robust enough to handle enterprise-grade business tools. It provides a familiar graphical interface with features like application tiling that provides a snapshot of what you're using, alt-tabbing that gives thumbnail views of open applications, and a 3-D spinning cube that increases your workspace size. And the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop OS was designed to easily coexist with other operating systems--it connects seamlessly to Microsoft Active Directory, runs Novell GroupWise and Lotus Notes, and connects to GroupWise, Lotus Domino, and Microsoft Exchange servers.

It comes with the OpenOffice suite of office applications, which enables you to open, edit and create documents, presentations, spreadsheets and databases that are compatible with Microsoft Office. Other software includes Evolution Email, Evince Document Viewer, OpenOffice Draw, F-Spot Photo Browser, Gnome CD/DVD Creator, Helix Banshee Music Player, Real Player 10 media player, Firefox web browser, Gaim Instant Messenger, Gnome FTP file transfer, and Liferea RSS feed reader.

Dimensions & Weight
This notebook measures 10.04 x 6.5 x 1.05 inches and weighs 2.8 pounds.

Power
This model is powered by 3-cell high capacity lithium-ion rechargeable battery, which can provide up to 2.25 hours of battery life.

What's in the Box
This package contains the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC (model KR922UT), rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a limited warranty for parts and labor for one year from date of purchase as well as technical telephone assistance for one year. Software is also covered for 30 days from date of purchase.

It might be small in size but it's big on usability, durability, and attractiveness. Packed with an impressive combination of features, the HP 2133 offers you a full-function PC with the utmost mobility. Plus, its simple, refined design and all-aluminum case make it sleek and sturdy yet super lightweight.Weighing in at just 1.27 kg, with a large 8.9-inch WSVGA display, the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC features a durable design with a robust suite of wireless, multimedia and security capabilities to allow users to stay productive.

Have this HP for 1 month. Didn't like SUSE 10, installed Windows XP, Office 2007, skype. Have to travel a lot. Fantastic for traveling if you only need to do regular document work, internet, divx videos. 7 pounds lighter than my regular 17" DELL!!!!!!!!! Loving it!!!!!!!!!!

I've had many small machines -- going back to a series of the old Windows CE powered mini-notebooks -- and I love the portability. I was keyed to love this device as well, and its metal shell and general high build quality certainly gave a good impression out of the box. However, it's just too slow. I mean -slow-. Slow as in click on a menu and wait, and wait, for a response. Slow as in too slow even for duty as a word processor, where I was frequently in the position of typing and then having to stop and wait for my words to appear. Or browsing the 'net and having it take so long to respond to a click that I couldn't be sure it really registered.

It would be a neat little machine, if only it perked along more quickly.

I bought an MSI Wind a week after getting the Mini-Note because even after installing Xubuntu and upgrading to 2gb, this netbook is simply underpowered to handle anything other than text editing, terminal usage and light web browsing.

To be fair, the build quality is amazing -- this is definitely one of the nicest keyboards I've used on -any- computer. And everything else is top-notch... everything but the CPU! And when it comes down to it, this is one of the first computers I've had that's primarily bottlenecked by the processor.

The 1280 x 768 resolution, which sounds great on paper, is absolutely useless on an 8.9" screen. You can bump up the dpi on your OS, but you're bound to run into various elements of apps that don't respect this setting, which translates into microscopic UI elements.

The 3-cell battery life is abysmal, eking out an average of 1:40 of portability. The only reason you'd want one of these tiny creatures is to carry it around. Nobody wants to sit at home plugged in with their microscopic 8.9" screen.

HP is so close with the 2133. I really wanted to make this netbook work, trying Ubuntu -and- Xubuntu (after many random headaches in the installation process). But the MSI Wind blows it out of the water with a reasonable 1024x600 10" screen and zippy 1.6ghz atom processor.

The speakers are also better on the HP than the MSI. The HP 2133 has surprisingly powerful speakers that actually face you (at the expense of a ginormous bevel). And although I understand a laptop shouldn't necessarily be judged by speakers, the MSI speakers send their tinny bark somewhere opposite the viewer, and require pulling out the headphones to really experience a movie or hulu. Also, the MSI keyboard is decent with good tactile feedback -- but the half-sized ,./ keys and smaller SHIFT to fit the arrow keys causes many typos. There's no doubt it's a compromise for the CPU and screen.

If you want this keyboard (and it's well worth lusting after), take a look at the Mini-Note 1000. And if you want all the juicy "business" class expandability with the keyboard and incredibly well-designed aluminum case, I hear there's an Atom version of the 2133 coming out soon.

Otherwise I'd look elsewhere. So close HP! But sorry, the VIA C7-M is a piece of junk and should have never been released with this sexy body!

Overall I'm much more impressed with the 6-cell MSI Wind, even if it did cost me an extra $150 (50% more!) and that says something.

WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THE FACT THAT PC HAD LINUX OPERATING SYSTEM NOT WINDOWS
RETURNED PRODUCT AND AMAZON WAS VERY PROMPT IN ISSUING A REFUND

I returned this computer in one day. The processor was slow and you cannot even watch video - very choppy image. If you haven't used Linux before like I do, there is a huge learning curve. Stick with the XP version with the Atom processor.