HP's new UMPC 2133 hotness to run VIA, not Penryn?

If that new HP Compaq 2133 is hitting your ultraportable sweet spot, there's more news on that front to drool over. UMPC Portal has word from a supposed industry insider that the computer is not running an Intel chip as previously suggested, but instead will rock the range of VIA processors. That means the computer could fight it out with Eee PC in the low-end with a C7 processor, or adopt one of those upcoming Isaiah chips and duke it out with Penryn ultraportables. If this is true it'd be a big win for VIA, and consumers might just get some budget-friendly excitement out of the deal as well.

[computer.dude.28 @ Feb 20th 2008 10:24AM]

I've always liked HP. This is the first UMPC I've seriously considered since OQO's model 02. Still haven't made the decision, but I'm probably gonna go with OQO. I love the HDMI, touch scrolling, dock, and slide out keyboard!

[Chebwa @ Feb 20th 2008 10:38AM]

I have had three. The first two were DOA and the third one's HDD failed shortly after I got it. It is now in for repairs.

So, if you are getting an 02, be prepared to wait a long, long time for one that works. But, in its defense, when it DOES work... wow.

[Smiley @ Feb 20th 2008 11:45AM]

OQO Model 02: Same here, but on the software side, not hardware. I've had various drivers issues on Win XP Pro SP2, something that should have been ironed out before the unit was on the market. They also have sub-par Linux support (ie: None officially. Ubuntu runs but it takes up to 5 minutes upon resume just to detect the mouse and keyboard). In short it is an expensive toy and nothing more, since you cannot *trust* it.

To get back on topic, when I first heard the rumor about an HP UMPC, I was really expecting HP to go after OQO in the "biggish-PDA-sized" category, instead of this odd "too big for your pocket, too small for your bag" form factor that already has many contenders.
Ho, well, in 2009 maybe...

[Fernando @ Feb 20th 2008 10:27AM]

VIA are you serious? I rather pay more money for Peryn at least you know you are getting a quality product. But then again HP and quality don't go together in the same sentence either.

[Metkis @ Feb 20th 2008 10:27AM]

Damn, at the price they were showing I thought it would be a steal with a Penryn processor... looks like my hopes were dashed again!

[Matthew Harris @ Feb 20th 2008 10:29AM]

HP Jornada FTW!

[Jeff @ Feb 20th 2008 10:31AM]

Dumb question #1: Can you install WinXP that uses a VIA chip?

[Metkis @ Feb 20th 2008 10:33AM]

Yuppers. I personally wonder if it can be Hackintosh'd.

[Nate @ Feb 20th 2008 10:43AM]

That's a big no on the Hackintosh.

OSX doesn't play nice with Via chipsets.

[Metkis @ Feb 20th 2008 10:48AM]

Lame... I guess that means the Eee is still on my want list above this right now until I get some numbers for power.

[gibber9583 @ Feb 20th 2008 10:39AM]

If this can fall under $500 with SSD and at least 1Gb ram...then you got yourself a sale HP.

[Hallx @ Feb 20th 2008 11:20AM]

lol talk about getting real. You are wishing for SSD based system under $500. You would be lucky to find a big enough SSD itself for $500.

[gibber9583 @ Feb 20th 2008 11:42AM]

Are you serious? EeePC has SSD...I forget...what does that run for?

[Hallx @ Feb 20th 2008 11:54AM]

keyword is 'big enough'. I dont want anything with less than 20gb. 2gb ssd eee pc is for $300-$400 [http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/17/asus-eee-pc-priced-299-to-399/]

[gibber9583 @ Feb 20th 2008 12:14PM]

2-4GB is fine with me, as long as it has an SD slot. This looks more visually appealing than the Eee...so if they can keep the price down with similar features, then HP has got a winner on their hands.

[Jonathan Zencovich @ Feb 20th 2008 12:36PM]

yeah, and you can grab an 8 Gig Eee for $500 today. If you wait some months I bet Assus will eventually come out with a 16Gig for 500 (6 months or less? who knows)

[Homeboy @ Feb 20th 2008 1:32PM]

gibber9583:

SSD stands for solid state drive. The Eee doesn't have a drive it just has fixed flash memory. Not entirely the same thing you see.

[Jon Doe. @ Feb 20th 2008 11:18AM]

I need to see benchmarks. I hardly need something lightning fast in an altraportable, but I have no practical experience with VIA other then some really crafty products from the 90's.

[spam_from_engadget @ Feb 20th 2008 11:24AM]

There were some numbers comparing the Eee (Intel) and the Nanobook (VIA) in Reg Hardware's review a few weeks ago. The Intel chip was somewhat faster despite the lower clock speed.

Having said that, I'm sending this from a desktop system with a 1 GHz VIA C3, i.e. older/slower than the ones in the nanobook, and it is way more than fast enough for everything that I do. (But I'm not running Windows.)

If they went for the new 64-bit VIA chip, we'd be in a whole different ballpark again.

But this is all speculation.

[Jonathan Zencovich @ Feb 20th 2008 12:39PM]

From what I've read, Via's Isaiah can run Crysis.

I think that sums it all up in terms of performance questions :)

Source: http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTQ1MCwxLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA==

[Metkis @ Feb 20th 2008 1:39PM]

I can run Crysis, but lord knows how well EXACTLY.

[Nikoooo @ Feb 20th 2008 11:30AM]

Via chipsets are not bad, especially for UMPCs. Have a look at Chippy's reviews on http://www.umpcportal.com/modules/news/

[Leggi @ Feb 20th 2008 11:48AM]

That painful launch of Cloudbook by Everex says something. That one also has VIA processor. More competition to Intel-AMD duopoly, is certainly welcomed. But on the first impression, the VIA processors are not quite ready for the real world.

[emailtabs @ Feb 20th 2008 12:49PM]

They tell us that it was a manufacturing problem.
(leaves on track or summit!, or possibly a huge ass natural disaster in china)

plus in the reviews i been reading the OS didn't quite work. ie they couldn't work out how to make it boot up.

HINT... HP, actually test your machine before you give a final release date.

[Frederik @ Feb 20th 2008 12:05PM]

Okay, previously I said, "I wish MacBook Air looks like this, costs like this and just like this." This time, I will alter the last one to be "a little bit not like this."

[Martius @ Feb 20th 2008 12:11PM]

Any informations about available choices of RAM memory?
I would like to buy Apple looking like this but where is? Stevee where is?

[Mark @ Feb 20th 2008 12:14PM]

I hope this means it's not running Windows.

[futurepastnow @ Feb 20th 2008 12:23PM]

Excellent. The cheaper, the better, and this machine doesn't need much processor to do what it's made for.

[L @ Feb 20th 2008 1:20PM]

Couldn't agree more. A little bit of browsing/mailing/skyping, some media playback and a bit of office stuff is enough for me (and I guess, most other people using such tiny notebooks), and for that, the Isaiah CPU is plenty enough. I heard it's very energy-efficient too, so that's another (huge imho) plus...

[tanooki2003 @ Feb 20th 2008 1:40PM]

this is even better news. I am especially looking forward to it if it will contain the 64Bit VIA CPU. A little change from the duopoly is especially welcomed. I am not looking for a tiny super powerhouse. I have my Clevo D901C for my mobile super powerhouse needs.
This will be a great replacement for my aging, but durable HP Jornada 720

[MacroEQ @ Feb 20th 2008 1:43PM]

I want to buy an Eee but I am waiting to see what the spec of their 8/9" version will be like. Now that HP has come out with a version of their own, it's given me another option. I'm a fan of the Eee but if HP can sell this with SSD for a price comparable to the Eee then I might be sold.

[Ahoge @ Feb 20th 2008 1:49PM]

Finally, an utilitarian design. Pretty much all laptop designs suck real bad in that field, Apple doesn't and that's true, but MBA's specs are kinda fail :P imho, I adore MacBook. All other add those trenches, grills and alien heads :D, that attract no one but dust. The only thing I'd remove are speakers, it's not a ghetto blaster you carry on your shoulder, no really.. do they sound that great? or what, i'd rather have a larger display. And the trackpad needs some love too.

[Harbo @ Feb 20th 2008 2:44PM]

I'd fancied an eee for meetings note taking, but my fingers cannot work the teenytiny keys, the extra couple of inches on this could go a long way

[Ahslan @ Feb 20th 2008 4:15PM]

I'VE BEEN OFFICIALLY CONVINCED...I'M DEFINITELY GETTING THIS!!! (unless they surprise me with a ridiculous price...)

[Crusty Magic @ Feb 20th 2008 6:55PM]

Totally sweet! I would so buy one of these.

[Tits @ Feb 20th 2008 10:23PM]

niiiiice!

[Corey @ Feb 27th 2008 11:52AM]

While the Isaiah processor looks cool and all, if they're going with Via it probably means the integrated graphics is not going to be an Intel, ATI, or Nvidia chipset. That would be a deal breaker for me because any machine I put linux on I'm gonna want to put compiz-fusion on as well. I still got my fingers crossed that they're gonna go with nvidia.