HP 2133 Mini-Note PC on sale now

Just in case you've been burying your face in those glowing reviews of HP's latest UMPC, here's a quick heads-up to inform you that the 2133 Mini-Note PC is actually available to order. As of this very moment, prospective buyers can select a unit of their own at HP's website, and with five models ranging from $499 to $849, we're sure there's a Mini-Note for you in there somewhere.

[Thanks, Tharp]

[Flashpoint @ Apr 8th 2008 11:11PM]

This is the first mini laptop in the "race to the bottom" that I've seen that I wouldn't have any qualms buying.

Its the perfect example of why HP is on top. They have great products and great refinement. I've been an HP fan for several years.

I'm in the market for a laptop and I'm facing either the HP DV series or a TX tablet.

[notYou @ Apr 8th 2008 11:24PM]

Uhhh, yeah... Vista with a 1.2 single core VIA. Please write back and let us know how that works out.

[Jon Doe. @ Apr 8th 2008 11:38PM]

I don't know about VIA but I'm running Vista Business on a 1.2Ghz ULV Core 2 Duo and its speedy for anything other then gaming and encoding. Both of which you wouldn't do on this machine to begin with....however I've heard that the CPU in this thing is slow as hell....soooo

[Flashpoint @ Apr 8th 2008 11:56PM]

Alot of the people experiencing poor performance of VISTA in their computers are upgraders. Many didn't buy Vista preloaded - and many who did, didn't get it with a high spec PC/laptop.

You woulda ran into the same problems if you tried running Win XP on a Pentium 450 mhz with 128MB of RAM.

Why is it I barely see complaints from those people buying 3GB of RAM in their dual core computers? I'll tell you why, cause their computers aren't OLD.

I manage Mac lab and we've got lots of Vista computers on the side. I've used numerous VISTA laptops and I've never had a single problem with the exception of trying to use old hardware. All of these laptops mind you were HP DV series.

HP, SONY, Toshiba, etc don't sell laptops with an OS that doesn't work. This thing has been well tested I'm certain.

[AutoTom @ Apr 9th 2008 12:20AM]

Time for a ultra portable ultra low-cost mac!

Who's with me?

[Anonymoose @ Apr 9th 2008 12:30AM]

hopefully your babysitter.

[Prad @ Apr 9th 2008 1:31AM]

You guys probably know that HP designed this for Educational space. They iterviewed this segment and came out with the specs et al. (NO CD/DVD drive so pupils dont install games and stuff, small screen size so that tutors can keep an eye on the pupil indulging themselves glaring at the screen when he/she is lecturing..etc.)

[Superevil @ Apr 9th 2008 3:25AM]

A Low Cost Mac? Thats An Oxymoron.

[Alan Zeino @ May 2nd 2008 11:07PM]

Like a secure installation of Windows.

[David @ Apr 8th 2008 11:13PM]

Awesome. I'm sitting on my hands telling myself I dont have $549 to spend, but it just looks so nice..

[Anonymoose @ Apr 9th 2008 12:34AM]

BUT THEN HOW ARE YOU TYPING??? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[lane @ Apr 9th 2008 12:36AM]

You're about to try out "The stranger" technique...Aren't ya?

[nodspy @ Apr 8th 2008 11:14PM]

Why oh why didn't they use the intel dualcore ulv's(hell even a solo core is better than via), it would have been perfect... Why does hp have to crush my hopes and dreams.

[Noah @ Apr 8th 2008 11:16PM]

I am baffled as to why the $750 model has far better specifications than the $850 model. The cheaper model has twice the RAM, a faster hard drive, and a faster processor. The only difference is the OS (Vista Business vs. Home) and the hard drives (120gb 7200rpm vs 160gb 5400rpm). Am I missing something?

[Andy @ Apr 8th 2008 11:17PM]

That's the one i'm looking at too. I can't figure it out either.

[Noah @ Apr 8th 2008 11:20PM]

Oh yeah, and even at $750 for the most expensive model, and having spent a large sum of money on a 15" MBP (2.6ghz Penryn, 4GB RAM, 200GB 7200rpm), I'd definitely get one for school/home/anywhere. That would let me transition completely to mobile computers, with my MBP as my "desktop" and powerhouse, and my 2133 as a mobile workstation.

[Anonymoose @ Apr 8th 2008 11:47PM]

weird, it even has a smaller battery (3-cell as opposed to 6-cell on the $750 model)

[Carl M @ Apr 9th 2008 4:07AM]

HP must have gotten a hell of a deal on Vista Business and a sucky deal on Vista Home?

[bbozof @ Apr 8th 2008 11:18PM]

So has anyone figured out why the $849 model (with a 1.2ghz processor & 1 gig of ram) is more expensive than the $749 model (with a 1.6ghz processor with 2 gig of ram)?

[eeeMan @ Apr 8th 2008 11:40PM]

40 more gb, i know its dumb, but thats why

[Craig White @ Apr 8th 2008 11:46PM]

Thats a pretty pricey 40 GB considering the drop in RPM and all.

[rob @ Apr 9th 2008 12:54AM]

The more expensive one has Bluetooth, and the $750 doesn't....but still
wudufxup??

[Hans @ Apr 9th 2008 4:48PM]

"SmartBuy" featured models offer better pricing as they are target large volume sales.

[gabe @ Apr 8th 2008 11:19PM]

the practicality of this small notebook is just for a traveler on bizznatch?

its 3 lbs lighter than a normal notebook?

[Rollins @ Apr 8th 2008 11:19PM]

I wish they would've let you pick and choose components. I would've taken a 1.6ghz version with 1GB of RAM and 4GB flash running Suse. Oh well.

[uwgeek07 @ Apr 8th 2008 11:27PM]

I was the 4th one to order the $750 model today, I had to order by phone. I am a bit worried that it is underpowered, but I think if I downgrade to XP, things will be smooth. I am a college student and this will be perfect for notes and work (I work in IT Support).

It won't ship till April 15th, so the wait is on.

[Tony @ Apr 9th 2008 12:15AM]

Reviews say the fan is very noisy, I hear this can be a problem in quiet classrooms.

[Moo2 @ Apr 9th 2008 12:36AM]

no, you upgrade to XP, downgrade to vista

[David @ Apr 9th 2008 6:20AM]

This is so much wider than an Eee -- they've missed the whole point of the Eee, I'm afraid.

$750? Wow! I hope you like it. That price, too, misses the point.

Maybe we should compare this to Dell of some sort instead.

[LongshotX @ Apr 9th 2008 11:30AM]

Moo2's comment should not be highly ranked. Vista is a great OS, how many times do we have to go over this?

[ShadoX @ Apr 8th 2008 11:34PM]

If only that thing had the atom in it. I'd sell my Eee PC in a heartbeat.

[Vinay @ Apr 8th 2008 11:38PM]

I don't know about others, but personally, I find the width of the screen being smaller than the width of the keyboard, a big minus. It makes it look like a toy.

[BrettB @ Apr 8th 2008 11:45PM]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but with those specs, it is a toy, a nice looking toy to be sure, but a toy none the less.

[Yubastard @ Apr 8th 2008 11:49PM]

yeah, but the speakers facing you is a big, big plus... that's why the screen is narrower, to leave space for the speakers.

however, the screen resolution is almost enough, considering the small size and form factor, not to mention price...

still, I can find a core 2 duo Sony Vaio for $700 new @ eBay. I am tempted, though, and just maybe I'll buy this UMPC...

[Mark @ Apr 8th 2008 11:41PM]

UP AND ATOM!

[phanbouy @ Apr 8th 2008 11:43PM]

whatever

[Mark @ Apr 8th 2008 11:47PM]

whatever??

[Anonymoose @ Apr 8th 2008 11:48PM]

this is the most intense back and forth i've ever seen.

[phanbouy @ Apr 8th 2008 11:52PM]

jah. i shouldn't encourage him. however, it was his first non-whatever comment out of a dozen so i couldn't resist

[Malcom O @ Apr 8th 2008 11:48PM]

Anyone else read the 128KB L2 cache on the website WTF?

[david @ Apr 8th 2008 11:48PM]

I just looked those test with different CPU and VIA C-7 is at the bottom, damn 1.6Ghz does not mean that it is that fast, in fact it is as fast as Celeron 500-600Mhz.

PCMark05 Score
HP 2133 Mini-Note (1.6GHz VIA C7-M ULV) - 801 PCMarks
Asus Eee PC 4G (630MHz Intel Celeron M ULV) - 908 PCMarks
Asus Eee PC 4G (900MHz Intel Celeron M ULV) - 1,132 PCMarks


Video card:
HP 2133 Mini-Note (1.6GHz VIA C7-M ULV, VIA Chrome 9) - 93 3DMarks
X3100 - 500-550 3DMarks

In review of jkOnTheRun was told that it was poor with Skype and video chat, video card or something was to weak and video become chopy.

So, this one is so weak... The best design, but the worst heart.

[David @ Apr 9th 2008 6:25AM]

My Eee runs Skype flawlessly. I've had perfect hour-long video conversations on multiple occasions.

In fact, my Eee has handled everything I've wanted it to perfectly, so far.

No complaints whatsoever.

[mulder_fbi @ Apr 9th 2008 11:50AM]

I was looking forward to the Mini-Note but now I'm struggling with why I would get this versus the XP eee. I guess I'll have to wait for a more compelling product.

[Ninjakamster @ Apr 8th 2008 11:49PM]

Besides Via, this notebook really looks great, I love the design, 54mm expresscard slot, large, high-res screen and large hard drive.

Its only the Via processors that are really dealbreaking for me. Why did they have to make everything so right and then crap all over it with this one component?

I may be overdramaticizing here, but I hear their processors have very poor performance, that the C7 1.6ghz is even worse than the 900mhz Celly in the EEE.

If they could put in an Intel ULV Core Duo or even Core Solo at the same price point, I would be so happy.

[Anonymoose @ Apr 8th 2008 11:53PM]

yeah, and if they could throw in two superhot ladies riding mini horses for the same price point, i'd be ecstatic as well. but therein lies the problem, young padawan. you want better stuff, you're going to have to pay more.

[david @ Apr 9th 2008 12:02AM]

The reason was the price, they wanted to keep in down and the only way how to do that was to use VIA chipsets. But I think that the next model or maybe the 3rd generation will have Atom inside. Right now VIA is a bit drawback at least for those who know what are buying.

For the CPU compare look at my post above and you will see that Celeron 600Mhz does even better than VIA. In Vista VIA C-7 gets 2.0 points and that's the lowest part of all notebook.

[Priper @ Apr 9th 2008 1:58AM]

I think it has to do with Intel having their own UMPC, (Netbook) which competes directly with this one. The VIA proc is just their way of saying "I don't need you" (even tough they do !)

[bebop @ Apr 9th 2008 2:53AM]

The CPU is on the same level as the 600 Mhz downclocked celeron M's, and if you believe VIA its even a little better on power consumption. The problem is the graphics side. VIA traditionally excels at bringing graphics to new levels of horribleness.

[Juke Box Hero @ Apr 9th 2008 10:53AM]

I gotta agree with Anonymoose, if you wanna play, ya gotta pay.

I think Priper's comment is pretty close to the truth. Think about the AMD Opteron when it first came out, HP was the first major player to introduce the AMD in it's DL585. I've been told by our HP reps that Intel gave them some serious grief over that one...

I doubt they will go to an Intel platform for this guy anytime soon (more development costs, more inventory for the same platform, blah, blah, blah). I'm guessing that HP was/is banking on VIA's new Isaiah chip that's getting released this year to give the 2133 a performance boost since it's supposed to be pin compatible to the C7. From what I've seen the Isaiah could be a very good mobile chip...but I'm not holding my breath...

[Anonymoose @ Apr 8th 2008 11:54PM]

didn't he have a "first" comment somewhere? he must have. that sly devil might have combined them, though.

first whatever?