HP's 2133 now officially configurable with XP

HP's got some new 2133 configs out as of tonight, including options for "downgrading" to Windows XP on models over $700 -- more or less as expected. They're up to eight base configs ranging from $500 to $820, so if you've been thinking of picking one up you've certainly got plenty of options to choose from.

[Via HP 2133 Guide]

[gzeusmants @ May 12th 2008 2:14AM]

Doesn't stop it from being a waste of money, grossly underpowered on all fronts, and too shiny to be usable in normal lighting.

[Das @ May 12th 2008 2:20AM]

It's small and light, has a big keyboard, a big screen, and is relatively cheap. If you're expecting to run crysis on this thing, you're looking at the wrong computer.

[Ashish @ May 12th 2008 2:12AM]

that's awesome. now microsoft won't be able "force" me to buy vista

[ethana2 @ May 12th 2008 2:24AM]

I'm thinking I want to get a Latitude XT tablet instead of an Inspiron but it doesn't have an ubuntu option yet...
For me, truly portable = touchscreen.

[ethana2 @ May 12th 2008 2:26AM]

More directly, they don't care what the heck you buy as long as they get your money. --and that's exactly what I don't want to do. (Dell could drop the windows license, pocket the money as pure profit, and I'd be perfectly fine with that.)

[giantenemycrab @ May 12th 2008 2:55AM]

XP instead of Vista? Ha ha ha, take that Microsoft! Wait..

[Das @ May 12th 2008 2:16AM]

Good timing.
I just about decided to pull the trigger and get one of these things.
I was considering waiting for something with an Atom in it but with a little bit of research it seems the Atom's performance is rather comparable to the C7-M that the Mini-Note uses.

I would like to see some more info but I desperately need a new laptop and it doesn't need to be super powerful. If anyone has any info about the processors that I don't, please share.

[LarryLarryLarry @ May 12th 2008 7:57AM]

The biggest difference will be in battery life. Atom uses a lot less power than the C7-M. It also outperforms the C7-M by a noticeable amount.

The battery life of the mini-note using the regular battery is pretty hilarious. You'll be looking for one of those hand-cranks from an OLPC before long.

Another funny thing about the mini-note is how every reviewer says, "The speakers are really loud!" Where do they imagine the speaker power comes from? I'd prefer that my tiny laptop had no speakers at all, just a headphone jack.

Imagine how many headphone jacks they could install in that megaultraturbosuperdynautlimogigantic bezel where the speakers live.

[Das @ May 12th 2008 11:22AM]

I'm not so sure about performance. The best information I've found marks both of them at about 65% the performance per clock cycle of a Pentium M. However, if you can show me some benchmarks which say otherwise, I'd like to see them!

[conor @ May 12th 2008 7:02PM]

they will use isiah since:
a) faster than atom
b) less power hungry then atom and
c) more powerful than both atom and c-7

[deva @ May 12th 2008 2:25AM]

why oh why can i not get the most powerful model with linux preinstalled instead of windows?

me thinks i will be waiting for the isaiah to be released before getting a mini-note

[ethana2 @ May 12th 2008 2:27AM]

We'll get there, man. We'll get there.
Just remember to put your money where your mouth is.

[Rob @ May 12th 2008 3:55AM]

Personally, I think I'd prefer the cheaper model which has a SSD and a normal-shaped battery. Supposedly the "high-end" model is slow with Vista, but I'd expect even the 1.0 GHz C7-M ought to be able to handle Linux (or XP) reasonably well.

[Dark Harry @ May 12th 2008 1:23PM]

It seems that the 1.6 GHz version is reserved for the Windows setup :-(. And I was _so_ close to buy one.

[Tired_ @ May 12th 2008 3:40AM]

Can Microsoft revise the Vista EULA after this gets popular, to remove the downgrade rights and leave all these people in noncompliance?

[kccboy2004 @ May 16th 2008 3:29AM]

What is the speculation on the battery life of this with the C7-M vs the equivalent Atom ?

I thought I had read that the Atom will have a much better battery life ?

[bob e @ May 12th 2008 7:10AM]

Vista runs fine on this PC, it is a bit slow to boot (75 seconds) but once you are there it is a great improvement over XP IMO.

To each his own I guess.

[Ninjakamster (PSN: Chin-Poh) @ May 12th 2008 8:58AM]

Thanks for officially giving us an XP option HP!

Now, if you can give us other processor options though, not from Via. Though its unlikely since it seems you inked a nice deal with them. They needed the publicity I suppose.

[Brian @ May 12th 2008 9:20AM]

man now I have a lot of choices for UMPC's... I think I'm going to get a OQO but with the new eee pc and now hp's 2133 I can't make up my mind. They all offer xp or vista so they all have their strong points. If anyone owns any kind of these UMPC's than post a reply.

[HP LOL @ May 12th 2008 4:29PM]

Ordered 2 items on first day.

Great Customer Service department canceled the order without notification.

Fire up the phone and e-mails to HP top, then lots of phone calls came from that useless department of HP. After lots of excuses still no one saying the word "sorry".

I am canceling entire server and client orders. Well HP won't care small customers like US government anyway.