Today HP announces their $499 8.9" Mini-Note running SuSe

[greggh]

http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops ... -note.aspx

HP offers several drive choices as well, including a solid state 4GB drive for the Linux version (starting at $499)

The system is powered by a 1.6-GHz VIA C7-M processor, VIA Chrome 9 graphics chip, and 2GB of DDR2 memory

Edit: The $499 Linux version will have a 1.0 GHz VIA C7-M and 512MB memory

The $499 4GB SSD Linux version supposedly weighs 2.6 pounds and is about 1" longer (10"x6"x1.1") than the eee. This is going to make it very tough for Asus to price the 8.9" eee any higher than $499 even though they're offering it with a bigger 12GB SSD.



Edit: Wow, I just noticed in the specs that the resolution is 1280x768 http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops ... mode=specs

Here's a nice hands on video http://blog.laptopmag.com/the-leader-of ... -mini-note

This is a hell of a sub-notebook for only $499!

Found the specs for the 2 Linux versions http://www.maximumpc.com/article/exclus ... _note_2133



More videos http://www.notebooks.com/2008/04/07/hp- ... o-gallery/

Side by side with the eee

[Patrick]

The UMPC market is really heating up now. It's good seeing mainstream PC makers putting Linux on an equal footing with M$.

[greggh]

The UMPC market is really heating up now. It's good seeing mainstream PC makers putting Linux on an equal footing with M$.

Agreed.

On a side note, I don't think the term UMPC is going to stick. Intel wants to call these sub-notebooks "Netbooks", and I think the term MIDs (Mobile Internet Device) is winning out for the smaller tablet sized devices.

[greggh]

They're available for order on HP's site now with free shipping.

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm ... 87084.html

The $549 version looks like the best value.

[Patrick]

$50 less for the Linux version. That's pretty fair IMHO.

[greggh]

This Mini-Note has got to be a nightmare for Asus. Right now, for $499 you can get a 4GB 8.9" slick looking Mini-Note that's only and inch wider and 0.4 lbs heavier than the $499 8GB 7" eee. Since Asus has the current 8GB 7" priced at $499, I'm sure they were planning on pricing the upcoming 12GB 8.9" at least $100 higher. I can't see how they can possibly do that now.

[snarkout]

I like the keyboard on the HP - the single Eee I've dicked around with was very difficult for me to type on.

[Chess]

I wonder if the HP laptop will generate the same level of excitement and user community as the eeePC has. I also wonder how truly hackable it is and what kind of components are inside. Either way, I've been itching to get an eeePC, but I have decided to wait a couple of months and see what happens in this area. If nothing else, maybe the current eeePC models will drop in price.

[greggh]

I'm thinking what Asus will do now. I predict that within 30 days Asus will lower prices across the board...

2G Surf will go from $299 to $249
4G Surf will go from $349 to $299
4G Galaxy will go from $399 to $349
8G Galaxy will go from $499 to $399

The new 8.9 " eee will be introduced at $499 but quickly fall to $449