HP Preps Second But Lower Cost Mini-Note

HP is readying a second Mini-Note laptop that it says will cost less than the first model it introduced in April.The new Mini-Note will be priced in the $599 to $699 range, which is closer to what Asus and Acer charge for their netbooks. Functionality-wise, it will be similar to the 2133 -- which costs as much as $899 running Windows Vista -- but less durable, according to HP.

The company wouldn't confirm whether the 2133, criticized for being underpowered, would transition to Intel's Atom chip, which already power Asus' three new WiMax-enabled Eee PCs. The 2133 runs on the VIA C7-M ULV processor.APCMag.com