Can HP's new ULPC compete?
Summary: I just might be buying a bunch of these...this is a repost while I'm on vacation, but I'd appreciated any new feedback now that these have been in the wild for a bit.
I just might be buying a bunch of these...this is a repost while I'm on vacation, but I'd appreciated any new feedback now that these have been in the wild for a bit. Tell us what you think of them.
HP announced today that it would begin marketing a new inexpensive thin and light laptop targeting the educational markets in developed countries.
The Mercury News also noted that the 2 1/2 pound aluminum notebook with a 92% of full-size keyboard could be a hit with executives and small businesses as well.
Interestingly, the article also highlighted a common misconception about open source software (the laptop will run SUSE Linux Enterprise Edition, as well as Vista Business, Home Basic, XP Pro, and FreeDOS). According to the article,
And the Mini-Note's price doesn't include software that buyers will probably want on it, such as word processing, spreadsheet or photo- and video-editing programs.
Of course, SUSE Linux includes OpenOffice and extensive repositories of software for photo and video editing, among countless other applications (not that the 1.6GHz Via processor is up to the task of serious video editing).
Misconceptions aside, the real question is, does the $499 base price qualify this machine as a ULPC (ultra low-cost PC) and will it be able to compete with upcoming versions of Intel's Classmate that should hit the market later this year at a much lower price point?
While the laptop certainly looks compelling in its own right, the cost certainly puts it in the class of expensive toy/useful business ultra-light rather than in direct competition with less expensive models. On the other hand, this may be the type of machine to which middle schoolers familiar with Classmates and other ULPCs upgrade when they hit high school and college.
What do you think?
[poll id=51]
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Talkback
Doesn't compare to my ASUS
The hilarious part is the sideways mouse buttons on the HP mini-note. I just don't think I will buy into that. The best part is that children will have a huge selection and as long as Linux can compete, I think this could be their entry into the desktop market.
Personally, I don't like Via processors, I think they perform to poorly. I haven't seen one that I liked as of yet. The specs aren't bad, but they just don't have enough to make me pay $100 more for their laptop.
RE: Can HP's new ULPC compete?
I'm sure this laptop will have quite some buyers but its definitely not a PC for your poor school children in Africa or India or any other developing country for that matter. To truly compete - prices need to go down further. Asus's EE PC feels a bit more like an expensive toy today than a laptop / notebook. Hopefully as competition heats up and more and more manufacturers join the fray, prices will go down and features and utilities will go up.
Linux is definitely the BIG contender for slow processor based computers. I use Puppy Linux on a Pentium II 400 Mhz (with 128Mb RAM) and the response and speed is snappier than my 2Ghz Core2Duo HP laptop running Windows (crap) Vista. Heck ! even my motorola mobile phone runs some version of Unix /Linux and has never crashed so far (been using and abusing it for the last 3 years now !!)
Putting resource hungry OSs like Vista may make it nice and glitzy but today even Linux versions like Ubuntu can do much snappier things than Windows - so eye candy is not the only thing that manufactures should rely on.
If HP offers some good utilities and programs (could be open-source) bundled together with the notebook - then definitely HP would be reigning good ...and on top..
SUSE Enterprise sounds alluring
However, people who buy this laptop will certainly be benefited most by SLED as operating system, not only because of the inherent quality of the operating system, but also because of the massive amount of free, high quality software available through the Suse repositories. As you already pointed out.
Greetz, Pjotr.
Here are several thoughts......
It has a larger keyboard & available with SSD as well as ATA.
But more importantly... How will it be made available? Through most normal distribution, big box stores, as that is one of HPaq's major channels?
Interesting to note that it comes with SLED, which is blessed & even sold by MS. (Wonder if it is counted as MS ship/sale anyway) Still a good Distro.....
I have seen the current Eee's at some at some stores, but mainly online, and mostly 2G Surf's which are attractive. But I consider overpriced at $299. $250 or $199 would be a better price point Considering the slower processor, no L2 cache & not upgradeable... 4G's Surf or non Surf. are a better value at $350 or $399 but not as easily found.
All & All somewhere around $500 for inexpensive notebook/netbook seems to be the magic value price point. Of course various deals can be found.
The CPU is the downfall
VACATION? What VACATION?
NO MORE postings till you get back, OK?
You are quite busy with this and school, etc. Go enjoy your family.
BTW... I might pick up one of these HP's to check out for my school district. I've heard it crawls with Vista but the rest would be fine and FAR cheaper than Macs.
RE: Can HP's new ULPC compete?