HP may be launching an ASUS eeePC mobile PC competitor

I've been on the lookout for an ultra portable PC that would allow me to travel light for long periods of time without plugging in and purchased a Fujitsu U810 a couple of weeks ago. It has been a great device so far and the battery life has been outstanding. Engadget posted some images and details on a possible HP UMPC device, the HP Compaq 2133 that may actually be sold for as low as US$630 in April. It is debatable if the term UMPC can be attached to this device because it does not appear to have a touch screen, may not have integrated Bluetooth, and the display is larger than 7 inches.

The rumored specs are quite enticing, except for the weight starting at 2.5 lbs (my Fujitsu U810 comes in at 1.5 pounds with the extended battery). The specs include:

• 8.9 inch WXGA display (doesn't appear to be a touch screen)
• 95% of full-sized QWERTY keyboard
• Ethernet port
• Integrated WiFi
• ExpressCard/54 slot
• Anodized aluminum casing
• Optional SSD drive
• Choice of Windows Vista or Linux

This looks much more like an ASUS eeePC competitor than a UMPC competitor like the HTC Shift or Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium. There is no information yet on the processor or RAM configuration. I also require Bluetooth (for connecting to my mobile phone) and at least one USB port. The two card readers (SD and CF) on the Fujitsu U810 have also proven quite valuable in transferring photos from my camera and transferring files.

Although this device looks like a decent device, I think my Fujitsu is safe from eBay for the time being. Due to the success of the ASUS eeePC, I think we are going to see lots of competition in this small, compact mini laptop area this year.