One day after Toshiba revealed the company is working on its first mini-note, HP has announced plans for its second mini-note. But unlike HP’s 2133 the new model will be closer to the conventional netbook in functionality and nearer to competitors from Asus and Acer in price.

The reason for this split? The 2133 sits at the top end of the nascent market, which is north of where many retail opportunities lie. HP differentiated the 2133 from the pack by pre-installing Vista Business and using commercial notebook features such as an anodised aluminium chassis, a spill-resistant keyboard and a shock-proof hard drive fitted with a 3D accelerometer.

While these features clearly positioned the 2133 as a mini-note for the business mobility set, they also translated into an $899 price tag in a market where the latest mainstream mini-notes cost $599-$699. HP intends to close that gap with a new mini-note due later this year.

More Here