14 DAY TRIAL // Back in early September, we were telling you about an upcoming netbook from HP that had been designed in collaboration with worldwide famous designer Vivienne Tam. The netbook was first showcased during a fashion show, although aside from several pictures showing the system's exterior design, no specific details regarding the netbook's technical performance or availability date were made public. Even so, the small PC managed to get the attention of the public thanks to its unique red-colored, peony flowers-adorned exterior design.
Since the portable system was first showcased, further details on it failed to emerge – but things have just taken a turn for the better now. A web page showcasing three of the company’s products indicates that the HP Vivienne Tam Edition portable system will become available as soon as December 2008. In addition to that, it looks like HP, which, until now, has manufactured netbooks based on VIA's processors, will be releasing its first Atom-powered system.
Unfortunately, there aren't many details to go on for the time being. However, given the available information, the portable system will be made available in a compact, lightweight form factor that will provide the required features for a quick Internet and e-mail access. Based only on that, and given that said system is powered by Intel's highly successful Atom processor, we can assume that this is HP's upcoming netbook system.
While we still have to wait for the official word on the future netbook from HP, one thing is clearer than before, namely that the company decided to switch sides, by choosing Intel's solution for a low-power portable computer system, over VIA's alternative.
This does raise some questions regarding a reported order placed by HP to VIA for its Nano processors. Back in mid-August, HP was expected to unveil a new Mini-Note system that would be powered by VIA's latest Nano processors, which the leading systems vendor was said to have ordered from the chip maker.