At “just” $699

Dec 5, 2008 16:24 GMT  ·  By

In late October, after much anticipation and a series of rumors on the Internet, HP, the current number-one PC maker, released its first Atom-powered, ultra-portable computer system, the Mini 1000.

Coming to expand the company's range of Mini netbooks, the new system was initially announced in three different configurations, at least one of which was specifically designed to draw the attention of the ladies, thanks to the adoption of a custom exterior design, provided by world renowned designer Vivienne Tam. Dubbed after the her name, the small portable system hasn't been available for purchase, up to this point, as it seems the company has kept its promise and has listed the netbook on its webpage.

For a starting price tag of almost $700, the Vivienne Tam Edition of HP's small-sized, ultra-portable computer system, falls in the price range of most high-end netbooks on the market. However, despite the higher price, the netbook is basically built on the same Intel Atom platform that is currently featured on almost every other 10-inch netbook on the market. Boasting the 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor and 1GB of RAM, the HP Mini 1000 Viviene Tam Edition netbook can provide its users with the choice of either a 16GB SSD or a 60GB HDD, which should solve the netbook's storage department.

Additional features include a built-in webcam, wireless G-card, bluetooth, 3-cell battery, and Windows XP operating system. With a weight of just 2.45lbs, the Mini 1000 from HP can easily be carried around, providing users with on-the-go access to the Internet.

Given its price point and overall specifications, the Vivienne Tam Edition Mini netbook from HP can be considered a competitor to ASUS's stylish and slim S101 netbook, which has also been built to provide a different design perspective in the netbook market.