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Hewlett-Packard will expand its Mini netbook lineup with three new models this summer, the Mini 110 XP Edition, the Mini 110 Mobile Internet (Mi) Edition and the Mini 1101.
The Minis are light and lean – each has a 10.1-inch diagonal screen, a starting weight of 2.3 pounds and a choice of Intel Atom processors: the 1.6GHz N270 or the 1.66GHz N280.
The Minis are intended as complements to HP’s bread-and-butter machines and are ideal for Web surfing, e-mailing, listening to music and checking e-mail while traveling. Or, as a deserving-of-a-raise press release writer at HP phrased it, “information snacking.”
For images of the three HP netbooks, click here.
The Mini 110 XP Edition supports up to 1 GB of memory and either a 32GB solid-state drive or a 160GB hard drive, plus optional WWAN. Also optional is a Broadcom Crystal HD Enhanced Video Accelerator, for a 1080-pixel high-definition video experience. HP expects this feature to be available in July.
The Mini 110 XP, which features a “Black Swirl” finish, will be available June 10 in the United States at hpdirect.com, for a starting price of $329.99. On July 8, “Pink Chic and White Swirl” finishes will be added to the menu.
HP refers to the Mini 110 Mi Edition as a “mobile companion.” It comes with applications that enable Web browsing, e-mailing and online video watching from the device’s dashboard, which HP says minimizes startup time. Favorite Websites and frequently listened to music can also be added to the dashboard for quick access.
The Mi Edition runs the Linux operating system and supports up to 2 GB of memory and up to 250 GB of hard drive storage. It will also be at hpdirect.com come June 10, for $279.99.
Both Mini 110 models come with HP’s Syncables Desktop solution, which automatically syncs photos, music and other files between the Mini and a “primary notebook or desktop PC,” explains HP.
The HP Mini 1101, the most business-minded of the three, is available running Windows XP Home, XP Pro or the Windows Vista operating system. Additional options include a choice of integrated HP Mobile Broadband for connecting to corporate intranets and email, as well as to the Internet.
Users can opt for a 3-cell battery, or the heavier but longer-lasting 6-cell. HP expects (hopes?) it will be available June 1, starting at $329.
“With these new HP Minis, we’re enhancing the customer experience by adding compelling features that allow users to interact with their Mini in a fun way,” said Kevin Frost, a vice president and general manager with HP, in a statement on the netbooks.
“Our broad portfolio of mini companion PCs truly offers customers choices to fit every need and every personality.”