Tue, Apr 08, 2008 Bookmark and Share eMail this Article Send Print this Article Print Media Kit Reprints RSS feeds RSS
HP unveils small laptops for students
New line of scaled-down, low-cost laptops the latest in a growing trend
From eSchool News staff and wire service reports
 

Primary Topic Channel:  Computers

 

HP's new laptop highlights the popularity of low-cost computing.
Also of Interest
One more of the world's largest technology companies is about to enter the growing market for pint-sized computers targeted mainly for pint-sized customers.
 
Hewlett-Packard Co., the No. 1 seller of personal computers worldwide, on April 8 said it's throwing its weight behind a new class of miniaturized laptops targeted primarily to students, a fledgling market already populated with products from Intel Corp., the world's largest semiconductor company, and Asustek Computers Inc., the world's largest maker of computer motherboards.
 
The machines are so new that the industry hasn't settled on a name for low-cost and scaled-down laptops, used primarily for surfing the internet and performing other basic functions such as word processing.
 
Intel has labeled them "netbooks," and it expects more than 50 million netbooks to be in circulation by 2011.
 
HP executives say their new machines, which go on sale later this month, are an important piece of the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company's effort to build market share in schools, where machines have to be smaller and cheaper without losing too many functions.
 
The companies also expect adults to gravitate to the idea of buying two laptops--a lightweight one just for web browsing on the go, and a full-power machine for the home or office. But industry executives acknowledge that the market is untested and that no one knows what the demand will be once the machines are deployed widely.
 
HP's foray comes in the form of a new computer called a "Mini-Note" that weighs less than 3 pounds, with a screen that measures 8.9 inches diagonally. The machines start at less than $500 for a Linux-based model. Prices go up for Windows Vista models with faster processors.
 
The processors HP is using are made by Via Technologies Inc., the distant third-ranked player in the microprocessor space, and come in clock speeds up to 1.6 gigahertz. The inclusion is a big win for Via, which trails Intel and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. by a wide margin in the microprocessor market.
 
HP executives say the only major feature its Mini-Note lacks is an optical drive for using DVDs and CD-ROMs, which can be bought separately. But they say many schools request that the drives be left out to prevent students from playing unauthorized games.
 
HP also says it plans to provide free, online professional development courses designed to help teachers engage students' interest and improve their achievement through the use of technology.
 
The Mini-Note will compete primarily with Intel's Classmate PCs, which are designed by Intel and feature Intel chips but are built and branded by other companies, and Asustek's Eee PC. Intel last week announced new Classmate PC models with larger screens and more memory (http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/?i=53401).
 
To a lesser extent, they also will go up against the XO laptop from the Cambridge, Mass., nonprofit One Laptop per Child, which is intended primarily for school children in developing countries--though Birmingham, Ala., soon will be the first U.S. city to deploy XO laptops to its students (http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/?i=53412).
 
Intel says it has sold "tens of thousands" of Classmate PCs since they went on sale last year. And OLPC says it has sold hundreds of thousands of XO laptops. Figures were not immediately available for sales of the Eee.
 
Links:
 
HP
 
Intel Classmate PC
 
One Laptop Per Child
 
Asustek Computers Inc.
 
 
 

Comment now.

Don't forget to check out our Online highlights:
- Discover new resources that help school leaders strengthen their school district inside our new Superintendents Center.
Go to http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/superintendents-center/
- View this week's Student Video News Cast at www.eschoolnews.tv where you can also upload video too!
- Follow eSchool News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eschoolnews
- Add our RSS feeds or our new widgets to any school web site. Go to http://www.eschoolnews.com/content-exchange-rss/
- Find the latest news in the current issue of eSchool News. Go to http://www.eschoolnews.com/current/

It is just time

I posted past letter on 14.th of April.2008 Today it is 10th of July . 3 months passed. I expect this mini laptop 9 inches soon at 200 $ delivered in Istanbul Turkey. We need 10,000,000 in 5 years. We will distribute free of profit to 15,000,000 K12 students in Turkey. We will use credit card system $ 10 per month installments for 24 months so that all parents can buy it. HP please hear me.

Posted By: mgozaydin, 2008-07-10 1:35 PM

Good Timing

For my school I've been pushing to get some of these new smaller laptop designs to replace our aging mobile lab, full of first gen 802.11b wireless laptops... Over half of which no longer work at all and half of the remaining ones are extremely fickle on what they will and won't do. Intel doesn't really sell their classmate PC's in the US, instead targeting developing countries like the XO. When I inquired with them, at least, that was the reply I got back. The XO project didn't feel like working with a single school district either. Leaving just the EeePC. Which I like, but which I can't see in person before we buy. I contacted HP the other day and they are willing to provide us with a demo of these new 2133 Mini-Notes, before we go and purchase a lab full of them. It's one thing to tell our CAO 'This laptop would be perfect for the kids to use!' and quite another to say 'Look at this! The kids would love these!'

Posted By: pploss, 2008-04-15 7:13 AM

I was expecting something from HP as well

I am proud to work with Mr. Hewlett and Mr. Packard for 5 years in Palo Alto 1965-1970 . Therefore I was saying we can do it. Yes we did. But we can do it even better than that. Only for school children $ 200-250 should soon become available. I believe in it.

Posted By: mgozaydin, 2008-04-14 5:52 PM

 

You need to be registered at eSchoolnews.com to add your comments. If you do not have a username / password please register here ! Registration is very simple and will not take much time!

 
Already registered? Login:
Username:  Want to know more?
Registation Benefits
Password: