Talk about timing.... I had to lug my heavy 'ol lappie around over the weekend, and was looking into getting a lighter one, when I saw this!

HP Mini Note

Interestingly, like the Eee PC, they'll run Linux too

Meh... I can't handle not having a large-ish screen

Trust me, when your right arm doesn't work cos you've been hauling a heavy lappie around at an event, you'd want something tiny.

I'd use it as my second machine, for very specific purposes. Wouldn't give up my default lappie, cos I'm a fan of large screens too

when your right arm doesn't work cos you've been hauling a heavy lappie around at an event,

You need one of those backpack lappie bags.

I'd have to get new glasses to cope with a 8.9" screen. 

I truly do.... you're so right....

It's on my list, just after slippers.

*groan* @ shopping

At this very moment, I'm using this:

 which is 2.2 lbs and a delight to travel with, although it does have a few limitations.  No built-in CD drive, although you can buy an external one.  As you can see, there's no touchpad.  It's a little too thick, in its tablet  configuration, to be a comfortable ebook reader.  And the memory is limited to 1GB, which is sort of tight unless you're better at decrufting than I am.

If you travel with a computer, you'll accept the limitations the moment you walk off your first plane flight with this baby.

No touchpad? So all you need is that little pen? Like to browse n navigate around?

Cool laptop!

Just so -- no touchpad.  When I travel for work, I put a small mouse in my checked luggage.  Some people, my daughter for example, are perfectly comfortable using the nubbin in the middle of the keyboard.  When I don't have a mouse, I tend to use a combination of the nubbin, the stylus, and keyboard commands.

It IS a compromise.

Ahhhh.... yes, I hadn't noticed that....

Not sure how I'd go. Would have to use it to find out

Which brings to mind - do any of these companies have a 'try before you buy' system?

Ever so often I see something I might buy, but because I haven't had a hands on experience, I strike it of my list. Has anyone heard of test-driving the product before?

I can't wait to get a eee pc 900 they are coming out way earlier than expected in US (may 12th) i think price tag is $550. what lappie is the one in the first pic? is that an hp?

Yep, that's HP's answer to the Eee

(why wasn't one E enough for Asus?)

hp 2133 yeah?

Yep!

Lenovo has a really funny ad for their ultra portable series -

Hehe.. 'tis true. The MB Air doesn't have all kinds of stuff.

It can be defended - a lot of the things it leaves out aren't strictly necessary, or are becoming less used as time passes, but still... it's less stuff than normal for more money.

Yeah, I agree.... but it's still fun to laugh at Mac

Don't worry, I'm totally in the laugh-at-Macs camp

Smooth white and rounded doesn't say computer to me, it says aspirin. I prefer large, black and imposing in my choice of hardware 

Yeah.... something that would hurt when you throw it at someone.... that's the way to go