Get a Linux-powered HP Netbook for $299 shipped

Normally $499, the HP 2133 Netbook is now just $299.

(Credit: Amazon)

In the market for a Netbook? Amazon has the baseline HP 2133 on sale for $299, down from $499. Right away that solves one of the HP's main problems: its high price. Best of all, this is a new unit--not a refurb--and you don't have to deal with any rebates.

The HP 2133 is the one Netbook I've actually reviewed, and I liked it well enough, except for two issues: price and performance. But my eval unit came with Windows Vista and a $799 price tag; the model Amazon is selling has SUSE Linux and costs $299. By all accounts, Linux runs much faster on the 2133 than Vista, so it should be much more usable.

What's more, HP's Netbook has a keyboard that's just shy of full-size, meaning you can actually touch-type on it. (Too-small keyboards are one of my main gripes with Netbooks in general.) Even so, the 2133 measures just over an inch thick and weighs a mere 2.8 pounds. It comes with 512MB of RAM (enough for Linux), a 4GB SSD, an 8.9-inch screen, and a built-in Webcam. (See Amazon's product page for full specs.)

Regular readers know I don't really care for Netbooks, but $299 for an HP 2133 is mighty tempting. Show of hands: who's pulling the trigger on this one?

[rexworld]

That is indeed a tempting price. However I already have an Acer Aspire One that I'm perfectly happy with. I have replaced Linpus with Xubuntu, which runs just fine on the Aspire One.

[Alex Alexzander]

I have a 2133 with a 250GB HD and 2GB ram. I run XP on mine and for productivity it's outstanding. I paid $699 for it and it was and still is worth the price. If you can snap up this unit for $299, go for it. You wil love teh keyboard and the screen res. And it has an Express 34/54 slot by the way.

Alex Alexzander

[unwritten_law9]

Although I would really like to add a Netbook to my list of machines. I'm going to hold off for a while. My year old macbook is doing just fine.

[jcvesq]

$299 for this or a full-fledged, Intel dual core, 2GB, wireless-n notebook for $435.00 (including briefcase and wireless mouse) at Best Buy http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=999999500050006&productCategoryId=abcat0502001&type=product&id=pcmprd99600050006.

Think I'll go for the notebook.

[rickbroida]

I tend to agree. As I've noted before, I don't like small screens, small keyboards, wimpy processors, and mediocre battery life. Why netbooks are so popular remains a mystery to me.

[chrisx1]

There is no mystery or anything to be confused about.
Some people want something that can do more than a smartphone, but don't want to lug around a big "full-fledged" laptop with 15" screen and 7lbs of weight plus a briefcase to carry it around in.
They are specifically looking for these because of the size and do not want something bigger.
What is there not to understand?

[mc-hammer]

Would i be able to install XP and MS Office 07 on this thing?
If so, i'm definitely getting it

[interoperate]

@mc-hammer

Yes, you could install XP and MS Office 07, but with 512MB RAM it would be unusable.

And if all you wanted was Office, why on earth wouldn't you use OpenOffice that comes pre-installed and is already included in the $299 price??

[crusadex]

512 runs fine with XP.