By Yeong Ah Seng

THE new HP Mini netbook is a considerable improvement over the previous model, the HP 2133.

Design changes - a larger keyboard (92 per cent of the size of a standard notebook PC keyboard), a 10.2-inch widescreen display (1024x600 resolution) with flush glass and LED backlight, among others - make this netbook a more usable device than its competitors.

A brighter and sharper screen, plus a better keyboard, can make a big difference indeed.

The piano-black finish also enhances its look.

It is still powered by an Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor and has a 60GB hard disk with 1GB memory running on Windows XP. The HP Mini comes in a number of versions, including a Vivienne Tam luxury edition and another with 3.5G capability.

What HP should also do is to offer a battery upgrade option that increases the current three-cell battery to a six-cell pack. That would greatly extend the operating time of the netbook.

How much: US$499 (S$719)

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