HP Mini Netbooks Get Bigger

Hewlett-Packard is expanding its Mini line of netbooks, offering customers three new chances to "snack" on Web content without the guilt associated with going back for dessert.

The computer manufacturer is rolling out updated version of the HP Mini 110 XP, Mini 110 Mi and Mini 1101, each built to function as an ultra mobile notebook and designed for day-to-day usage instead of the heavy computing most business class customers need.

"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," Kevin Frost, vice president and general manager, Consumer Notebooks, Personal Systems Group, HP, said in a statement. "Our broad portfolio of mini companion PCs truly offers customers choices to fit every need and every personality."

The new additions to the HP Mini line of netbooks expand on the computer manufacturer's offerings, which include the Mini 1000 and Mini 2140.

However, the company does note that its netbooks aren't designed to handle the load of rich, daily content-creation tasks best performed on a full sized notebook. Like other vendors, HP continues to educate potential customers about the differences between netbooks and notebooks in an attempt to differentiate the products in an attempt to distinguish between the two types of products while securing prices.

The update to HP Mini series of netbooks are all powered on either the Intel Atom N270 processor with 1.6 GHz or the Intel Atom N280 with 1.66 GHz -- customers will have the option to customize the system to specific needs.

The Mini's measure 10.1-inches diagonally and about an inch thick; the netbooks are built with a keyboard 92 percent of normal size.

The HP Mini 110 XP Edition supports up to 1 GB of memory and either 32 GB of solid state or 160 GB of hard drive storage. The netbook also has an option to support WWAN. Because netbooks are being built with an eye toward viewing content, the Mini 110 XP has an option for an optional Broadcom Crystal HD Enhanced Video Accelerator for 1080p HD viewing, which will be available in July.

Without the HD screen, the Mini 110 will be available June 10 and is priced starting at $329.99.

The HP Mini 110 Mi Edition sports similar specifications to the Mini 110 XP. Interestingly, the Mi comes preloaded with the Linux operating system and can support up to 2 GB of memory. Storage, meanwhile, is also expanded from the 110 XP, with the Mi supporting up to 250 GB of hard drive storage.

The HP Mini 110 Mi Edition will be available on June 10 and start at $279.99.

Finally, the HP Mini 1101 differentiates itself from the other members of the Mini netbook family by supporting a few different choices for operating systems. Unlike the Mi, which runs Linux, the Mini 1101 supports Windows XP Home, XP Pro and Windows Vista. HP has also embedded wireless connectivity in the 1101, allowing users to be connected while on the go.

The HP Mini 1101 is priced starting at $329 and will be available for purchase on June 1.