Seizing a chance to carve out a new market with low-priced netbooks, Hewlett-Packard is announcing today it is launching a small computer for primary school children. The HP Mini 100e Education Edition combines the functions of a netbook with the needs of school children.
Computer prices have fallen so low that they may now be much more attractive for schools. And that means that computer makers who target the schools may find lucrative new markets.
The most important feature with HP's new netbook is that it is kid proof. You can bang it around without damaging it. The clam shell design has a plastic case and strong alloy hinges with steel pin axles. It has a spill-proof keyboard with a protective mylar film under the keys.
HP is pre-loading Microsoft Office 2010 starter edition on the netbook, which will cost less than $300. That price is key to making it affordable enough for schools.
It also comes with Microsoft Math and Microsoft Security Essentials. More software may be bundled with it in future editions. The netbook's back cover has an LED light that indicates when the PC is connected to a network. That makes it easy for a teacher to monitor Internet usage. The netbook has optional Wi-fi and an integrated worldwide analog modem that is compatible with the old V.92 dial-up modem standard. It can thus hook up to the web without a broadband connection.
The machine has a 10.1-inch LED backlit display, a 92-percent-of-full-size QWERTY keyboard and weighs 3.2 pounds. It comes with a carrying handle. It also has headphone and microphone jacks and a webcam. It has an Intel Atom N455 microprocessor, an Intel NM10 Express chip set, and 1 gigabyte of DDR 3 main memory. It gets 4.5 hours of battery life on a three-cell battery and 8.5 hours on a 6-cell battery. The machine runs on Windows XP Home, Windows 7 Starter, or SuSE Linux. It will be available worldwide in July. There are options such as a 160-gigabyte hard disk or 16 gigabytes of flash memory storage.
The HP Mini 100e is not based on Intel's Classmate PC design. Intel created the design for classrooms in developing countries and it relies upon PC makers in local regions to make it. Most of those Classmate PCs sell for $399 or more.