screen MacBook Pro or other large laptop to the local Starbucks may give you a great visual experience on the road, but at close to seven pounds, it could also give you a bad back. Computer makers are sensing that maybe there is a market opening for smaller laptops. A number of manufacturers have jumped in with what they are calling ultra-mobile PCs or mini-notebooks. Their creators are hoping to carve out a niche between full-size laptops, which offer large screens, and smartphones, which make up in features and convenience what they lack in size. These computers can do what any other laptop or desktop can do, but they have screens that are not much bigger than a paperback book. They first gained serious attention last year after Asus began selling its Eee computer. Thanks to its success, a slew of other manufacturers, like Everex, Fujitsu and Hewlett-Packard, have jumped in and are selling minis ranging from $299 (SR1,120) to more than $1,000 (SR3,750). Industry analysts expect mini-notebooks to remain a niche category where many people can afford to spend a few hundred dollars more for a bigger and speedier portable machine while using a smartphone or other device as an adequate substitute. That raises the question: Is cost the only reason to buy this neither-fish-nor-fowl device? Some people may focus on the small screen as a problem. Others may be concerned because some devices store less data and sometimes run out of battery power faster than larger laptops. But the deciding factor in whether you want to buy a mini may be how well you can type on it. Anyone who has used the Internet on an iPhone or other smartphone knows how much of an effort that is compared with getting to the same Web site from a PC. The shrunken keyboards on the minis can also be difficult for the sausage-fingered. While it isn't arduous to type in the name of a restaurant while searching a Google map or dashing off a series of text messages, creating a whole document may not be as easy as on a full-size laptop. That is one reason that Hewlett-Packard began with the keyboard when designing its offering in this category, the HP 2133 Mini-Note. Bucking the segment's trend to fit the keys to the screen size, Hewlett-Packard designed the keyboard so users would not have to type on tiny, Chiclet-size keys. “We found the smallest-sized keyboard that would still let you touch-type and not feel cramped,” said Robert Baker, H.P.'s business notebook product marketing manager. The Mini-Note ($499 to $789) operates on either Linux or Windows. The least expensive model offers 4 gigabytes of flash memory storage instead of a hard drive, while the top-of-the-line version comes with a 160-gigabyte hard drive. All versions feature built-in cameras and wireless functionality. But at 2.6 pounds and with an 8.9-inch screen, the Mini-Note is almost 30 percent heavier than the Asus Eee. It can still easily fit in a backpack or large handbag, and the extra room on the crisp screen makes working on it comparable to typing on a full-size laptop. Fujitsu went for a much smaller screen — 5.6 inches — with its tiny LifeBook U810 mini-notebook. It weighs just 1.56 pounds. The machine (costing $999 to $1,399) features a touch screen that swivels to operate as a tablet PC, built-in wireless, a camera and biometric fingerprint security, all running on the Windows Vista operating system. The company says its mini will run 5 ½ hours on a single battery charge. But you cannot get a true typing experience on the Fujitsu. The keyboard is so small that typing accurately on it with all fingers proved impossible. Those who do not mind the one-finger-tying approach should also consider the new CloudBook ($399) from Everex. Matched with a seven-inch screen, the unit's keyboard is by necessity small. Still, the Asus Eee ($299 to $499) is the one machine that has captured the hearts of minicomputer fans. To keep costs down, the Eee's storage capacity is limited, ranging from just 2 gigabytes to 8 gigabytes of flash memory, compared with the 120-gigabyte hard drives in typical full-size laptops. The Eee also runs Linux (although Windows can be installed) and offers open-source software instead of the more expensive Microsoft Office. And more minis are coming. Asus has introduced a larger model, the Eee PC 900, with an 8.9-inch screen, and eventually, it will offer even larger options. Acer is set to introduce its 2.2-pound Aspire One. With an 8.9-inch screen and a Linux operating system, the Aspire One ($399) just sneaks in under the ultra-mini definition. Later this month, MSI Computer will offer its Wind notebook. With its 10-inch screen, the $499 Windows-equipped Wind is a bit bigger than an ultra-mini; a $399 version loaded with Linux will be sold later this summer. Dell plans to introduce a mini soon, and industry analysts believe that Apple is likely to introduce a mini as well. Having used a number of ultra-minis for several weeks, I believe their utility remains elusive. While there is no question that their size makes them easier to carry than standard laptops, the smaller screens and reduced keyboards left me cold. I'd rather use a standard laptop on the road, and switch to a smartphone when I need to make a call, read my e-mail messages in a rush or check in for a flight when I am nowhere near a Starbucks hotspot. For now at least, my shoulders can handle the extra weight. – The New York Times __
