Hewlett-Packard's Compaq 2133 laptop will attract a fair amount of attention from users looking for a small, affordable laptop. And with good reason: the 2133 is a good-looking machine that will give Asustek Computer's popular Eee PC some competition.

Based on a C7-M processor from Via Technologies, the 2133 is available with either Linux or Windows Vista, although HP officials in the U.S. say you can get XP if you request it.

The laptop is available with either a 120GB or 160G-byte hard disk. A 4G-byte solid-state storage drive is available as an option on versions running Linux, and an 80GB SSD will be offered as an option for Windows versions during the third quarter. The laptop is available with 3-cell and 6-cell batteries with an expected life of 2 hours and 4 hours, respectively.

The 2133 weighs in at 1.2kg and prices range from US$499 to $899, depending on the specific configuration a user chooses.

HP let me borrow a 2133 prototype running Windows Vista to play with over the weekend, and I was impressed. This is a great little laptop. It feels solid and the C7-M processor was more than adequate for Web browsing and e-mail, the types of application best suited to this type of device.

The 2133 offers several advantages over the current version of the Eee PC, including a more sophisticated look

The trackpad buttons are easier to use, since the 2133 has two buttons instead of just one on the Eee PC. Also, the 2133 has a 9-inch screen with a maximum resolution of 1,260 by 768. By comparison, the Eee PC's 7-inch screen has a resolution of 800 by 480 pixels, and the upcoming version with a 9-inch screen should offer 1,024 by 600 pixels.

When the time came to pack everything back up, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd really like to see what the Linux-based version of the 2133 with solid-state storage is like.

Reporting from Singapore, this is Sumner Lemon. IDG News Service.