I'm a sucker for ultra-portable notebooks. That's why I'm using a MacBook Air. But while I was waiting impatiently for my Air, a bunch of other new PC ultra-portables came on the market that was so enticing I almost jumped the gun and bought one. Thank goodness my Air arrived just in time. Version 2 of Asus's Eee PC (900) is the first one to get my attention. With a 8'9" LCD and a 20GB SSD for HK$4,000, it costs less than 1/6 of my MacBook Air with 64GB SSD. But when I tried the Eee PC at a retailer, the keyboard and trackpad were too cramped for comfort. Then there's the HP 2133-Mini Note PC. Also an 8'9" LCD, but the keyboard is a lot roomier than the Eee PC. In fact, the whole computer felt more sturdy. It comes with a 120GB hard disk for HK$5,000. And now there's MSI Wind U100, with a 10" LCD and 80GB hard disk for about HK$4,000. Too bad Palm's defunct Foleo, with specs and price similar to these, was introduced ahead of its time. If it were to come out today, it would probably be a hit, too.
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