The netbook craze is huge. It seems that every day someone else introduces a new netbook. What makes them different from the UMPC or the Tablet PC classes of computers that never seemed to take off? Why does this different class of PC succeed when other classes have failed? I spoke it over with an Associate Editor of Gadgetell.com, Robert Nelson, and here is what we figured out.

Following up on the earlier rumors, HP has begun to officially offer the Mini-Note 2133 with Windows XP. Although HP has commented that Windows XP will be pre-installed they are doing it by way of the free Vista downgrade option, so when the notebook arrives it should include an install disk for both XP and Vista Business.

In addition to the Windows XP offering, HP has also added a few new configurations to the Mini-Note line-up. Instead of the original four configurations to choose from there are now eight. This should sound like welcome news with more to choose from, however it makes the XP downgrade offering seem just a little on the shady side.