HP Pavilion dv2 (1030-us)

The HP Pavilion dv2 (1030-us) is as close to a netbook as you'll see with an AMD processor. Though it was made clear that the semiconductor company had no interest in competing in the netbook category, this 12-inch beauty says otherwise. The dv2, which bears a strong resemblance to the Dell Inspiron Mini 12, is the first laptop to use AMD's new Athlon Neo processor, and at $749 (direct), it costs about $100 more than theHP Mini 2140 netbook. I think HP and AMD have the right idea here, as there aren't enough 12-inch form factors that are able to hit this price. The only catch is that you'll have to put up with fan noises and occasional heat from its underside. In term of form factor, the dv2 more closely hews to netbooks. What sets it apart from that category are the new AMD Neo processor, 4GB of memory, discrete graphics card, and 12-inch screen, not to mention its steeper price point. In that way, it straddles the line between netbooks and ultraportables.

Take away the brand logos, and you'll see the striking design similarities between the dv2z and the Mini 12. They have roughly the same dimensions: the dv2 measures 11.5-by-9.5-by-0.9 inches (HWD) and the Mini 12 is slightly thinner at 11.8-by-9-by-0.8 inches (HWD). Both have a black glossy top that collects smudges and finger print marks. On closer inspection, HP paid more attention to subtle design details on the dv2, such as the chrome trimmings along the edges, the embedded patterns on the palm rest, and the chrome mouse buttons and touchpad. The Mini 12, as with most inexpensive netbooks, is a more basic.