Interesting! It looks like HP has its own take on the “Classmate PC” concept. Its launching a $300 netbook computer aimed at schoolchildren and intended for use in classrooms. The Mini 100e Education Edition, as it’s called, will include education and security software from Microsoft, including Microsoft Office 2010, Microsoft Math, and Microsoft Security Essentials.
Also of note, the PC features a spill-proof keyboard (whew) and an LED light that indicates when the PC is networked, so the teacher can see it from a distance with ease. The PC also includes a Wi-Fi certified WLAN modem and a dial-up one for students in a remote areas where there isn’t Wi-Fi available.
The device weighs 3.19 lbs, has a 10.1” screen and is cased in a plastic shell that has a built-in handle for portability. Inside, there’s a 1.66GHz single-core Atom N455 processor, 1GB of RAM and the choice of either a 160GB hard disk or 16GB solid-state drive (SSD).
