More mini laptops: LG netbook on its way from MSI?

Who isn't getting into mini laptops these days? The latest rumour floating around is that Korean electronics giant LG has asked MSI to build it a tiny laptop based on Intel's netbook reference design containing an Atom processor.

This one was started by Digitimes and it says that MSI will make a Windows XP-based netbook with an 8.9-inch screen, 2GB of memory and a 120GB hard drive.

Those specs are closer to Hewlett-Packard's effort, the 2133 Mini-Note, released this spring, than MSI's much-talked about netbook, the Wind. HP's machine has a 8.9-inch screen, 2GB of RAM, a 120GB mechanical hard disc and comes with the option of Windows XP or Vista. It's also got a pretty hefty price tag -- it starts at £415 for the Windows version.

Asus has pretty much got the low-cost laptop market covered with its Eee PC. They're small, cheap, run Linux or Windows and are good for surfing the Web and checking email. There are mainstream PC makers already playing in that realm too, such as Acer's Aspire One.

The Mini-Note and the description of LG's potential entry in the category have greater ambitions: they're really just full-featured Windows laptops cut down to size. Though HP has said the Mini-Note is for mobile executives and the education market, it's unclear who LG would be targeting with such a netbook.

The Digitimes report pegs the price for an LG netbook in the range of $625-790 (£315-400), but there are no definitive details -- UK or otherwise -- available. We'll keep you updated. -Erica Ogg