Mini notebook computers are becoming increasingly popular. Their features mirror the desktop computers of a few years ago and they're portable and lightweight. Whether it's to replace a desktop or for travel, different consumers will require different features from a mini laptop. Manufacturers like Dell, Acer, Sony and HP respond with several different features and a wide range of specifications.

Hewlett Packard's Mini Notebook

HP has played into a consumer's desire for personalization, with a rainbow of mini laptops. Available in Atom Blue, a Sonoma Red laptop, plus silver, matte black, white, Pacific Blue and Swirl Black. In addition to the colorful laptops, consumers can also choose mini laptop decals with a transparent background, which can be used to complement and further customize the appearance of their mini HP computer.

Dell Inspiron Mini Laptop

Dell also offers customizable appearance, but the Dell mini notebooks have a different variety of features. The kids mini laptop from Dell, which is a popular laptop for homeschoolers, for example, starts at $50 less than the HP mini laptop, but comes standard with a 160gb hard drive, whereas the HP comes with 250. For $50 more, HP consumers get a faster computer with a built-in webcam and microphone. Recent news stories of school administrators using student's laptops to spy on them, however, makes the Dell a better choice for kids. It may limit their ability to chat with Grandma, however.