As the slim, snazzy HP Mini 1000 is one of our favorite Netbooks, we were excited to hear of an impending sequel. We just got our hands on one of the new systems, and while the Mini 110 doesn't stray far from the Mini 1000 mold, there are some subtle changes, not always for the best.
At first glance, the two systems seem identical, but when we pulled out a Mini 1000 for a comparison, we saw the Mini 110 was slightly thicker and heavier. Not by much--but in a tiny Netbook form factor, a small change can make a big difference, especially when compared to something like the new Asus Eee PC 1008HA, which is slimmer than its predecessor, not the other way around.
The thinner Mini 1000 versus the thicker Mini 110.
The display was also different, with the edge-to-edge glass replaced by a standard inset panel. It's not as slick a look, but the display itself was matte, instead of glossy, which is a very hard-to-find feature in a Netbook, and especially good if you're bothered by screen glare.
On the left, the glossy Mini 1000, on the right, the matte Mini 110.
Other than that, we found a standard set of Netbook components, including an Intel Atom N270 CPU, 1GB of RAM, Windows XP and a 160GB 5,400rpm HDD (which beats the 80GB 4,200rpm drive found in most Mini 1000 models). HP has mentioned an optional "hardware video decoder" for better HD video playback, but we haven't seen that in action yet.
One new feature that did catch our eye was the inclusion of a third-party software app called Syncables, which promises to connect different machines on your local network, allowing you to easily share documents, photos, video, and music, and even sync Outlook and Thunderbird e-mail accounts. The program even claims to work on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems.
In theory, it seems like a good idea (we often use Gmail and Google docs for this kind of thing). In practice, we found the Syncables software difficult to use. The screens are clearly not designed with the Mini's 1,024x576 resolution in mind, and the layout and navigation were confusing, even when installed on our desktop computer.
After creating an account, we could sometimes log into it, and sometimes hitting the login button would simply do nothing. We were eventually were able to see our desktop from the Mini 110, and vice versa, but in our brief hands-on time, but could not actually access any files from the other machine. We're sure with a few hours of troubleshooting, we'd be able to figure it out, but the entire process seemed fairly nonintuitive.
The HP Mini 110 is available starting June 10 with both Windows XP and HP's custom Linux-based Mi software for $329 (for XP) and $279 (for Mi). That's a decent break from the $450 price of a comparable Mini 1000, but you also lose a little of the brand's unique character in the process. Pink and white versions will be available around July 8, and a business version, the HP Mini 1101 is expected next week, starting at $329.
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The HP MIE Ubuntu interface is intended to shield users from having to interact with Linux.
(Credit: Hewlett-Packard)There are a lot of Netbooks on the market that are more or less the same, save for some cosmetic details. One of the Netbooks that manages to stand out from the pack is the HP Mini 1000 MIE, which sports a custom interface that sits on top of the Ubuntu Linux operating system.
HP now plans to make that interface available to the public, according to Download Squad. Netbook prices can be cut way down when they don't have Windows installed, which is why HP offers a Linux option. The MIE interface is intended to shield users from having to interact with Linux, according to HP. It's a dashboard-like system that has buttons for music, photos, videos, IM, and Web search.
It looks like the MIE download will work with other HP Netbooks, but it's unclear whether that will also include non-HP Netbooks.
After looking at countless laptops during 2008, a small handful have jumped out as personal favorites. I'm not saying these are the very best laptops of the year, nor the highest-rated--they're just the ones that struck me as particularly interesting, useful, or well-designed.
Chances are high that you'll disagree with some or all of this list--which is what makes the comment section below so handy. Share your personal favorites, and see how they stack up against mine.
Gateway P-7811FX
For a brief time in 2008, PC gamers had a single bright spot in their otherwise drab world (well, except for the success of World of Warcraft, I guess). Gateway made a series of FX-branded laptops that combined serious gaming power with ridiculously modest prices. The laptops, originally available at Best Buy stores, were very popular. In fact, the P-7811 version offered so much for so little, I couldn't imagine how Gateway was going to make money on these things.
Maybe they couldn't, because that P-7811 model was (very) quietly discontinued. The replacement model (the P-7801u) is about $300 more expensive and is no longer available at retail--only from specialty mail order outlets such as Newegg.
Lenovo IdeaPad U110
With low-cost Netbooks taking over the small form factor market in a big way, it was easy to forget that only a year ago, an 11- or 12-inch laptop would probably run $1,500-$2,500 or more. Sure these machines sported excellent industrial designs and fancy cases, but the low-voltage processors they used really didn't run much quicker than your average $500 Atom-powered Eee PC.
Still, it's nice to see the high-end ultraportable still has a little life in it, and the 11-inch Lenovo IdeaPad U110 from the company's new consumer-focused line is an impressive showpiece, with an intricately etched lid, a nice big keyboard, and even cool designs for the air vents.
HP Mini 1000
Let's be honest--for the most part, Netbooks are commodity products, using the same parts and components to largely the same effect. Therefore, any point of differentiation is a huge plus, and can even let you get away with charging a few bucks more than the competition.
HP's Mini 1000 has one major thing going for it. It largely solves the Netbook's tiny-key problem by including a really nicely designed almost full-size keyboard. Sure, the system has a few other quirks, such as a single audio jack and a weird proprietary memory stick port, but that very cool keyboard makes it our favorite of the current crop of Netbooks.
Apple MacBook
What else can we say about what is probably the single most popular laptop out there right now? The Intel-powered MacBooks have been winners since their debut, and the latest revision somehow manages to make them even better, with a thinner, lighter aluminum chassis and a killer giant touchpad.
As tinkerers and DIY types, we'll probably always be PC guys at heart, and clicking the giant button touchpad thing is about as awkward as using a Blackberry Storm (just turn on tapping, you'll be much happier), but the incredibly useful three- and four-finger gesture controls have totally ruined us for PC touchpads.
Sony Vaio AW125
Every laptop stable needs a massive desktop replacement multimedia model. With a big push from the factories that make the actual glass for the screens to move to 16:9 displays, expect more and more 16- and 18-inch laptops next year--or just get ahead of the curve and jump in now.
While not really radically different from the competition, Sony's was not only the slickest-looking of the initial run of 18-inch systems we checked out, it was also the cheapest Blu-ray model.
Though a DIY route was recently discovered to bring mobile broadband to the Mini 1000, HP now saves you the effort by offering 3G connectivity out of the box on its Netbook. You can select the HP un2400 mobile broadband module ($199) for service on either AT&T's or Verizon's network. The price seems a bit steep, considering you can find the un2400 module for $149 elsewhere. Also, choosing mobile broadband forces you to opt out of either SSD offered in favor of the 60GB 4200rpm drive, which adds $55 from the default 8GB SSD option. Why an SSD and WWAN are incompatible is a mystery to me. While I await an answer from HP, care to posit a theory below?
The HP Mini 1000 Netbook has a 3G modem--who knew? Well, HP presumably and now the rest of us do, thanks to an enterprising Mini 1000 owner and forum poster at Pocketables.net. He or she (impossible to say with a name like dplxy) discovered a SIM card slot hiding out in the Netbook's battery compartment. After speaking with HP and AT&T, user dplxy was able to find a WWAN driver from HP that did the trick--no hardware required. All that was needed was downloading the driver and then popping a SIM card in the mystery slot, which would seem to indicate that HP is shipping 3G-equipped Netbooks but not telling anyone.
(Credit:
Pocketables.net)
Sadly, we just returned our HP Mini 1000 review unit, otherwise we'd be trying this out for ourselves right now (damnable loan agreements!). So, if you are an owner of the HP Mini 1000, take a peak underneath to see if you have this mysterious SIM card slot. Forum poster dplxy outlines the simple process on Pocketables.net and kindly provides a link to the WWAN driver you'll need.
Now, all we need is someone to discover a secret 6-cell battery to replace the puny 3-cell unit that is currently your only option with the Mini 1000.
A day after rolling out a new line of Netbooks, Hewlett-Packard says it's looking at selling them in conjunction with wireless service providers.
(Credit:
Hewlett-Packard)
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Kevin Frost, who heads up HP's consumer notebook division, said the company is considering selling Netbooks at a deep discount to customers who sign a wireless service contract.
On Wednesday, HP introduced a new line of Netbooks called the HP Mini 1000.
Frost said, "The big picture for these Netbooks is that kind of model," but described it as a "longer-term" plan. He mentioned AT&T and Verizon as potential partners, but all involved declined further comment.
Asus and Acer have each deployed this model recently in Europe, and both have enjoyed sizable shipment increases this year. Dell is also trying its hand at it, selling its Inspiron Mini 9 in conjunction with Vodafone in Europe.
But that success doesn't necessarily translate well to the U.S., said Richard Shim, PC analyst for IDC.
"The U.S. has tried this before, about seven years ago, and it was a complete failure," he said. "Part of the reason was that cost of the hardware was too much, cost of service too high, and there was just not enough users."
But that was seven years ago, he acknowledged, and "things have drastically changed."
Update: This blog has been corrected to reflect that the Mini 1000 will be available Wednesday on HP.com, and in retail stores later.
The Mini 1000 MIE has a custom HP interface meant to hide its Linux OS from users.
(Credit: Hewlett-Packard)After a brief experiment in the education market, Hewlett-Packard on Wednesday is set to introduce a whole line of Netbooks for mainstream consumers.
The HP Mini 1000 comes in three versions, with starting prices ranging from $379 to $699, and will be available on HP.com starting Wednesday, with worldwide retailers to be announced later.
HP first dipped its toe into the mini-notebook market back in April with the Mini-Note 2133, which it claimed was strictly for K through 12 students and some business travelers. At the time, HP was adamant that this was not meant to play in the same arena as the consumer-oriented Netbook from Asus, the Eee PC. Though it won't break out the numbers, HP now says the sales of the 2133 "exceeded all expectations."
But the new HP Mini 1000, Mini 1000 MIE, and the Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition are very much intended for consumers. So what's changed in just six months? The look and feel of the Mini 1000 line isn't drastically different from the 2133, but the Netbook market has had a dramatic makeover, though it's more noticeable abroad than here in the U.S.
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We'd like to say we were pleasantly surprised to see HP announce its new Mini 1000 Netbook Tuesday. Of course we can't, since HP accidentally put a big picture of the new system up on its Web site over the weekend for several hours. Blown surprise aside, the Mini 1000 is now available for online ordering, and we've got a full review and video.
The system wisely cribs from HP's previous Netbook, the business-oriented Mini-Note 2133, using the same wide format to fit in a nearly full-size keyboard that dwarfs every other similar system. It trades the 2133's metal chassis for a more consumer-friendly plastic one, and thankfully adds a standard Intel Atom CPU (the older biz model had a Via CPU).
The big keyboard itself is enough to kick the Mini 1000 into the top tier of Netbooks--it might have even surpassed all competitors if not for some port weirdness.
Had you been perusing HP's wares Sunday, you may have caught a glimpse of the company's upcoming Netbook. On HP's Home & Home Office shopping site Sunday, this image appeared:
(Credit:
Liliputing)
The image, since removed from HP's Web site, noted that the HP Mini 1000 will start at $399.99, weigh 2.25 pounds, and measure less than one-inch thick. Given the model number and screen bezel, that's noticeably thinner than that on the 8.9-inch HP 2133 Mini-Note PC, it's a safe bet to say the Mini 1000 will feature a larger 10-inch screen.
No other details are known, so you'll have to wait a bit longer to find out whether the Mini 1000 ditches the 2133's pokey Via C7-M processor for an Intel Atom or a Via Nano CPU.
Need a strong sign that HP has a Netbook refresh in the works? On Amazon.com, the HP 2133 Mini-Note is currently selling for $299--$200 off its original $499 price.
When the HP Mini 1000 is officially released, we expect to have a full review up shortly thereafter.
(Via Lilliputing)
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