HP introduces stylish VIA Intel-based netbook
Older C7-M models sidelined as 'education' machines
It's official, HP has launched its new netbook, the Mini 1000, and it's ditched VIA's C7-M processor in favour of Intel's Atom.
HP's Mini 1000: VIA out, Intel in
Spinning its previous Small, Cheap Computer, the VIA-based Mini-Note 2133 as just an "education-focused" product, HP pitched the 1000 at "internet-centric consumers, mobile professionals [and] always-on social media enthusiasts".
The CPU is Intel's 1.6GHz Atom N270, but HP said the 1000 will be offered with a choice of 8.9in and 10.2in glossy displays - with a 1024 x 600 resolution in each case. There's a choice of operating system too: Windows XP or Linux, the latter in a machine HP calls the Mini 1000 with Mobile Internet Exprience (MIE).
Calling all 'always-on social media enthusiasts'
All of them have Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity, plus the usual array of USB and audio portage. HP said the 1000 will be offered with a choice of a , along with Bluetooth and 3G connectivity options. There'll be a range standard configurations and a number of built-to-order options, including 512MB to 1GB of DDR 2 memory, and 8GB (SSD), 16GB (SSD) or 60GB (HDD) of storage.
Prices in the US start at $400.
HP Mini 1000 Picture Gallery
Next page: HP Mini 1000 Picture Gallery
COMMENTS
It's what's missing that counts.
Yes it's got a shiny big screen and a throbbing Atom CPU. They've sacrificed a gig of RAM capacity and the Ethernet port compared to the Mininote 2133 to cram them in though. That's going to make a lot of people (myself included) think twice about dropping their hard-earnt on it, even if it does turn out to be cheaper when it hits Blighty.
I get the impression that HP have released their Netbooks purely for the sake of not missing out on a market. There's a distinct air of "We have no idea who we're aiming these products at" about the changes.
Devolving to the Tandy 100
At this rate, by the end of the year, resolution will be 240 by 64, just like the Tandy 100!
keyboard
"but the more usable keyboard of the 1000 or Acer effort."
Well that's balls for a start. I've tried every Netbook so far, and the HP MiniNote is a country mile ahead of any of them, especially the Aspire One.
As for the rest of it, mind, blah
Bleh
I love my 2133, mostly because of the resolution. It's the only small / cheap laptop (I hesitate to call it a netbook) with a useable screen, which is the #1 most important bit of a portable computer. I don't know why everyone thinks that 1024x600 is a good resolution - maybe companies are trying to prevent cutting into their higher end laptop sales with these inexpensive computers, or maybe Atom just can't drive a real screen.
In any case I'm dissapointed, because it looks like the marketing droids in charge of netbooks have agreed that 1024x600 is a defining feature. I, like Torben will have to spend like 5 times the amount to get a useable small laptop which really doesn't offer me all that much more than the 2133.
For the record the Via CPU works fine, but the video has been less than perfect in my (unsupported by via) Linux distro of choice.
Oh well, the 2133 should last for a couple years, maybe the world will have sorted out what it wants in a laptop by the time I need it replaced.
HP have stepped backwards
HP should have sticked with the mini note 2133 design (with a bigger screen perhaps?) and just wacked in a VIA Nano. I can't understand the why they would bring out another clone(that's right I said it, CLONE) in a market that is full of them already, where is the selling edge??
