Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: hpmini, 110, 1101 | Themes: Laptops and Notebooks
HP's newest netbooks could leave you drooling for a tasty snack, but will it spoil consumers' appetite for real computing?
Fighting against the rising tide of netbook critics (including Apple executive Tim Cook, who essentially called the computers “junk” last month), HP has pushed out some delicious-looking new tiny computers, but urges us to think of them as tools for “information snacking.” So, even HP’s admitting that netbooks aren’t the real deal full meal, but that doesn’t stop me from salivating.
Check these out. The Mini 110 XP Edition, the Mini 110 Mobile Internet (Mi) Edition, and the Mini 1101. All of them have 10.1-inch screens and come with either Intel’s 1.6GHz N270 Atom processor, or the 1.66GHz N280. They also have a special syncing software called Syncables (why does that remind me of “Lunchables”?) which helps to load up the Mini with tidbits of media from your main PC.
The 110 XP Edition can handle 1GB of RAM, and comes with either a 32GB SSD or 160GB HD. Buyers can upgrade with WWAN and HP’s special HD video chip for 1080p viewing. The Black Swirl color comes out on June 10, and the Pink Chic and White Swirl colors come out on July 8. Starting price of $329.99. I’m a fan of the pink keyboard in the Pink Chic color scheme, but I find the decorative casing to be a bit much. Why not just offer consumers the choice of several keyboard colors—that’s an easy way to add flair to a PC without going garish.
The Mobile Internet version of this computer will run Linux, and comes loaded up with browser, e-mail, and video apps. This version of the 110 will hold 2GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive (presumably for you to fill up with your favorite digital snacks). This version will be available on June 10 for $279.99.
The final variation, the Mini 1101, can run XP or Vista, has the option for mobile broadband, and a choice between a 3-cell or 6-cell battery. This one’s supposed to land on June 1 for $329.
The XP edition only comes with 1GB of RAM and a 160GB HDD, but the Mobile internet edition comes with Linux, 2GB RAM, and a 250GB HDD starting at $50 less? Is this just the cost of the XP tax added in, because that's an insane difference in hardware.
Yes, that's the cost of Windows, and this is why MS HATES netbooks, and is putting maximum specifications on them. After all, think about it, a netbook (hardware+software) sells for less than a full copy of Windows, so they have to sell Windows VERY cheap to get netbook makers to use it, instead of Linux. They're terrified that people will start using netbooks for a primary computing device (and, really, if all you do is browse the web, send/read email, and work on documents, you could... though it wouldn't be too fast, yet. Give it a year or two of processor improvements, and they would be.)
But hey, this is GREAT. See, with Microsoft's netbook limitations, you can't put more than 1 GB on a netbook. So, HP has the non-MS netbook. The cost between 1 and 2 GB isn't that much, for RAM, and, since they save on the Windows license, and are putting Linux on it, they are passing the savings onto the users. Is this the first major company to actually do that? I mean, wow... THANK YOU HP!
Now if only they get a blue one.....
Am I the only one who realises that you're better off getting the Linux version just for the specs? I mean why not just pay less for Linux, then just hoist the sails for a bit of XP action? ARR me hearties
It will also run better on Linux since XP probably takes up more resources...
Another option, why not get the linux version and install your own copy of XP on it? A better price, better hardware and you can still have xp.
Another option, why not get the linux version and install your own copy of XP on it? A better price, better hardware and you can still have xp.
although a good idea, most people who would be buying the netbook probably arent tech savvy enough to install xp without a CD drive... but yea, awesome idea. im thinking of doing exactly what you said.
Why stunt the performance with XP ?
This device is meant for Web browsing, listening to music and a bit of Word processing.
I think most users would easily adapt to using Ubuntu for these applications.
great idea indeed! anyways, hp mini's are great netbooks.
(except for the webcam which is not as good found in laptops)
The Mobile Internet version sounds exactly like what a netbook should be, pricewise, but with impressive specs. Are there no other hardware differences between that package and the XP version than the better RAM/HDD space? Does it lack the "prettified" casing?
woah! but the it will be overpriced here in our country once they're shipped.
I love HP.
Most new releases are quite a bit more expensive.
I am no fan of the Atom in any way, but hey, I still use a 1.6GHz celeron every now and then.
I'd likely use xubuntu (for just being less resource intensive than ubuntu). I could switch it over to XP myself, but I feel as if ubuntu variants work well enough. Hell, my desktop still runs 1GB of ram.