![]() ![]() Unlike Dell, HP has announced shipping dates for its systems with built-in WWAN modems in the United States-they'll be here in December. Like the Dell Inspiron Mini 9, the Mini 1000 is mobile broadband ready, as it is equipped with a WWAN slot. One game-changing feature might pique the interests of frequent travelers. The webcam, Ethernet port, 4-in-1 card reader (SD, MMC, MS, MS Pro), and Wi-Fi are standard across most netbooks. ![]() Built-in VGA-out is nice, but you'll need the easy-to-lose dongle attachment that's included. In addition to the two USB ports, there's a little USB slot for storage expansion-basically, a third USB port that accepts a thumb drive only. Meanwhile, the S10 and the Wind are shipping with 160GB drives that spin at 5,400 rpm. However, the 60GB drive that this configuration comes with (as well as the other spinning drives) spins at only 4,200 rpm. It offers multiple storage options: 8GB and 16GB SSDs, or spinning drives that go up to 60GB. Another thing that HP added, which it really didn't have to, is a button that disables the touchpad, similar to the ones on its Pavilion siblings. ![]() The S10 and the One have smaller, slightly less comfortable keyboards, measuring 89 percent of full size. The 92 percent keyboard is nearly identical to the Mini-Note's, and it's as big and as comfortable as the Wind's 92 percent model. The speakers, which were adjacent to the screen on the Mini-Note, are now built into the hinge and sound better than the ones on the S10 and the Wind. The glass screen is flush with the surrounding black borders-a technique commonly used in HDTVs. The Mini 1000's, however, is better designed. All three of these netbooks have 10-inch widescreens. Most of the time, I used both my left and right index fingers to surf.Īt 2.5 pounds, the Mini 1000 is a touch lighter than the Lenovo S10 (2.7 pounds) and the MSI Wind (2.6 pounds). This allows HP to eliminate the area where traditional mouse buttons would normally sit, but it also makes for an awkward navigating experience. Like the original Mini-Note and the Acer One, the mouse buttons are adjacent to the touchpad. It's as wide as the Lenovo S10 but isn't as deep, and there's a reason for that. The system measures 10.3 by 6.6 by 0.9 inches, about the dimensions of the Acer One. It's well thought out, more so than the plain white designs of the MSI Wind and the Acer One, although I'm more of a fan of the anodized aluminum used in the Mini-Note. This configuration reminds me of white roses etched into a surface similar to that of a black grand piano. It's the reason why a pink Vivienne Tam version is being launched later this year, with other custom/specialty designs to follow. The Mini 1000's design is consistent with that of its Pavilion siblings, using the In-Mold Decoration technique in which a pattern (in this case floral) is embedded underneath a laminate layer. ![]() Whereas the Mini-note was primarily geared towards grade-schoolers and was pricey ($749 direct), the Mini 1000 will appeal to anyone looking for a solid, totable laptop for light-duty office and Internet tasks. More so than HP's first effort, the new Mini 1000 better fits in with current netbook offerings such as the Lenovo IdeaPad S10, the MSI Wind, and Acer Aspire One. HP's latest netbook, the Mini 1000 ($550 direct), is modeled after the polished look of HP's Pavilion line and includes the Intel Atom platform. In response to ASUS' Eee PC 4G, it quickly launched the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC, which I reviewed this past April. Hewlett-Packard was one of the first companies to join the netbook revolution. ![]()
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