It's a full 24 hours after we
expected it, but with looks this hot we're not surprised the HP Mini-Note 2133 is fashionably late. Specs are exactly what we'd heard and what was up
on Amazon earlier: 2.6 pounds, Via C7-M processor, 1280x768 8.9-inch screen, full QWERTY keyboard that's just 8 percent smaller than normal, and a variety of configurations ranging from a $499 1.0GHz Linux-powered unit with 4GB of flash and 512MB of RAM to a maxed-out $749 config with a 1.6GHz processor, 120GB drive and Vista Business. Laptop managed to score some hands-on time, and from the video it looks like this thing might actually be as
popular as HP is predicting -- except for those crazy side-mounted vertical mouse buttons, which are totally messing with our heads. Still no word on availability, but it seems like HP's ready to go -- anyone taking the plunge right away?
Read - HP press release
Read - HP specs
Update: Plenty of early reviews are in. Things are looking good so far, check 'em out:
Read - Laptop hands-on video (scroll down)
Read - jkOnTheRun checks it out
Read - Notebook Review, um, review
Read - Notebooks.com blows it out
Read - PC Mag review (4/5)
posted April 8th 2008 12:36AM
From the Notebook review link, the VIA @ 1.6 ghz gets smoked by the 630MHz Intel Celeron M ULV in the eeePC and the VIA chrome 9 graphics rate a whopping 93 on 3dmark06. I realize it's not meant for 3d gaming, but at that speed I'm not sure it could even scroll text without lagging.
Wasn't this originally hyped as being so low priced you wouldn't have to think about buying it? $499 is not that price, I'd buy it for $199 maybe even $299, but the good looks alone aren't worth 500 bucks
Smoked isn't the right word. The HP is handily beat in PCMarks but wins wPrime. It's not a clear-cut thing. And if you read the reviews, performance in the real world is fine.
Some people will put a premium on the nice keyboard and solid construction - reporters out in the field, for example.
Yeah, the big buzz was the prices, but sadly they were unable to meet those prices for now. Which takes me out of the game, I would gladly buy one of the 2G versions for $200. Hell I would buy 2 2G for $200, especially since my wife wants one now since she saw it this weekend and noticed it came in pink.
@zargon
What fantasy world do you live in? A fricking iPod classic goes for $250, but you want a full blown 8.9" subcompact notebook for $200? Hell, even the lowly 4GB nano goes for $150. Get real.
Two things:
Drop Vista in favor of XP.
Drop crappy Via CPU in favor of Atom.
Build quality looks excellent but I think I'll wait until it comes with an Atom processor. Also, am I the only one who doesn't like the speakers at either side of the screen? I'd prefer a slightly larger screen (10") with one speaker below it, or built in above the keyboard. If I was to listen to anything it'd be with my headphones mainly. Asus are removing the speakers from the side for the EEE 900 and I think it looks way better. Any thoughts?
You're totally right. This thing has several fatal flaws. There will be almost no buyer who is *really happy* with it. Some people will put up with it, but that's how it will feel, "I'm putting up with this."
Not me, not for $750.
C'mon HP, why that rotten touchpad and not [also, at least] a friggin pointing stick?
I hope its available through EPP or I'm going to wait for the others...
FYI, keep in mind that Vista Business edition has downgrade rights to XP Pro. Only the business editions of Vista have that, so you can stay legal and run XP.
Also I'm waiting for the VIA isaiah processor, it will kill atom in performance and may be cheaper. Intel priced the higher atom CPUs too expensive for this market.
None of the reviewers mention whether the cpu is soldered on resides in a socket.
If it is a socket, I should be able to drop in the new Isiah since it is pin compatible apparently with the C7.
Wish HP or someone mentioned more info on this aspect, if it is possible.
Forget about this HP unit, it only comes with Vista or SUSE Linux. HP would probably void the warranty for installing XP.
Penryn based chip or Isiah and this thing could quite possibly be the ultimate Eee type device. Interesting theres an option for a 7200RPM drive on a device like this; I'd have guessed the device isn't powerful enough to have the extra spindle speed have a shred of difference.
HP can lick my crack!
haha......maybe we should be friend on facebook first!!
Looks like RM are bringing it to the UK.
http://www.rm.com/HE/Products/Product.asp?cref=PD1164671
Video on that site too.
OMG OMG OMG...
They made it though the entire post without calling it a UMPC.
Actually, all the PC posts so far today have been lacking their usual snotty anti-MS/PC attitude. Not that I'm complaining, but what happened? Someone slip some happy pills in the coffee? :)
HP almost got it right, and maybe they or someone else still will. First off the keyboard is near perfect, 92% of normal, look how it stretches the full width of the case. The one big hit I've been hearing about the eeePC is that it's keyboard is too tiny for serious typing. But since they have the horizontal room because of the keyboard, why did they saddle it with a 8.9" screen? Looks like it could take at least a 10" screen. Put those speakers somewhere else and drop in a bigger screen, size does matter. The processor is ridiculous, especially when combined with WTF? Vista? That's laughable. Atom is the future for these small laptops. And Vista...well, can you say Windows ME? Speaking of operating systems, the marketing geniuses at HP seem to be only offering Linux with the base 4 gb model? What's up with that? I smell Microsoft's slimy hand here. Even the option of XP would be better than Vista. I actually like the options of 64gb SSD and the 120 and 160 hard drives, makes the platform much more usable. Finally those track pad buttons do seem oddly placed, but I hardly use mine, just double tap the track pad, so no bigger there. Finally battery life is probably a function of the 3 cell and the processor, but disappointing none the less. And who wants to put that bulbous lump of a six cell on? This is supposed to be an ultra portable no? So, HP close, but no cigar. Oh, and quit being so greedy and bring down the price. You'll make as much by the volume you sell...once you get the other areas corrected.
I just ordered one directly from HP, its not shipping till April 15th, just counting the days...
This HP looks like it has a lot of things going for it. It has the best look out of all the upcoming subnotebooks. Though the EeePC is nicely designed, also.
I will have trouble choosing among all the subnotebooks in the upcoming month. The forerunners will still be the EeePC along with this new HP. Asus quality is top notch, except battery life. Had HP sticked in there an Intel processor, the decision would have been obvious.
Asus sure has started a wonderful trend.
its look like bulky copy of EEE and U1F
http://shop3.outpost.com/product/5433159?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
Compaq c700 Series Notebook Featuring Intel Celeron M 530,15.4" with 1GB,80GB-HD,DVD-/+RW Burner,Windows Vista Home Basic.
$450 plus shipping :|
More Bang for your buck if you're willing to pay that much. Silly Mini-note isn't worth the 500 bucks imho.
Why can't Jobs & Co come up with something like this? I reckon they will be forced to do so, just because of loosing market share to this type of product. Something NOT mc air-ish.
No plunge. Mini laptops have been around for ages but at crazy prices. The Asus EEE re-ignited this segment based ONLY on price. At $399 they sell out. Makes sense. So now HP, Acer and I'm sure everybody else will be making more and more expensive 'crotchtops' until they're right back where they started. The price is supposed to go down. I predict FAIL on this one.
No touchscreen. Another mobile PC without finger-touch screen.
hp obviously rushed on the market with this 1..that''s why lousy combination of spec-s...particularry processor and battery life...
this pc will hardly appeal 2 anyone 2 buy...
get the atom inn...baterry 50-75% up...and price 25% down, particularly for top model...and you may join the race...
like this...failure !
Wasn't the XP EEE going to Launch today?
@ joseph
WHAAAAT???
Alright, now combine this and the Eee and you have the perfect ultra portable.
Put in an Intel processor (well, not so much for the "VIA is so slow" part, but more for the "Intel can handle OS X" part), fill out the lid with a nice 9" display, put the speakers on the bottom and… voila!
Well, maybe there can be something done about those trackpad buttons, but they don't really bother me personally, I don't think it makes this much of a difference if they're on the side or on the bottom, plus you'll only be using the right button anyways, exept you want to select something, and even that can be done by just tapping the trackpad.
But my biggest concern is the VIA processor, how the hell is are a 1.6Ghz single core processor and 1GB of ram in an ultra portable supposed to handle Vista when my old desktop machine with 2.8Ghz and 1.5GB or ram couldn't do it? Vista simply sucks, but there's no real alternative on this machine with the VIA processor. With an Intel processor you'd be able to put Tiger or maybe even Leopard on there (OK, kind of against Apple's EULA, but kind of not, because it only says "Apple labeled", so one of the stickers you get with your iPod should do the job) and after some minor tweaks you're probably going to have to do you'll have the ultra portable Mac you've always dreamed of, because hey, exterior wise, this notebook could come straight from Apple, like a mini MacBook Pro. That's really what the Air should be.
Definitely a step in the right direction, I think people want smaller notebooks, not thinner ones. Once they are smaller companies can make them as thin as they want, but hell, get them small first!
I think this is going to be huge. A little heavier, but better functionality than most. Over at the Waterfield Designs site, they are already generating a custom sleeve for it so they must think it's going to really take off.
http://www.sfbags.com
Theirs a new community site following the HP MiniNote here;
http://mininoteuser.com
Looks like it'll be quite good once its up and running properly.
I tried to install Windows XP on the linux version yesterday using a Sony USB DVD drive, but I keep getting blue screens - either an ACPI error or hard disk error. Now I keep getting blue screens when I try to boot off a Windows or Linux disk. Anybody had success installing XP? Anybody have a suggestion other than pressing F7 during the text portion of installation? That won't work for me.
@michaelo:
Go into the BIOS and set the HDD setting to "Legacy" or "Compatible" (if it supports it). I've seen this happen many times on Lenovos and Dells with SATA drives and fresh XP installs.
I'm still skeptical about this market and I think that the price needs to be reduced considerably for the mini-PCs to become more of a commonality in the marketplace; I'm debating over buying an old thinkpad T40/T41 or something in that nature, which would boast twice the processing power, a 12" screen and some more features, with a similar platform of this Mini-note portability, for a marginally higher cost