HP's Vivienne Tam Edition netbook gets real, coming this December

No clue if HP will be sticking with the Digital Clutch moniker (wouldn't be a bad choice, actually), but one's thing for certain: it's teaming up with Vivienne Tam for a highly decorated netbook. The shot you're looking at above is just about all we have to go on, but obviously this one won't appeal to those who aren't into vivaciousness, vividness and, um, flora. We are told that it'll be available this December with an Intel Atom processor within (which is pretty noteworthy given HP's current relationship with VIA), but everything else is being closely concealed for now -- even though Atom typically equals 1GB of RAM, a 1.6GHz clock speed and an 80GB HDD. But hey, a woman has to have her secrets, right?

[Thanks, Ronald]

[Benson @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:48AM]

I'll wait for the River Tam edition, thanks.

[gad get @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:15AM]

What, you mean like a Firefly/Serenity theme, featuring River?

[Windzilla @ Oct 23rd 2008 8:27AM]

on first brief glance i thought it said viet nam edition.

[kiwi @ Oct 24th 2008 12:22PM]

I came in for the Serenity reference and I wasn't disappointed =D

[OneLove @ Oct 27th 2008 11:00AM]

boing!!!!!

[Nineteen88 @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:56AM]

Waah! I want this to be my new girlfriend! I'm buying it even though I'm a straight boy!

She looks very beautiful! I think I'll wet my pants!

[gad get @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:54AM]

OK, I'm officially weirded out now.

[kidcanuck @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:03AM]

But... it's a computer... you'll wet your pants?

I'm going to give you a chance to reconsider what you just said, which I strongly suggest you do, and maybe if you get it right, you can have another chance at dignity.

[liv @ Oct 23rd 2008 1:48PM]

just...lol o.O

[Nineteen88 @ Oct 23rd 2008 4:50PM]

Reconsider what exactly? I didn't say anything wrong. I just feel lonely you know.

So I'll be honest with you, I don't have a girlfriend. I think this computer is like a dream come true.

Thanks for replying to my comment.

[CJ @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:56AM]

As a dude, and a heterosexual one at that, I'd have to pass on this.

On the other hand, if this was perhaps a slightly darker shade of red (i.e: not hot pink inside), I'd be all over this, because hell, Vivienne Tam is one hell of an artist.

[nerdtalker @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:00AM]

Oh my God. That thing is a visual atrocity, nothing short. It is a holocaust of color, garish, and tastelessness. God above, it's ugly. Sweet baby Jesus, it's ugly. By all that is holy and sacred on the Earth, this is an ugly, ugly, ugly notebook.

[Esat Dedezade @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:07AM]

probably a better view than they guy in your avatar is looking at :)

[L @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:00AM]

So I guess this is the burn-your-retina version of the 2133 successor?

Good to see them using something else than a C7M - a VIA Nano would have been cool for the sake of diversity from the current completely similar netbook offerings from all manufacturers, but an Atom is just fine too.

[Ian @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:43AM]

That's what I want....... a VIA Nano netbook, just to continue to have an alternative out on the market. If you don't want a VIA-powered netbook, you don't need to buy it, but an alternative available on the market would be better for all consumers.


Oh, and surely they'll make a model with the same/similar colour as the current Mini-Note, hopefully keeping its 1280x768 screen and all that.

[Phonixfire @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:02AM]

Nice choice of preposition HP...

You can try something "on the 14th of December" for example, but you can't try something "on December", because it's too big to try something for the entirety of it. Even if you're doing something for the entire month you're doing it "in the month".

*Sighz*

[Simon @ Oct 23rd 2008 9:46AM]

Yeah, that is what I thought when I read it, But I didn't comment because I was too happy about them finally dropping an atom chipset in the mix!

Oh oh!! Finally the mini portable machine that is worthy of OSx86! (ie the time and effort to get it all working properly)

The 2133 was so, painfully close. Just that damn via chipset, was too slow....

But now the circle is complete. Screw u Apple!! Can't make a decent netbook for less than 500 bucks! Ha!

[rony @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:05AM]

when I see it I think of geishas and kimonoes and medieval Japan........

[topspeed @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:06AM]

Finally a laptop "suited" for the top model market.

[gad get @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:12AM]

I think they mean, "Try it on, December 2008." Notice how the font is slightly different for the date.

[gad get @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:13AM]

@ Phonixfire

[Phonixfire @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:38AM]

Nice choice of a graphic design/marketing team then =X

It's almost the same, although I can see what you mean about a very slight difference.

[Simon @ Oct 23rd 2008 9:51AM]

I think it is more of a case of a missed comma or full stop.

"Try it on." (I guess a clothing/style reference)

But unfortunately it doesn't say that and so we issue...

FAIL!

[cmj2405 @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:15AM]

But Atom is a good start!
The crappy VIA in the mini note is what is stopping me from getting one, for sure.

[Vineet Madan @ Oct 23rd 2008 9:36AM]

Why does it exist?

[Mike @ Oct 23rd 2008 10:07AM]

To alert us to the fact that the next (Tamless) MiniNote will be OSx86 ready.

[Ian @ Oct 23rd 2008 10:26AM]

As long as the components are compatible. But then again, the only way to do that is to make it more like the Dell Mini 9, which is very compatible.

[Kent @ Oct 23rd 2008 11:08AM]

Well, I guess they'll never advertise its main feature - you can be confident no heterosexual male will steal it.

[Nick @ Oct 23rd 2008 11:23AM]

That is one fugly laptop. I'm not even sure it would appeal to women that were in fact into vivaciousness, vividness, or flora. However, they've certainly nailed the tacky segment of the market and judging from what I've seen, that's not a niche market.

[bangladeshiluv @ Oct 23rd 2008 12:45PM]

wow thats gorgeous. i wonder if theyll do a silk cloth edition. laptop must be dry cleaned only.

[Stefan @ Oct 23rd 2008 1:05PM]

I detest the grammar.

[Josh Ladella @ Oct 23rd 2008 8:43PM]

that hinge looks very apple-esque...if the vent is just as apple-esque, i wonder if you're given the option to close the lid without putting the computer to sleep...

[tekd @ Oct 24th 2008 2:25AM]

Other than the weird-looking flower (that design honestly looks like it's better suited for a fabric print, which is probably where Vivienne Tam took it from, lol) the laptop looks pretty good...I'm digging the Chinese style red and gold look (no, I'm not saying this just because it's Vivienne Tam, it really does remind me of the stereotypical Chinese red and gold look).

I'd probably buy it if I were a girl and they redid that horrible flower print with a more realistic looking flower.

Actually, slap a dragon or something on and I'll buy it as a guy =p