HP's new Mini 1000 and MIE Linux make netbooks fun again

We've been struggling to keep awake for the large majority of this year, as netbook after netbook lands in our laps with identical specs, form factors and general shoddiness. No longer. HP is giving the market a shot in the arm with its new "clutch-style" skinny form factors, polished Linux OS and aggressive price points -- even if the specs are about as boring as the Mini-Note 2133. As rumored, HP's new Mini 1000 netbook is ditching VIA and going the Atom route (1.6GHz N270, in case you hadn't guessed). Also new is an option for a 10.2-inch display, though it's a mere 1024 x 600 instead of the 1280 x 768 display on the 2133 -- for a bit cheaper you can get a 1024 x 600 8.9-inch display, but that would just be boring. HP is offering 512MB, 1GB and 2GB RAM configurations, though the XP option limits you to 1GB (thanks, Microsoft). For storage you can score a 60GB 4200 rpm HDD or your choice of a 8GB or 16GB SSD. If you go the SSD route there's also room for a 2, 4 or 8GB "HP Mini Mobile Drive," which is a regular USB drive that inserts all the way into a special slot for added integration. There's also an SD slot, VGA webcam, 802.11b/g, optional Bluetooth, Ethernet and dual USB plugs. Where things get extra interesting is in choice of OS. You can go the standard XP route, or for $20 less you can go for HP's brand new Ubuntu-based Linux "experience," MIE, which reminds us not just a little of HP's TouchSmart interface. The XP version is available today starting at $399, with a 10.2-inch version costing just a little bit more. The Vivienne Tam Edition, which brings a whole lot of style but little substance to the offering, will go for $699 in mid-December, and the MIE version will land in January for a mere $379.

Gallery: HP's new Mini 1000 and MIE Linux

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[Ahmad @ Oct 29th 2008 12:13AM]

The major difference hp's 2133 had with other netbooks was the screen resolution. Now with this 10" model, except aesthetics, it's like any other netbook

[Mike Cerm @ Oct 29th 2008 2:15AM]

That's not the only difference. HP's keyboards are better than you find on any other netbook. Also, HP actually puts the right shift key in the right place, unlike most other netbooks (MSI Wind, and Acer Inspire One being the other exceptions).

[Knives_Out @ Oct 29th 2008 2:27AM]

1024 x 600

fail.

[Avi Tar @ Oct 29th 2008 2:21PM]

Weak. Lame. Cheapo small screen res. Same netbook as a million others out there. What's the big deal?

[thedesolate1 @ Oct 29th 2008 12:13AM]

HP you disappoint me. Where is my wacom tablet edition?

[Levi @ Oct 29th 2008 10:24AM]

Agreed.. I'd buy the XP edition with a gig if they had a Wacom digitizer for the screen..

[Corey @ Oct 29th 2008 12:15AM]

This makes me horny.

[greg @ Oct 29th 2008 8:04AM]

I thought I was the only one.

[Shyam D @ Oct 29th 2008 12:18AM]

Man, if this had the 2133 Screen, it would be a winner. Well, depends on the battery.

[digitallysick @ Oct 29th 2008 12:18AM]

i see nothing special here, why should we want this again? The price is far to high

[cheng @ Oct 29th 2008 12:21AM]

so this is where the new OS Hp was working on ended up.

[TangoPudding @ Oct 29th 2008 12:21AM]

Love the keyboard, but I'm still holding out for a real 2133 replacement...

[vance @ Oct 29th 2008 12:23AM]

I actually thought the 2133's resolution was a bit high for 8.9". Made my eyes hurt after a bit. Probably on 10" it would be better.

For what I need a netbook for, the new resolution will be fine. I'd like to see decent battery life, though. Keyboard and form-factor are there. I hope the Linux build boots really fast.

[germs @ Oct 29th 2008 12:25AM]

Hey guys dont trash me for this, but from the pictures i noticed there isnt any vga out port
for people who want to plug it into a larger monitor. (my home setup is my laptop hooked up to a 22" lcd monitor)

Although ill admit this would probably be for people who just want to browse the net, view /listen to internet media while on the go.

[Paul Miller @ Oct 29th 2008 12:33AM]

There's a funky VGA adapter available, but it doesn't come standard. No DVI option that I'm aware of, the whole thing makes little sense.

[Mike Bertolino @ Oct 29th 2008 12:50AM]

oh damn, i didn't even think of that. that's like the only downside. well, i'm not really liking the way the ports are out there, i'd want it to be more smooth. but the os looks pretty solid.

[Fanfoot @ Oct 29th 2008 3:07AM]

Its got a DisplayPort, and there will be a dongle available to hook it up to VGA, just like Apple is doing with its new MacBooks.

[sockatume @ Nov 20th 2008 11:33AM]

It's not DisplayPort, it's a proprietary connector that HP intend to use for a dock. It also carries USB, audio, and power.

[diode3diode @ Oct 29th 2008 12:37AM]

Between this and the Samsung nc10 It's hard to decide which to get. That touchsmart interface just might be a winner. That MIE version would come around the time the Eee touchscreen comes out so we'll see.

[Mike Bertolino @ Oct 29th 2008 12:46AM]

If this was around when I bought my MacBook for school... I would've bought this. It's so sexy.

[jbruder @ Oct 29th 2008 1:03AM]

Hmmm. For the same price an aspire one has 160gb HD. I expected when I bought an AA1 to rave about it out of pure purchase defense, but I also expected it to be quickly out-valued. Sadly, I still haven't seen it yet. I guess these things are so cheap and homogenous that market forces are not doing their job.

I would like to get my hands on MIE, though. I'd like to set it up next to XP & Ubuntu and see how it stacks up.

[AC @ Oct 29th 2008 1:22AM]

I wish they would have stuck with VIA. I liked seeing the underdog have a place on the market.

[amb9800 @ Oct 29th 2008 1:33AM]

Looks nice for a basic netbook, and I guess it'll bring HP into the pricing mainstream, but it's missing most of what makes the 2133 unique.

The Mini-Note (2133) has the awesome high-res screen, seriously high-powered speakers, an ExpressCard slot, VGA out, and most importantly, a magnesium chassis and anodized aluminum case.

They very likely have a high-end version (2133 update) in the works, but I assume that'll also drop Via and just jump on the 1.6 GHz Atom bandwagon. Wanted to see Nano up and running in these, with an Nvidia chipset, but I guess that won't happen anytime soon...

[Stranger @ Oct 29th 2008 3:10AM]

Amen! Everything which made the 2133 special has been removed. Sure, switching to the Atom CPU is most likely a good idea, but what about the high-res screen? And one of the major complaints people have had, about the funky mouse buttons, has still not been addressed.

[Tired_ @ Oct 29th 2008 1:33AM]

Available today from whom? I don't see it on HP's website at all, in Home or in SMB.

[Evan @ Oct 29th 2008 1:53AM]

Take off the Foo-foo-flowers on the red one, and I'll take 2.

[Fanfoot @ Oct 29th 2008 3:09AM]

Its now the 29th in California and still not visible on HP's website anywhere.

[Fanfoot @ Oct 29th 2008 3:42AM]

Actually there is driver and support information available, for example here's the 1000 models:

HP Mini 1000 Netbook PC series
» HP Mini 1001TU Netbook PC
» HP Mini 1002TU Netbook PC
» HP Mini 1003TU Netbook PC
» HP Mini 1004TU Netbook PC
» HP Mini 1005TU Netbook PC
» HP Mini 1006TU Netbook PC
» HP Mini 1007TU Netbook PC
» HP Mini 1008TU Netbook PC
» HP Mini 1009TU Netbook PC
» HP Mini 1010TU Netbook PC
» HP Mini 1011TU Netbook PC
» HP Mini 1012TU Netbook PC
» HP Mini 1013TU Netbook PC
» HP Mini 1014TU Netbook PC
» HP Mini 1015TU Netbook PC
» HP Mini 1016TU Netbook PC

and the Maintenance and Service Guide at:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/manualCategory?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=3842177&

Interesting stuff I noticed included:

- max 1GB of RAM (really?)
- the hard drive is 1.8" 4200 PATA as you'd expect (will it support the thicker 240GB drives?)
- SSD's are MLC
- uses Broadcom BCM4312 Wifi chip
- supports "two mini-card slots; 1 full size; 1 half size"
- the only thing accessible from the bottom is the RAM. the hard disk is under the keyboard, which you can remove.
- the display is "edge lit" which I assume means it is NOT led backlit
- SSD has 39MB/sec read, 17MB/sec write, which I think isn't that great...


It goes through a pretty complete disassembly of the entire unit, where all the modules are located, how to replace them, what the option numbers are for ordering any parts (add Bluetooth later say), etc. Even all the screws used. I didn't see anything documenting what the interfaces for the WWAN (PCIe?) or Bluetooth (no idea) cards are. Others might be able to tell from the pictures though.

[barry99705 @ Oct 29th 2008 8:56AM]

Edge lit can also be led.

[peter @ Oct 29th 2008 9:49PM]

actually, they said max 1gb for xp. 2gb for linux. and if i get one, I'm definitely getting the ubuntu-based one, and formatting to put on plain ubuntu.

[Julian Bond @ Oct 29th 2008 3:47AM]

Somebody wake me up when there's a winner so I can replace my Asus 900-Linux.

[mizzo @ Oct 29th 2008 5:26AM]

Does it have a SD card reader?

[Ryan @ Oct 29th 2008 8:52AM]

Read The Fantastic Article.

[DjFIL @ Oct 29th 2008 5:39AM]

The keyboard alone is almost enough to make me switch from my Dell Mini 9... but I think I'll hold out for a while. I do love everything else about my Dell Mini 9.

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 29th 2008 7:34AM]

WHAT????
A cool lappie from HP?
I'm obviously getting too old: I don't recognize this reality anymore.

[PeteCE @ Oct 29th 2008 9:15AM]

When I got to the site, only WinXP is available for the OS. Am I the only one?

[run n gun 26 @ Oct 29th 2008 4:59PM]

"and the MIE version will land in January for a mere $379."

[htd @ Oct 29th 2008 9:47AM]

great, I will keep enjoying my eeepc 1000ha...

[Levi @ Oct 29th 2008 10:30AM]

I always read these posts hoping they'll say something like "Now with a mid range GPU and 12" screen!"

I would totally buy one of these if the specs were closer to this:
-12" screen
-mid range GPU
-mid range Core 2 Duo

I don't think changing a "netbook" like this to the above specs should rAise the price any more than a couple hundred, which would be around $600-- and I would buy it in a heartbeat. Anybody have a link for my dream lappy??

[FRZ @ Oct 29th 2008 11:26AM]

4200 rpm HDD. seriously? They still make those?

[BobCFC @ Nov 2nd 2008 11:34AM]

I think those are the extra-thin ones

[Fr0 @ Oct 29th 2008 9:32PM]

anyone else disappointed that HP decided to put out a "me too" netbook instead of updating the 2133 to blow the competition out of the water?

I would have paid $750+ for a netbook that has:
10" 1280x800 screen
expresscard slot
digital monitor output (dvi/hdmi/displayport/etc)
Vista-Aero compatible video card (obviously running Vista)

or basically, a 2133 updated with a 10" 1280x800 screen and a Nano processor...

I guess I'm still holding onto my money and hoping that Apple will get into the netbook game.

[peter @ Oct 29th 2008 9:49PM]

seriously? why not just ubuntu with pre-installed drivers and maybe even some fancy noob-friendly programs? as it is, i believe that intrepid will release a week late and everything for the os will have to be run through people at hp.

[YpoCaramel @ Oct 30th 2008 12:02PM]

The nice, more metallic build quality on the HP machines is very nice and much better than my 1000h, but the 60GB max HD (new 1000Hs have 160GB) and if there's no 6-cell battery around it'd be quite silly.

[Melay @ Oct 31st 2008 5:58PM]

Is that an LED next to the webcam?

[run n gun 26 @ Oct 29th 2008 5:01PM]

Probably. My HP laptop has a blue light that lights up when the webcam is recording.

[Rcro @ Nov 12th 2008 11:33PM]

What a waste. Like they need another me too product. Same basic blah guts as every other netbook out there. Via was supposed to have a dual core coming out that would allow them to do the 10.2" screen and keep the res they had on the original Mini. Lackluster (and that's being nice) drive options and the removal of the express card slot at a pricetag that's significantly higher than a lenovo S10 is just ridiculous. The keyboard is the only positive and nowhere near worth the premium. They screwed the pooch on this one. I'll stick with the S10 so I can use my EX720 without a USB adapter and spend $100 less with a much larger HD and a 2gb ram upgrade. Sorry HP. First you create laptops with touchpad centered on the laptop and not the center over the spacebar screwing up touch typists, now you ruin your netbook by changing the things that made it stand out from the others. But you have such a pretty lid. You sure know your customer base.

[gthw @ Nov 19th 2008 9:51AM]

Just bought one.

What I love - size, weight, style, ease of use keyboard, visible screen (lower resolution = larger text and readability)
What I miss - VGA output port and built in microphone (need to plug in a mike/ headphone before I can Skype). Battery life too short (waiting for the 6 cell)

On the whole a good compromise to run around all day with a good enough netbook performance.

Anyone knows where I can buy the VGA cable/connector dongle? Thanks in advance.

[richard @ Dec 9th 2008 11:08AM]

i hate this laptop.. i just bought 1 last Saturday.. and it really sucks! and its my fault because I didn't check everything :( my apology... I hate it.. it was so hard its not friendly user.. the webcam and microphone are so bad. webcam is so dark while microphone was so soft can't hear.. i really hate it I'm not satisfied. I want my money back. hey friends...is my problem also your problem? coz' the shop where I buy this laptop they told me that's normal but I don't wanna believe coz'its too impossible..can somebody help me?

[richard @ Dec 9th 2008 11:17AM]

help me...what shall I do to improve the webcam? it was totally black but sometimes your shadow only can be seen. I really hate this. I wasted my money, can't return this anymore. anyway do you have any example of a picture using the webcam? thanks