HP Compaq's Mini 700 now on sale in Europe

To our knowledge, neither HP nor Compaq (nor HP Compaq, for the record) have uttered a single word about the clearly real Mini 700. After going a few months without hearing an update, we now have reports that it is widely available overseas. According to NotebookItalia, said netbook will boast a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU, GMA950 integrated graphics, 10.2-inch display (1,204 x 600), 1GB of DDR2 RAM, webcam / microphone, an integrated card reader, audio in / out, Ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports and a pair of Altec Lansing speakers. Additionally, the Italian version (at least) includes a 3-cell battery and Windows XP Home while providing optional WiFi, Bluetooth and HSDPA. Curiously, the quoted price for the now-shipping unit is up one hundred quid to £399 ($594), though it's difficult to tell if that's a baseline rig or a fully loaded machine. Anyone across the pond care to chime in?

[drumdbeat @ Dec 22nd 2008 9:41AM]

10.2" @ < £400....

Im sure that was what those guys in the comments were moaning about. So yeah. netbook.
You get me?

[adrian @ Dec 22nd 2008 7:35PM]

400 notes?. That's a lot of wedge for a small computer with a screen that will send it's users eyes streaming after a few hours. Netbooks?. A total con.

[Sneakz @ Dec 22nd 2008 9:45AM]

1024x600, not 1204x600

[loocas @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:53PM]

Which makes no difference on the little mirror as you'll be blinded by the pure awesomeness of yourself obscuring your desctop. Really cool, huh?

[Peter @ Dec 22nd 2008 9:45AM]

"10.2-inch display (1,204 x 600)"

I'm guessing that's supposed to be 1024 x 600.

[Level 5 @ Dec 22nd 2008 9:47AM]

These HP/Compaq netbooks are by far my favorite as far as attractiveness, but if you can't get it to me for under $400, I might have to pass. My 12" P3/1ghz has bad hinges, I'd rather just buy a new netbook since the hinges alone are about $50-60.

[216 @ Dec 22nd 2008 9:49AM]

You can get them at Best Buy for $399. Good luck finding one in stock tho

[chefgon_ign @ Dec 22nd 2008 9:47AM]

It's got a decent looking keyboard, at least.

[htd @ Dec 22nd 2008 9:51AM]

what's with the big borders on left and right? I can understand such things on 9" ones, but why on 10" ones?

[giuliop @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:11AM]

Because the notebook (netbook) is larger than the screen?

[wunch @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:33AM]

Take a look at the keyboard. The screen bezel is larger to match the size of the keyboard, which I assume HP wants to make actually usable. I've used the previous model, and its amazing how much nicer it is to type on than my Eee PC.

[Din Corleone @ Dec 22nd 2008 9:51AM]

And it doubles as a mirror.

[Wii60 @ Dec 22nd 2008 9:59AM]

Holy glossy screens Batman!

[Sarvesh @ Dec 22nd 2008 9:54AM]

bellisimo

[oneMadRssn @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:04AM]

how is this any different from the hp mini 1000?

[David R @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:58PM]

This seems to be identical to the HP 1030NR that I just bought last week. Maybe a different coloring pattern on the outside, but the specs, keyboard, speakers, etc seem to be the same.

[Bill @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:10AM]

Hp mini 704 win xp 1gb 60gb hd atom n270 for 329£ pre order from hp themselves with 4 weeks lead time. Weak specs for the price but a really good looking machine. No mention of HSDPA modem built in either.

[silverblackvoid @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:13AM]

why is there a energy star sticker?

[Stereotype @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:50AM]

Because maybe it is energy efficient?

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:18AM]

Yeah? Will it BLEND?

St. Nickolaus can I have it please???

[dodo @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:19AM]

i thought netbooks where supposed to be cheap...pfff

[Mike @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:22AM]

Ok, it was funny a year ago, 6 months ago, and hell even 3 months ago. Now its just plain stupid.

[Kris120890 @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:32AM]

I've been looking around. The mini 700 is £299 but the mini with hsdpa or whatever it is called is £399 but will only be available from network providers. Hope that solves you're problem

[Max @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:34AM]

what are the harddrive specs on this one? the ausu 1000h goes for about 400 and has 160 gig so im seriously considering it
and if anyone has had a chance to experience both machines which one has a better handle on graphics? any info would be cool thx

[Sea Urchin @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:36AM]

I Know.

[et @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:50AM]

did a quick search and in austria it seems to be available at least through conrad.at

it's 409€ incl 20% tax with the following specs listed:

Bluetooth®: 2.0
Display (Zoll): 10.2"
Display-Eigenschaften: Widescreen, glänzend (glossy)
Display-Auflösung (resolution): 1024 x 600 Pixel
Grafik-Prozessor: Intel® GMA 950
Grafik-Speicher: 256 MB
Grafik-Typ: onBoard (Shared Memory)
Festplatte: 60 GB
Festplatten-Drehzahl: 4200 U/min
Festplatten-Typ: SATA (150 MB/s)
Schnittstellen: 2x USB 2.0, RJ45 (LAN)
Mikrofon/Line-In
Kopfhörer (earphones)/Line-Out
Netzwerk (lan): 10 / 100 MBit/s
Betriebssystem: Microsoft Windows® XP Home
Prozessor: Intel® Atom™ N270 (1,60 GHz)
Arbeitsspeicher (ram): 1024 MB
Speichertyp: DDR2-RAM
Webcam: Ja
Gewicht: 1.02 kg
Wireless LAN: 11 / 54 MBit/s

[Ian @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:17AM]

So is this better than the HP Mini 1000?

[et @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:33AM]

eeepcnews.de claims: "Der Compaq Mini 700 ist baugleich zum HP Mini 1000, den ich vorletzte Woche im Livestream vorgestellt habe."
fast translation -->" the compaq mini 700 is the same as the hp mini 1000, which i introduced in the livestream"

so it seems to be just rebranded using compaq for europe...

[M. @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:46AM]

haha I just bought one TODAY! here in the Netherlands, there is only 1 and I mean ONLY ONE! supplier that's supplying these netbooks. Haven't turned it on yet but man is this thing beautiful!!

[M. @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:47AM]

oh yeah price: 399 euro's

[john @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:55AM]

So, wait, what's the difference between this and the mini 1000?

[Baz @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:02PM]

Euwwww. Compaq.

Compaq is to HP as eMachines is to Gateway - the el cheapo brand.

Time was when Compaq was a separate company and even occasionally built decent computers, including my very first notebook - which turned out to be, in hindsight, my first 'netbook' too - the Contura Aero. But hey, that was 'way back in the Computer Bronze Age and when Compaq offered 2 year warranties.

Now, its the brand sold by HP as its Big Box consumer (read: "I've never had a computer before and I don't know what it does or anything about that stuff. Anything cheap I can try out?") brand - cheap and nasty, but if (when) it breaks, you won't be blaming HP, but Compaq.

Jeez - you might as well buy a Packard Bell.

[wanchaiman @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:29PM]

This does seem to be a branding exercise as there is no difference between these machines apart from the pattern on the outer casing and the desktop jpg... both of which are included in the disc image of each machine.

Good for them... they are selling the same ways as the soap manufacturers ...

And both products are great on the hands (The keyboard on the mini is the best out there).

[Antonio Moro @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:38PM]

That netbook is sold in Italy at the MediaWorld store, just 1
model, the one you're writing on, at €399... euros not pounds.

[Andreas @ Dec 23rd 2008 11:05AM]

The Compaq Mini 700 is as well available at Conrad.de for 399 Euros ..nevertheless a euro is currently worth a pound :-)...

[Carlo @ Jan 12th 2009 5:36AM]

The price is €399 not £, so the total price is around $560.

[sockatume @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:50PM]

HP's UK store just started listing it at £329 including VAT, for an undisclosed spec. Interestingly if you view it in the cart it lists it as a US keyboard layout so I believe they're bringing it to the US after all.

[Ashely Cooper @ Dec 23rd 2008 5:25AM]

Its been on sale at my work for a week or 2. I am in Aus btw.

[superhobo @ Dec 23rd 2008 5:01AM]

GLOSSSSSSSSSSSSPHPHPHPPTHPTPHTPHT

[Piet @ Dec 23rd 2008 6:24AM]

Where can i buy this in holland mr M ? (a fellow dutchman !!)

[B.M.O.C. @ Dec 23rd 2008 7:59AM]

I don't understand HPs decisions with this line of netbooks. They release the first model, which was pretty awesome in every respect except for the slow via processor.

Everyone says, "this would be perfect if they stuck an atom processor in it"

So they stick an atom processor in it, but reduce the screen res to be the same as every other netbook, and ditch the sweet aluminium case.

Just give us the original machine but with the atom processor, stop gimping all the other sweet features. Who cares if it pushes the price up a bit, it'll still be a great machine. Argh!

[Sir Marky @ Dec 23rd 2008 2:20PM]

The screen res problem is the fault of Microsoft once again. They have dictated that XP is only available to manufactuers to install to machines if the screen res does not exceed the common netbook size.

Of course has they stuck with Linux and not sheepishly did what M$ demands then anything is possible. However customers like the familar XP environment, for good or ill, and thus in one swoop Redmond has cripped the screen res on netbooks until they get fast enough for Vista/Windows 7.

[xconan @ Dec 23rd 2008 5:10PM]

The only thing that bugs me about the hp minis are the keys. They feel mushy and lack feedback compared to the aspire 1 or the s10. The s10 though lacking the glossy screen which is good is somewhere in between the eee, aspire 1 and the mini.

[xconan @ Dec 23rd 2008 5:11PM]

forgot to mention price wise. the s10 is cheaper only 399-