HP's Vivienne Tam edition Mini gets the hands-on treatment

Sure, the Vivienne Tam Edition Mini has been available for about a month, but it's taken that long for at least one red-obsessed netbook lover to give us a hands-on with HP's fashion-forward "Digital Clutch." The folks over at GearDiary loved the red and gold color scheme on the keyboard and the included silky sleeve. You know how we feel about HP's offering -- albeit the black counterpart -- but save for that red paint job and artsy design on the hood, it's essentially the same device. Be sure to hit the read link for even more pics of the floral-inflused Mini, and hit up HP's site with your $700 to snag one for yourself. Oh, and if you dig that matching mouse make sure you bring some extra cash because that baby's not included.

[1337grunt @ Jan 4th 2009 11:26PM]

FIRST!!! Jk, looks alright, just not quite my style. But if it were free...

[banned @ Jan 4th 2009 11:36PM]

if it were free... if everything was free then macs would be popular.

[OneLove @ Jan 5th 2009 11:00AM]

she needs to stop the meth and get some sleep:

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0cpbci55IVc6X/340x.jpg

[CHEF @ Jan 4th 2009 11:29PM]

first (finally)

[zioncat @ Jan 4th 2009 11:58PM]

Wow so HP wants me to pay them 700 bucks for a netbook without an optical drive limited processor and a small SSD hard drive. Way to douche up my day.

[Knee to the Groin @ Jan 5th 2009 1:10AM]

I actually + ranked the "first" idiot before you, purely to further offset your utter failure...

[oZone @ Jan 5th 2009 4:15AM]

And the username to go with teh pwnage. LOL.

[topspinserve @ Jan 4th 2009 11:33PM]

So close!

[topspinserve @ Jan 4th 2009 11:34PM]

@CHEF, of course

[pika2000 @ Jan 4th 2009 11:36PM]

Talk about upselling a netbook. I wonder how big of a margin HP is getting from this, considering the inside is just a cheap netbook. The least HP should do is use a dual-core and/or improve the battery life.

[Crayola @ Jan 4th 2009 11:40PM]

Very pretty, I gather it is a girl's netbook? That polyester bag is a disappointment, so tacky...

[Craig @ Jan 4th 2009 11:55PM]

Why disappointing? It's made from the same polyester they use in those pantsuits that most of the women who'd consider buying this wear every day.

[Zorque @ Jan 4th 2009 11:59PM]

That looks like something you'd buy on a street corner, or at a state fair.

[futurepastnow @ Jan 5th 2009 12:31AM]

The matching mouse is a nice touch.

[SDreamer @ Jan 5th 2009 12:47AM]

That looks so cheap. It looks very plastic-///very cheap plastic-y...

[oZone @ Jan 5th 2009 4:13AM]

My sister recieved one for Christmas for her SO and it is anything but cheap and plastic-y. Very solid and a great little netbook, even if the price isn't something I agree with. It will excel in what it was meant to be used for: quick note taking in class (us medical students try to save our wrists from the hassle of writing) and making a nice conversation piece. I'd love one if it weren't for the floral print just because the red is so stunning. I'm sure i can solve that with some stickers, however...

[Uncontrol @ Jan 5th 2009 1:00AM]

Any way to buy the mouse separately?

[Uncontrol @ Jan 5th 2009 1:02AM]

Nevermind, not Bluetooth. Screw it. Why are wireless USB dongle mice even still being made?

[Gomab 2k4 @ Jan 5th 2009 1:39AM]

I wonder if the camera sucks on this one like it does on the 1035NR I returned...

[sully @ Jan 5th 2009 1:26PM]

Yup, it has the same issue - it's unusably dark. I guess it's a manufacturing defect.

[Mir @ Jan 5th 2009 9:56AM]

I have a pink MSI Wind, so I'm no stranger to wanting a girly-looking computer, but this?

No thanks.

I thought the appeal of netbooks was the low, low pricetag?

[John from Buffalo @ Jan 5th 2009 11:36AM]

Circuit just got in the HP 1035NR (hard drive based w/ wireless + BT) model about a week ago. A snagged a few pictures and did the iPhoto -> .MOV -> iSquint port for everyone. It can be had here if anyone has an interest.

[John from Buffalo @ Jan 5th 2009 11:37AM]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnwaller/3159743202/

[sully @ Jan 5th 2009 1:33PM]

For anyone interested, I put together a linux theme to match the laptop, and maximize screen real estate on the abysmal 1024x600 screen. More info here:
http://forums.mininoteuser.com/ubuntu/mini-1000-vivienne-tam-edition-theme-t687.html

I should have it all uploaded to gnome-look later today.

[cathy @ Jan 15th 2009 10:07AM]

Does anyone know where to get that matching mouse in the US? Hp sells this red red red netbook in Taiwan but not that matching mouse. How can I own the netbook without that mouse?