Move over, Eee: Android now running on HP Mini-Note 2133

Not content with letting the freelancers at Venture Beat hog the spotlight, some HP-loving Canadians decided to take their 2133 Mini-Note and add a dash of Google's Android OS -- the best thing to happen to netbooks since SSD. There isn't really much in terms of details right now, but if you're the kind of person who gets totally stoked by watching someone go through a preference pane and empty photo album -- without using a mouse, mind you -- we've got just the video for you after the break. Let's hope this Android-netbook lovefest doesn't stop anytime soon.

[Via Netbooknews.de]

[pika2000 @ Jan 5th 2009 1:00PM]

Wow, small icons, tiny fonts, on a tiny screen. I hope somebody will optimize the UI ala Ubuntu eee/netbook remix.

[liv @ Jan 5th 2009 1:14PM]

Why would they do that? Are you planning on using Android on your Mini Note? Has life become so boring to all you guys that you actually feel the need to use a sub-par, semi-useless OS on a netbook, crippling its functions??

Seriously, why the fuck even try? As a technical experiment...?? Why don't they focus on putting Android on more embedded devices? Leave the netbook business to real Linux distros and Windows!

[john @ Jan 5th 2009 1:37PM]

liv:

Netbooks are already crippled devices (low powered cpu, low RAM, low resolution display, small display, etc.). And, when you look at what most people do even on a desktop, Android is probably "good enough", with a few enhancements (IMO, about 6 easy to fix things need to be addressed). People who are looking for a "desktop replacement" type device, with the ability to run heavy apps, they shouldn't be on a netbook anyway. They should be on a laptop or desktop.

People who don't need a desktop replacement, but just a device that's up to common tasks (Email, Calendar, IM, RSS, basic web browsing) should be just fine on an Android netbook, or even an Android based thin-client. The only thing that's truly missing, IMO, is document editing (that's one of the things on my 6 items to make Android realistic as a netbook/thin-client OS: full Google Docs support, the other five are: full Gmail, full Google Reader, better VNC support, a few more IM/chat options (multiple Google Talk accounts, non-Google Jabber accounts, IRC accounts), and SyncML client for Calendar).

The real question is: what kind of idiot runs Windows on a netbook?

[liv @ Jan 5th 2009 1:48PM]

Meh not worth answering... you have been low ranked for being ignorant!

[Backlin @ Jan 5th 2009 2:11PM]

Yeah, because a two paragraph response with more than three sentences per is a real sign of ignorance!

*sighs*

[nicholas @ Jan 5th 2009 3:09PM]

Liv, I was pushing for Nokia to push Symbian development towards netbooks quite a while ago. The original NetBook by Psion ran the OS's precursor. It was short sighted of them not to develop this path.

The line between the Mobile OS and desktop OS will continue to blur. Sorry if that isn't your thing...

[Mark @ Jan 5th 2009 4:49PM]

Finally, an OS that will run somewhat smoothly on the Mini-Note.

[Student Driver @ Jan 5th 2009 5:11PM]

Fine, this is "idiot" here, running Vista Ultimate on two Dell Mini 9 netbooks and they run great. My only "problem" is that I keep installing more software on the damn thing, and I had to order a 64GB Runcore SSD for it to keep going. These things are great, and run Vista very well (including some old games I love, like Quake 3 Arena and emulators). It's great to have in the living room for looking up stuff, setting up my Harmony remote, all kinds of Bluetooth connectivity, and much more. I also convert videos with it for my daughter's Insignia Pilot and my G1.

That brings me to the G1 and Android. The only problem I have with it is not enough internal space, and no way to install applications to microSDHC media. The App Market application has grown to 25MB (I think it was 8MB or less when I got it) and I have had to remove applications I wanted to keep on it. I was a big Palm fan back in the day, and moved on to Windows PocketPC and later Windows Mobile with my Dash. With the G1, I find that install and use way more applications on it since they run very well (even if they are first attempts at applications in many cases). So, you tend to get carried away and install anything that looks cool. Since you can run multiple apps at once easily, well, you tend to gather a lot of stuff on it that seems great at the time. :-)

Running Android on a laptop, even a current size netbook, seems like a huge waste of hardware. I have a few apps for playing music and interacting with YouTube videos on the G1, but someone could just use a single app on the netbook for what they want (Amarok, Windows Media Player, etc). Also, you can get a much nicer office suite with native support for files you use rather than poking around with whatever alpha-grade software is available (not to mention it would have been designed for a small touch screen rather than a "large" regular screen). But, they did it and I guess that was the point.

[brandon @ Jan 5th 2009 1:02PM]

Wow, this is so useful.... NOT!!!

[Not brandon @ Jan 5th 2009 1:06PM]

Wow...you have shit for brains

[L @ Jan 5th 2009 1:11PM]

How is this useful, when you can have a proper, full-blown OS with matching UI as well? All you get by Android is an limited OS & comparably tiny selection of apps that are build for a small touchscreen device and thus, totally mismatched with what a netbook offers...

So, Engadget, are we now going to see a post for every single netbook port of Android out there? Because, you know, it wasn't all that thrilling the first time (Linux-based OS compiled for different platform! News at 11!) and just gets more and more stale with every new post...

[Jorvay @ Jan 5th 2009 1:13PM]

I have a baby, but it can't build me a new deck right now so it's not useful and therefore pointless. Nobody should have babies anymore.

[L @ Jan 5th 2009 1:21PM]

Well, if you measure a baby's worth by the amount of work the little fella can do for you, then I'd say you *really* shouldn't have any more offspring.

You know, child labour laws and so...

[bluesky_v2.01 @ Jan 5th 2009 3:13PM]

Next time feel free to skip this article altogether so we don't have to listen to your bitching here.

[Wormbolt @ Jan 5th 2009 7:44PM]

@Jorvay

Thank you.

This isn't about what Android is, it's about what it will be.

[CouponsCatalog @ Jan 5th 2009 1:10PM]

The only really annoying thing on this guy is that crazy-glossy screen. HP started making their laptops with that DuraBrite or XtraBrite glossy plastic and for some reason they think it's such a great idea. It's really really not though. Fingerprints are more visible and the glare is magnified. Isn't that obvious?!?! A matte screen will not reflect as much as a glossy screen...
I just don't get it.

[lu1de @ Jan 5th 2009 1:11PM]

WHYYYY????

[Nick @ Jan 5th 2009 1:13PM]

That's what she said..?

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

@Nick:
That's a very bad "that's what she said" joke.

[Patriks7 @ Jan 5th 2009 1:12PM]

What's the point of putting a smartphone OS on a netbook? :x

[liv @ Jan 5th 2009 1:29PM]

so you can have yourself a smartbook!

[sinjinn @ Jan 5th 2009 4:31PM]

smartbook ..lol

[Justin lucke @ Jan 5th 2009 1:12PM]

Android belongs on phones imo

[centinall @ Jan 5th 2009 2:10PM]

What about PMPs, Portable Navigation Systems, in-dash Navigation Systems, etc? There's no reason that Android (or any OS for that matter) shouldn't be ported to all kinds of devices.

[strider_mt2k @ Jan 5th 2009 1:12PM]

It's official: everything runs on everything.

The end.

[Mike P. @ Jan 5th 2009 1:42PM]

I can't get Crysis to run on my Gameboy Pocket.

=(

[Flashpoint @ Jan 5th 2009 1:53PM]

My problem with Android is that unlike Linux, Windows and OSX, most devices I'd plug to this via USBB have no Android specs at all.

[Wormbolt @ Jan 5th 2009 7:42PM]

Yes, Android, so different from Linux.

[Beastage @ Jan 5th 2009 1:16PM]

Amazing, someone stop the press! linux?! on net books!? inconceivable!

[jared @ Jan 5th 2009 1:24PM]

I do not think that word means what you think it means.

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

+1 I actually loled :D

[strider_mt2k @ Jan 5th 2009 1:28PM]

Whoa whoa, easy does it.

I don't think we need to go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line.

[Brak @ Jan 5th 2009 1:43PM]

@strider_mt2k:
Haha i love that movie
"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

[Beastage @ Jan 5th 2009 2:03PM]

@ Strider , I actually spoke that word out loud with a certain accent while typing :D

[nanobis @ Jan 5th 2009 1:17PM]

Well the rumors that google would be looking into working on a OS might have been true after all. Its just that they knew some ppl out there would think, "I wounder if Android would run on netbook?" and do it for them. Yey for open source!

What i would like to know is when will we see symbian ported to a netbook. :S

[ANTCEP @ Jan 5th 2009 1:18PM]

i wonder if we will ever see android on the iphone

[chefgon_ign @ Jan 5th 2009 2:37PM]

Once somebody hacks a Linux command line onto it, Android will be there to plant its flag of victory within days. Going from bootable Linux to bootable Android isn't that big of a leap. Getting usable drivers to actually make it do something may take a while, though.

[john @ Jan 5th 2009 1:25PM]

Android needs to fix a few things (IMO, about 6) for it to be a useful netbook OS for me ...

but, that said, I'm hoping it gets ported to the Fujitsu Lifebook U820 next :-)

[soobin27 @ Jan 5th 2009 1:31PM]

Phase 1. Install Android on a netbook
Phase 2. ?
Phase 3. Profit

You see, they just have to figure out Phase 2.

[RichardBronosky @ Jan 5th 2009 2:15PM]

Phase 2: Use the knowledge gained in the netbook exercise to port Android to a more closed, more difficult device.
sed -i.old_way_of_thinking s/Profit/Reward/ Phase\ 3

I kept a backup for you in case the new way of thinking fails. But, I doubt it will.

[8r13n @ Jan 5th 2009 1:32PM]

....What's the amazing feat here? The Green Robot is just a Penguin distro, why wouldn't it run on a laptop? ...I love how Linux people brag about compatibility and their superior OS then throw a party once they actually get the thing installed.

[Brak @ Jan 5th 2009 1:39PM]

But... the ultimate question... you knew it was comin'




Can it run Crysis????







LOLZERs jk

[TheAngryGamer @ Jan 5th 2009 1:44PM]

i kinda hate you for that.

[Brak @ Jan 5th 2009 1:51PM]

agreed
i am ashamed
i low rank myself... consider this an eHarakiri

[Beastage @ Jan 5th 2009 2:07PM]

Crysis?! thats old... GTA4 is the new standard.

[Backlin @ Jan 5th 2009 2:13PM]

That joke took up more screen real-estate necessary.

[Brak @ Jan 5th 2009 3:26PM]

any of these stupid comments about Crysis already take up more than necessary real-estate, even with just one line
so i thought i'd go for the big bowl of wham-o :D

[HereAndNow @ Jan 5th 2009 1:46PM]

Cool!

I wonder what kind of Android-powered stuff will be demonstrated at CES.

This could be a VERY interesting year for Android!

[Félix @ Jan 5th 2009 1:48PM]

I do hope this helps people realise how powerful linux is (in his Hardware compatibility and by this I mean the CPU architecture mainly).
You can make an OS supposed to run on a phone, and 3 nerds within 4 hours can install it on a pc.
KABOOM !

[liv @ Jan 5th 2009 1:51PM]

welcome to 2009! the rest of us already knew that when they installed Debian on the n810 :)