Verizon HP Mini 1151NR hands-on and impressions
By Laura June 
posted May 18th 2009 1:23PM
posted May 18th 2009 1:23PM
Out of the box set up was pretty breezy -- once we got through the prerequisite ten minutes of Windows updates and configuration. The Mini comes with VZ Access Manager software pre-installed and on the desktop, and after a quick run through of the activation wizard (less than a minute), you're connected. The Access Manager itself is pretty inoffensive, and in general we found that after fully starting up, it took an average of about 45 seconds to achieve a connection, and only once did it fail to connect on the first try. A full re-boot to active wireless connection took just about 3 minutes.
Once we were connected, we found browsing to be quick and nearly blip free. Scrolling through large pages (such as, say... Engadget) was slightly slower than we would have liked -- though that may have more to do with the Atom CPU than the connection. In general we found our basic, everyday tasks like browsing, checking our email, and watching Tegan & Sara videos on YouTube to be lag-free. We also had no trouble streaming Pandora in the background while watching a (muted) trailer for Taken in iTunes. The trailer took a few seconds to load up, creating a bit of latency, but once it got started we viewed it without any bumps along the way.
We saw speeds of up to 869kbps down and 524kbps up (averaging about 777kbps down and 455kbps up over four separate tests) -- a little less in terms of the download speed compared to the MiFi 2200 router -- but still pretty decent as far as we were concerned. Downloads did seem a bit slow to us -- it took almost 10 minutes to download the 7MB Firefox file, and about 15 to snag iTunes, but other than that, even multiple tabbing situations such as watching, say, a video of a cat on a Roomba while browsing CNN were without hiccups. This is probably not the machine or internet connection for heavy lifting, but for most things it's relatively snappy. It's also worth noting that we didn't notice any significantly increased battery drainage as a result of our heavy internet usage -- we still got about two hours and fifteen minutes off a full charge. Using the Mini as a portable strobe light, however, did produce noticeable effects.
Wrap-Up
Verizon's subsidized pricing of $199.99 (after the $50 mail-in rebate) with a two year activation on one of Verizon's Mobile Broadband plans works out to -- at a minimum -- $680 a year (Verizon offers a $39.99, 250MB per month plan, as well as a $59.99, 5GB per month plan). It's a bit pricey, but you still end up paying less than if you're buying the laptop outright and getting service separately.. Ultimately, this machine and -- its accompanying 3G card -- are likely going to be totally satisfactory for on-the-go, day to day tasks. People who are already accustomed to the netbook experience will no doubt find this to be a convenience over a USB dongle, though we'd personally prefer the flexibility of said stick. However, even if it doesn't exactly blow you away, you can't really find too much to gripe about here, and to be perfectly honest, we find ourselves growing more fond of the little guy by the hour.
Is this the new iphone I have been hearing all about?
Does it come with an irritating entourage, as advertised?
The way I see it, the entourage has my back in case I take a phone call in a dark alley :)
I'm constantly browsing the web with an Atom processor. I've never had any speed issues with Engadget.
Whatever is causing this problem, I'm pretty sure it's not the processor.
No thanks I don't fell like paying $1676 for a hp netbook !
Agree?
No-If my sole intent was a netbook that needed to be able to access the internet anywhere I can get a cell signal, that's a bargain.
Otherwise you're paying more for the netbook, AND an annoying dongle, plus the same service.
Now if you want to switch between a few different laptops, then obviously you would want the dongle over having it built into the netbook. I guess that's why you can choose which one you want...you know, because people are different, and have different needs. Novel idea, huh?
Disagree. There's no need to be so generous to HP.
Average of 45 sec to establish a connection? Even if that includes the time it takes for the card to connect out and Windows to get an IP that still seems like a really long time. If I tether my Tilt it takes 20 sec tops to connect to 3G (if the phone itself isn't already connected) and for Windows to detect the device and share the internet. Granted the Tilt is a GSM device where this is CDMA, but I don't a different radio tech would explain such an increase in connect time. Then through in the 3 min to reconnect after a reboot and it isn't sounding to great.
Honestly i don;t think everyone experiences the same connection time. I connect my aircards and my hp it takes about the sazme 20 secs or less honestly the first few times it did take longer because it activates and the activation is what makes it onger just make sure that the card is correctly activated and youll have great conection times honest :)
Is it able to buy in the uk, as in just the laptop?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Compaq-10-2-inch-Bluetooth-Wireless-Networking/dp/B001PYIZUM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1242672020&sr=8-1
Survey says yes.
That's not fair to fault the machine for speed issues downloading Firefox. Mozilla uses rotating mirrors that throttle the connection speed. I have seen similar download speeds on my hardwired desktop.
Wish they had the MI (mobile internet == ubuntu) version of the HP mini 1000 available with the Verizon 3G service. I might have bought the HP instead of the Dell, in that case.
As for "does it still make sense in the face of devices like the Mifi"? (or cradle point, etc.)
Yes. I say this as someone who does in fact want a mifi, but for me, I have 3 or 4 mobile devices in addition to my phone (which doesn't do tethering). I don't carry them all at once, but I need them to all have a simple, easy to configure/set up, and standard interface for the internet, that doesn't somehow require nor imply "ms windows", thus a mifi or cradlepoint.
But, for those who just have a non-tethering phone, and only want to carry a netbook ... it would make LESS sense to also load them up with a mifi or cradlepoint. Plus, they can't use an Express Card (no slot for it), and a USB dongle can be annoying with the usual netbook placement of USB slots. So, internal 3G makes a ton of sense for those netbook users.
Couldn't agree with you more. The only things holding me back on this is the lack of draft n and knowing that netbooks with Windows 7 and HD displays are right around the corner.
honestly the usb part isnt annoying as much duwe to the fact that verizonwireless has aircards as big as your thumb as well as if you already have multiple devices then just get the mifi the netbook is for people who dont have that multiple device etc and they just want one portable enough to jusdt take one so its a nececesity factor honestly get what you need and dont confuse yourself
Wouldn't it work out to about $580 a year if you break the cost of the netbook itself of $199.99 in half? :D
At any price.... redicolous to get hooked onto a 2 year sentence = *contract*
Better way ? YUP !!!
So you have a winmo smart phone or you're thinking
of getting one. Either way, you'll be required to add the
additional data plan....on top of regular monthly rate.
That part I did with the Omnia i910 - $99.00
I bought myself a little bit of an upgrade netbook, going
with the EEE PC 1000HE. $339.00 -rebate-
Now I want to be able to access the NET using my netbook -VIA-
theOmnia's already established connection. AND I do not want
to add even more fees by paying Verizon for tethering fees.
Since verizon strips ICS from their software lineup...
[internet connection sharing]
I simply installed a working CAB of ICS onto my
Omnia. Followed a couple of instructions, and now
my netbook connects to the web either by bluetooth or
with USB cabling.
My download speed on both devices average anywhere from
700kbps to 1.7Mbit.
Been running this setup for six weeks now, and totally
impressed with the simplicity of connecting my netbook
to the internet.
think 250 plus 59.99 amonth ok now subtract 50 for the mail in rebate ok
now lets think
298 for a acer aspire one plus 59.99 for an aircard no rebate
hp mini 1000 is what 299 no rebate same 59.99 a month
300 to 500 for an independant netbook wireless connectivity still 59.99
then whats the problem here nothing your just cheap
lolz jk but yeah think about it your buying a device then out of all these its about 50 dollars or more cheaper then the competition etc 50-200 i dont get why you guys keep on adding the cost per year when your buying a device that hp will service for hardware and that verizon will service for its air card feature again stop adding it up its useless 199 for a netbook 59 for service or 300 to 500 for a netbook and additional 59 for service what you want
Too limited. Give me a cradlepoint router and an Asus 1000HE netbook (if i was going to get one).
I'll tether via my existing phone (BT/USB) and pocket the $300-$400 difference.
tethering still requires the 59.99 and the netbook is only 200 not 300 to 400 if you have a device already then just get an air card still pay for that sucker too
My comment was aimed as if one had an existing line of service and with regards to the cost of data, not the netbook cost. Personally, I'd rather tether my phone so that I can use the connection on any desktop/laptop computer.
VW Basic 450 = $39.99
VW Connect 450 = $69.99 (Unlimited Data)
VW Tethered Data Cost per Month = $69.99-$39.99 = $30
VW Mobile Broadband per Month = $59.99
Monthly Savings = $30 x 12 months = $360
It's $360 / year cheaper to tether one's existing phone than to have both a phone and a broadband plan.
You're trying to tell me loading engadget was taxing the processor, but not playing pandora (flash based) while itunes played a .mov?
/me hands everyone a grain of salt
again many factors could give on the performance not just one or two tests are enough just different people have diff experiences on device i dont have a problem on connecting to engadget lolz but i suggest to try it your self at a verizon wireless store and see how it works etc but im with you run pandora but not engadget then fix your site lolz
@cmil1212
@Devin
Yup..........EXACTLY what I did = *PRICELESS*
You should give the conclusion in the first page paragraph instead of using the readers for more clicks.
nice print on it
Is 5GB a month enough?
What a scam. They think $250 is subsidizing? Why would one want to pay that much money for a provider locked netbook? It makes more sense if it's free or $50. Netbooks are not that expensive to begin with.
I got one yesterday. I love it; I'm running Windows & RC 1 on it and it's great.
Why can't it just be a plain black lid? Do we really need whimsical swirls?
Is it smart enough to connect to prefered WiFi hotspots when they are in range or does it always insist on downloading from 3G?
I'm not 100% sure about this, but I believe the VZAccess Manager (or whatever it's called) software can handle both WWAN and WiFi connections. Also, since you have to connect to the EVDO network manually you should always have the option to connect to WiFi instead.
@Josh
Actually, you can configure VZAccess Manager to run the card in NDIS mode, so basically it will act like a normal NIC and connect as long as there is a signal, which is pretty sweet if you have some sort of pre-authentication VPN client you want to log into before you log into your laptop. I think there is also a setting where it will disconnect if it detects a faster connection, so if you connect to WiFi, the datacard won't connect.
the 5GB/month cap on all data plans makes surfing in a non-phone manner a risky (and likely expensive) prospect. the whole data cap on 3G service from all providers right now makes me wonder what the real point is for any "data only" type service plans.
data caps have always been there except the carriers just shut off their service but honestly even then they really only shut off their service if they where using it heavily meaning over the 5 gb it has allways been in the fine print also remember this is mobile internet so its not meant to be a landline replacement so for mobility it has been great.
Does it come with an optional 6-cell battery?
Can you download different programs like itunes?
Can you plug this thing into an outlet in Europe? With an adaptor of course.