Mini1000 -- Engadget

Mini1000 posts

Mtube II mixes an Android tablet with an XP netbook

by Nilay Patel posted Jun 5th 2009 at 1:07PM

Been thinking about settling down with an XP netbook but can't get the idea of an Android tablet out of your mind? We understand your pain -- and so does Taiwan's Institute for Information Industry, which is showing off the Mtube II netbook / tablet at Computex. The slick remix of an HP Mini 1000 runs XP when in netbook configuration, but then switches over to Android on an unspecified ARM processor when the screen is pulled off and used as a tablet. Yes, it's basically the product most of us have daydreamed about for ages -- much like the Touch Book -- but there are some tradeoffs here: first, the Atom in the netbook base has been swapped for a VIA C7-M, so it's not exactly a rocket, and second, the screen is connected by VNC, so video performance isn't going to be all that great. We're hoping the additional year of development III says it needs will solve some of those problems, but until then you know we'll be doodling this thing all through math class. Videos after the break.

Continue reading Mtube II mixes an Android tablet with an XP netbook

Verizon HP Mini 1151NR hands-on and impressions

by Laura June posted May 18th 2009 at 1:23PM

We got our hands on the Verizon HP Mini 1000 (or, as it's more properly known in this form, the 1151NR) recently, and we've taken the little guy -- and its built-in 3G card -- for a spin. The Mini itself has a standard enough spec sheet: a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270, 1GB of RAM, an 80GB HDD, two USB 2.0 ports, 802.11b/g, SD slot, and Windows XP, and there's no special Verizon branding to be found anywhere on the unit. We can't really take issue with the choice of machine, which is a fairly well-loved netbook with generally pretty solid performance. The important thing here, of course, is the addition of the big V's hardwired 3G. Did we fall in love with it? Does it make sense in the face of products like Verizon's MiFi 2200 EV-DO router? Will it alter future events forever? Read on to find out.

Continue reading Verizon HP Mini 1151NR hands-on and impressions

HP Mini 1000 six-cell battery gets examined, frightens other batteries

by Donald Melanson posted May 13th 2009 at 5:46PM

It's been a long time coming, but the six-cell battery for HP's Mini 1000 netbook is now finally making its way into the hands of some eager users, and jkOnTheRun has taken a minute to give folks an idea of what's in store. As you can see above (and from another angle at the link below), the battery is amazingly even more unsightly than suggested in earlier shots, although it does expectedly deliver the goods when it comes to battery life, with jkOnTheRun managing about six hours on a charge. Of course, you'll have to decide for yourself if that's worth the $100+ price tag, not to mention the cost to your Mini 1000's self-esteem.

Verizon HP Mini 1000 to run $199 on a two-year contract at launch

by Nilay Patel posted May 11th 2009 at 7:43PM

Yep, it looks like Verizon's subsidized HP Mini 1000 will indeed launch on May 17th -- and if these leaked screenshots are any indication, launch pricing will be set at $199 after a $50 rebate two-year contract and $299 after rebate for a one-year commitment. (The prices are marked "at launch ONLY" so we're guessing they'll go up sometime after.) As for specs, it's nothing special, just a 80GB Atom machine with 1GB of RAM and a WWAN card, so really, we'd much rather take the subsidy on a USB 3G stick and spread the mobile broadband love to all our machines than be stuck with an underpowered netbook, but hey -- it's your call. One more pic after the break.

Continue reading Verizon HP Mini 1000 to run $199 on a two-year contract at launch

Verizon's HP Mini 1000 due to launch May 17th?

by Nilay Patel posted May 9th 2009 at 9:32PM

Sure, the hot buzz right now is centered on Verizon and Apple teaming up to release a unicorn-built iPhone tablet that runs on marshmallows and cuddles, but Boy Genius Report says that Big Red's actually-real partnership with HP is about to bear fruit -- the long-rumored subsidized Mini 1000 is apparently due to launch on May 17th. The specific model will be the Mini 1151NR, and if that leaked product-comparison sheet we saw earlier holds water, we're looking at a pretty standard Atom / XP configuration with a 3G modem built in. Pricing hasn't been locked down, but according to BGR, it'll be just as ridiculous as every other subsidized netbook: $299 after rebate with a mandatory two-year data contract. That's more or less $200 off standard MSRP, a discount we're sure you'll pay back twice over the course of the contract. Seriously, we'd much rather fiddle with a USB stick that we can use on multiple machines than spend around a grand on data fees just for a netbook -- what about you?

How would you change HP's Mini 1000 Mi?

by Darren Murph posted Apr 17th 2009 at 10:47PM

Judging by recent PC shipment reports, HP's had a pretty good run in Q1, and we fully suspect that a good chunk of those sales are in the netbook category. The outfit's Mini 1000 Mi was highly anticipated and chock full of promise, though we're not totally convinced the whole Mi interface lived up to the mile-high hype. So, now's your chance to tell us -- did it? Are you pleased with the software? Do you feel the user interface attracts or detracts? Could the hardware use a retooling? Are you totally looking forward to the 2000 Mi (or 1000 Mii, whatever HP settles on)? Feel free to blast our your really real opinions in comments below -- we'll be listening.

Verizon's subsidized HP Mini 1000 leaks out

by Nilay Patel posted Apr 17th 2009 at 3:38PM

Hey, look at that -- Verizon employee training materials that prominently feature the HP Mini 1000. That's exactly what we predicted after we heard the two companies were talking about offering subsidized 3G laptops last month, and while we won't congratulate ourselves too much, well, we told you so. Sadly, there's no pricing on these slides, but we'll go out on a limb and say it won't blow minds when it's finally released. Hit the read link to check out the rest.

NVIDIA's Franken-Mini is half HP, half Tegra, no Intel

by Chris Ziegler posted Apr 2nd 2009 at 8:55AM

And now, a little visit to the "Why not?" department: NVIDIA is showing off an HP Mini 1000 at CTIA that it has totally gutted, replacing the laptop's stock Atom-based circuitry with its own Tegra wares atop a bone-stock Windows CE build. At first the move seems counterproductive since Tegra can't run XP or Vista, but if you look at this as the first prototype of a large Tegra-powered $99 MID, you're thinking along the right lines. The concept isn't indicative of any sort of partnership between NVIDIA and HP, but the chipmaker is looking at this as an opportunity to demonstrate to manufacturers how easy it is to make a device like this -- and like other Tegra devices we've seen, this thing could easily have HDMI, run fluid 3D graphics, and generally make the world a better place at a stupid cheap price. We were also shown a Tegra single-board computer measuring no larger than a single small-outline DIMM like you'd find in a modern laptop, proof that this action can be scaled way down depending on the kinds of devices manufacturers are looking to make. Check out a video of the Franken-Mini after the break.

Gallery: NVIDIA's Franken-Mini is half HP, half Tegra, no Intel

Continue reading NVIDIA's Franken-Mini is half HP, half Tegra, no Intel

HP Mini 1000 six-cell battery now available to order, for real

by Donald Melanson posted Mar 13th 2009 at 6:28PM

You may still not be able to get that VGA adapter, but it looks like HP Mini 1000 users can now finally get their hands on the six-cell battery for the netbook, which should provide a significant boost over the stock three-cell battery. As you may recall, this follows a brief spat of seeming availability in January but, judging from some of the responses on the HP Mini forums, it looks like HP has since canceled the few orders that got through before the battery was pulled from its site. Those folks may not be too disappointed any longer, however, as the battery now has a price tag of $95.99 (after a $20 instate rebate), which is quite a bit easier to swallow than the $153.90 that HP was originally asking.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

HP Mini 1000 VGA cables: hard to get, hard to use?

by Donald Melanson posted Mar 12th 2009 at 2:26PM

HP's Mini 1000 certainly hasn't had much difficultly attracting its share of fans, but it looks like those wanting to hook the netbook up to an external monitor have been having their patience tested considerably as of late. According to reports on the HP Support Forums, the promised VGA adapter for the netbook has been nigh impossible to come by and, for the time being at least, HP doesn't seem to be getting any more specific than "early 2009" about widespread availability. The headaches might not end then, however, as some folks have been reporting problems with the VGA out for the very similar Mini 2140 netbook, and with a USB-to-VGA adapter used with the Mini 1000. In both cases, the Mini 1000 is apparently unable to automatically detect the external monitor's native resolution, so it simply pumps out a standard 1024 x 768 resolution no matter what size monitor is hooked up. Looking for more tales of woe? Then dive into thread linked below for the full rundown of laments.

[Thanks, Shane]

HP promises fix for Mini 1000 webcam problem

by Nilay Patel posted Feb 26th 2009 at 5:10PM

Well, that was fast -- we were wondering where that Gear Diary video of an HP employee fixing the defective webcam on a Vivienne Tam Mini 1000 went, and it turns out that it was pulled at ol' Hewpie's request. The company's promised to release an official statement with instructions for sending in affected machines, and we'd guess it doesn't want customers taking matters -- and display bezels -- into their own hands while they sort out a plan. Sounds reasonable to us -- and we know you understand it too, which is why we've posted a similar video after the break.

Continue reading HP promises fix for Mini 1000 webcam problem

A bit of surgery gives the HP Mini 1000 new sight

by Paul Miller posted Feb 26th 2009 at 1:19PM

HP's Mini 1000 might get all the ladies, but the netbook is not without its flaws. Apparently in the manufacturing process somebody forgot to remove the protective film from the webcam lens, giving thousands of netbooks incredibly impaired vision of their handsome owners. HP hasn't fessed up to the problem in any grand manner, but an HP employee was kind enough to do some on-the-spot surgery of Gear Diary's Vivienne Tam-edition Mini 1000. It's not super-involved, so check out the video after the break and then go scare the life out of your girlfriend when you suddenly attack her flowery netbook with a pair of knives. Tell her Engadget sent you.

Update: At the time this post is going live, the video has been pulled from YouTube. We're not sure what's up with that, but the procedure is pretty simple: wedge open the top of the screen, push down the two connecting tabs to separate it more, pull off the film with tweezers. This might void your warrant (in fact, probably does) so proceed at your own risk!

[Via GottaBeMobile]

Continue reading A bit of surgery gives the HP Mini 1000 new sight

HP Mini 1000 Mi gets video review

by Darren Murph posted Feb 15th 2009 at 10:36PM

HP's Mini 1000 Mi has been up for order since CES, but for those still waiting (and waiting) for a proper overview of the system before buying in can finally say that their patience has paid off. The netbook lovin' crew over at jkOnTheRun has taken the time to showcase the aforementioned machine on video, going over the basics, the not-so-basics and the pros / cons of ownership. We're going to warn you up front, though -- the clip is darn near 20 minutes long, so you'll certainly want to snag some cookies and milk before diving into the read link. That said, you'll be hard pressed to find a better look at the Mi software without actually removing your keister from your chair, so it's probably worth your while.

HP's exclusive Mobile Internet Ubuntu skin not so exclusive anymore

by Paul Miller posted Feb 13th 2009 at 8:12AM

Crazy kids and their crazy hacks have extracted all the juicy goodness of HP's Mini-purposed Mi software for Ubuntu, including the launcher (pictured), the OS skin, and some application skins, and unleashed it for all Ubuntu users with an eye for black and some hacking skills of their own. From what we can tell, it's not exactly a breeze getting the mod up and running -- and most successful folks still cite a few tweaks they'd like to make -- but it's free, so we won't look a gift theme in the resource files... or something like that. Instructions are in the forum, a bit more inspiration is after the break.

[Via Ars Technica]

Continue reading HP's exclusive Mobile Internet Ubuntu skin not so exclusive anymore

HP makes MIE installation and recovery files available for download, fun times

by Laura June posted Feb 7th 2009 at 7:01AM

We've known this was coming, but plenty of you will no doubt be excited to hear it's finally here. That's right, HP's just made MIE installation files available for the Mini 1000 -- great news if you've wanted to get in on all that MI action. As you can see above, they've unleashed one version to install the recovery tool from an XP machine onto a USB flash drive, and one to install the image from Linux machine to a USB flash drive. There is absolutely no guarantee these images will work with anything other than the Mini 1000, of course, so... watch out!

[Via GottaBeMobile]