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HP Mini 210 Vivienne Tam Edition leaps off the runway and into our hands
Paging all butterfly-admiring netbook lovers! With spring upon us, HP's officially launching the Mini 210 Vivienne Tam edition that it previewed back at September's Fall Fashion Week, and, well, it sure is unique looking. We actually got to take a peek at it a few weeks ago, and while the butterfly adorned cover may only appeal to a certain sex type, the gold covered keyboard is what you'd expect kings and queens to type on. Okay so, the design wasn't really in line with our tastes, but at least we're comfortable with the internal specs which are identical to the Mini 210 we recently reviewed (sans the Broadcom Crystal HD). And apparently the Mini should sound as good as it looks -- HP's updated Vivienne's netbook with Beats by Dr. Dre audio software, which to date has only been found in the company's Envy line. Interesting move, but of course it's still very hard for us to understand why anyone would spend $600 on a netbook that's got an extremely frustrating touchpad and only a three-cell battery -- but we'd guess that it probably has to do with that whole 'beauty is pain' thing. The full press release is after the break. %Gallery-87245% %Gallery-87324%
New HP / Vivienne Tam netbook targets 'butterfly lovers,' waifs
Manhattan socialites and fashionistas might as well stop reading this right now. But if for some strange reason you weren't at New York's Fashion Week yesterday, we are pleased to tell you that "the Tamster" (as we call visionary clothes horse Vivienne Tam) is back with yet another "digital clutch" for the year 2010. Apparently inspired by the classic Chinese love story "Butterfly Lovers," this is yet another hyped-up collaboration between the designer and HP, somehow symbolizing "love, freedom, independence and transformation," according to the PR. While we do know that this device is supposed to make "women around the world... feel independent and free, like butterflies," we've yet to be turned on to any specifics, such as system specs or price. But chin up, sailor -- we only have until Spring 2010 to find out. Hope you can wait that long! In the meantime, there's a gallery below, and some marketing material for you after the break.
HP Mini 100 available for online ordering, Vivienne Tam safe and sound
All you crazy kids keepin' an eye on the HP Mini 110 are in for a real treat. The company is now listing the machine as available for ordering on its website, superseding the Mini 1000 (don't worry, fashionistas -- the Vivienne Tam model is still available, at least for the time being). As reported previously, these guys are priced at $279.99 (Mi Edition) or $329.99 (XP Edition), with the 6-cell battery option adding $40 to the price, and an Intel Atom N280 CPU costing an additional $25. And the Broadcom Crystal HD accelerator? Look for it next month. [Via Portable Monkey]
HP promises fix for Mini 1000 webcam problem
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.
A bit of surgery gives the HP Mini 1000 new sight
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]
HP Vivienne Tam Edition Mini 1000 hands-on
We've been somewhat charmed by the Vivienne Tam-styled HP Mini 1000 for some time now, but today on the floor at CES we got our first in-person look at the teeny fashion "clutch," as it were, and have to say that in person it's pretty good looking. The 10-incher's got a fiery design plus a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom with 1GB of RAM, and an up to 60GB hard drive. We were particularly enamored with that silver mesh hinge. It's defintely a fashionable item -- and if that's what you're into it's got a starting price of $699. Check a gallery of this gal (and it's matching mouse!) after the break.%Gallery-41169%
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.
HP Vivienne Tam Edition Mini 1000 Digital Clutch now available
Well, we heard that the Vivienne Tam-designed Mini 1000 was coming in December, and here it is, available to order on HP's site. The custom 10-inch netbook is, as expected, sporting a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom with 1GB of RAM, plus an up to 60GB hard drive -- a little smaller than the 80GB we initially heard about. The fashion-conscious laptop is less than an inch thick and has a starting weight of 2.45 pounds, and though it's not exactly an example of "understated elegance," those who want to start (loudly) classing up their act can do just that for a starting price of $699. [Thanks, Matt]
HP considering netbook / wireless broadband bundles in USA
It was really only a matter of time before this here tactic spread from Europe and Asia (and Canada) to the United States, and now it seems the dream is bordering on reality. A Wall Street Journal report has it that HP -- you know, that company that makes the Mini-Note 2133 and Mini 1000 -- is considering bundling its netbooks with wireless cellular data plans in order to boost sales. Theoretically, the machines would be offered up at a steep discount in order to lock consumers into a 2-year mobile broadband plan, though "steep" has yet to be defined. Also, the company hasn't definitively said which carrier(s) will be called upon to be its partner(s), but the article does note that both Verizon Wireless and AT&T are in the cards.
HP's Vivienne Tam Edition netbook gets real, coming this December
No clue if HP will be sticking with the Digital Clutch moniker (wouldn't be a bad choice, actually), but one's thing for certain: it's teaming up with Vivienne Tam for a highly decorated netbook. The shot you're looking at above is just about all we have to go on, but obviously this one won't appeal to those who aren't into vivaciousness, vividness and, um, flora. We are told that it'll be available this December with an Intel Atom processor within (which is pretty noteworthy given HP's current relationship with VIA), but everything else is being closely concealed for now -- even though Atom typically equals 1GB of RAM, a 1.6GHz clock speed and an 80GB HDD. But hey, a woman has to have her secrets, right?[Thanks, Ronald]
HP shows off Vivienne Tam-designed Digital Clutch -- the 10-inch Mini-Note?
HP's 8.9-inch 2133 Mini-Note is apparently a raging success, so it makes sense that the company would want to expand the line, and it looks like we might be getting a preview of what's in store with the Digital Clutch, a bright red 10-inch netbook that debuted last night during designer Vivienne Tam's fashion week show in NYC. Not much is known about the internals, but the case sports an Asian-inspired peony flower design, and the screen fills the entire lid with very little bezel. If we had to guess, we'd say that it's more likely that there's a VIA Isaiah chip in there instead of an Atom, given the C7M found in the current Mini-Note, but we'll see -- and hopefully soon, since at least one HP rep apparently confirmed that the machine is the next generation Mini-Note. Hit the read links for tons more pics.Read - First set of Laptop picsRead - Second set of Laptop pics
Vivienne Tam shows off "MP3walkman" concept device
It looks like you can add yet another designer to the list of those doing their part to make gadgets slightly more fashionable, with Vivienne Tam reportedly set to show off the above concept device at the Vivienne Tam flagship store in New York. Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be any specs to speak of, but the so-called "TAM MP3walkman" (co-developed by Kitman Keung) does at least look a good deal better than some previous "designer" devices we've seen, even if it's still quite a ways from a finished product. Unless Sony actually has a hand in it, however, we're guessing that name will have to change before/if it's actually released.[Thanks, Alice]
