HP Mini 1000 Information
May I present to you the new HP Mini 1000:
(more pics at the end of the post)
To cut straight to the chase, you should be able to order a Mini 1000 today starting at $399. What you’re seeing above is the Mobile Internet Experience (MIE) operating system which is built off of Ubuntu. Unfortunately MIE won’t be available until early January sometime. I’ll talk more on Mobile Internet Experience later – for you Linux nuts there is something very important you’ll want to know!
The HP Mini 1000 is a spin-off of the 2133 Mini-Note that HP released back in April targeted to regular consumers instead of the business and educational market. It’s basically the same form factor as the Mini-Note. However they switched from aluminum to plastic and thinned the unit up a bit. So it’s now just under 1″ thick and weighs 2.25lbs with the 8.9″ screen. If you go with the 10.2-inch screen, it will take the weight up to about 2.4lbs and lighten your wallet another $50 though. Both screens will have 1024×600 (WSVGA) resolution, with flush glass and LED backlight. (I’ll miss the 1280×768 personally) Also on the lid there is very subtle swirl design:
Another big change is HP’s decision to turn away from VIA and use Intel’s Atom processors. Like most other netbooks out there right now you’ll find the 1.6Ghz N270 Atom chip powering this machine.
For storage options again we’ll see regular hard drive as well as solid state drive options. You’ll be able to choose from an 8 or 16GB ssd drive, or a 4200RPM 60GB HD (PATA) for your machine. The SSD models include a “mini mobile drive” port, which is basically a fancy flash memory expansion that will fit flush with the case. There will be 2, 4, and 8GB options available for it. An SD/MMC slot will be standard on all the models for even more storage if you need it.
With the Windows XP the Mini 1000 will come with 512MB or 1GB RAM installed. You’re only seeing 1GB max on XP because Microsoft limits the max RAM allowed to be installed for special XP netbook pricing license. The Ubuntu version will have up to 2GB of RAM though.
As far as connectivity goes the Mini 1000 will have 802.11b/g wireless LAN, optional Bluetooth v2.1, and 10/100 Ethernet. It loses the express card slot though.
For OS options you’ll have XP and a custom Ubuntu variant called Mobile Internet Experience (MIE). MIE was basically made to do one thing – to get on the user on the Internet quickly. It’s basically a home screen of sorts that will give you one click access to almost everything Internet related. Over on the left column you’ll have easy access to your mail. And in the middle column you’ll be able to quickly access the websites using a custom Mozilla based browser by typing the address in the address bar/search field at the top or a thumbmail of one of your favorite sites. Over on the right you’ll have a basic media player and photo organizer. The bottom row will show what apps you currently have open, much like the Windows taskbar or OS X’s dock.
As I mentioned earlier, there’s something very important anyone considering getting the Ubuntu option should know about. HP intends to limit what software you can install in Ubuntu to only what they approve. They didn’t go into details as to how this would be implemented (ala iTunes App store perhaps?) Their logic is that the Mini 1000 is targeted for basic users and they want to keep things as simple as possible for them. By having pre-approved, and presumably easy to install software, they hope to bring the Linux experience to the next level and make it as easy and comforting as possible. The Ubuntu version will start at $379.
For those of you interested in getting the Vivienne Tam Edition Mini 1000, you’ll need to wait until mid-December before they’re on sale. They didn’t have many specifics for the VT edition model during the virtual press conference, but they did say it would start at $699. According the press release “It includes an Ethernet jack, two USB ports, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless capabilities. Versions with 3G capabilities are expected to be available in December.” Considering the external express card slot is gone, I wonder if there will be one built in for 3g that might be on all the models?
If you’re a “It seeks to satisfy the highly mobile, Internet-centric fashionista” the Vievienne Tam model is available for pre-order by calling 800-235-5752. You can also win one from HP’s Carry the World in the Palm of Your Hand contest.
At launch only the three cell battery will be available, which should give about three hours of run time. The six cell will be available in January though. Unfortunately the current Mini-Note batteries will not be compatible with the Mini 1000.
The Mini 1000 and the Vivienne Tam models both come with a free six month subscription to HP’s Upline online storage service. (Plans start at $59 per year after that)
Still present in both models will be the 92% sized keyboard, .3MP web cam, earphone/mic combo jack, and the ever delightful AC jack.
Missing in action is one USB port (the powered one at that), the regular VGA out, the side mounted speakers, and the Express card slot. The speakers have moved down to above the keyboard in the hinge area. That big bulge on the left side we all thought was the bigger plastic housing around a USB port is actually a dock connector for VGA out.
Whew! I think that’s everything. Feel free to ask questions below or in the forums!
LaptopMagazine Hands on Review of MIE
HP Mini 1000 Press Release (PDF)
October 28th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
No great surprise that HP got rid of VIA: poor cpu performance, poor graphics performance, inefficient chipset as evidence by high heat production, which in turn gives poor battery life, and as i found out all too well, destroys motherboards.
As a minimum on the 10″ model, they should have had 1024 x 768 to make web pages easier to read. At least HP have come to their senses and given Vista the boot.
But then they go backwards with storage and ram.
Very interesting that they have a custom Ubuntu, which will probably be made to boot super quickly for net access and media playback. Would love to have this on my current 2133. In fact would love it if they gave a trade-in deal because I have this sinking feeling that I’ll have another motherboard failure after my 2133 13 months old..
October 29th, 2008 at 2:50 am
any news on UK availability?
October 29th, 2008 at 4:26 am
Hi there,
can you judge whether the six cell battery will be flush with the chassis?
the compartment looks very big, but is that just for the battery, or does the memory and HD access sit under there too?
Thanks
October 29th, 2008 at 6:46 am
Hello again,
few more questions if you would:
1.is the keyboard still spill-proof?
2. can you confirm the 1024×576 10″ screeb resolution?
Many thanks
October 29th, 2008 at 6:53 am
It’s pretty unexciting what they done with the mini. Engadget and jkOnTheRun say that it still feels really sturdy.
@REMF
I’ll check on UK avail.
They said during the conference the six cell won’t be flush, and the screen opens the same way as before
Not sure on the keyboard. I’ll put it on the list (which I’ll sent to my contact on friday)
I’m not sure about what compartment you’re talking about, but they said only the ram would be user serviceable. So that might mean the HD is buried in the case, or is still easily accessible and they just don’t want people upgrading it.
Yup, it is definitely 1024×768 on both screen sizes
October 29th, 2008 at 7:06 am
http://www.mobilecomputermag.co.uk/ is reporting February for the Mini 1000 and December for the Compaq Mini 700 (Haven’t heard anything else about this model!)
October 29th, 2008 at 8:01 am
cheers for the info.
October 29th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Wait, so now there are only 2 USB ports and they’re *both* not powered? … great. The only thing they’ve done right is the CPU.
October 29th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Not impressed…
But I can understand that this is what they could come up with, after having to take hard business decisions.
My feeling is that they have had way too many problems with the VIA C-7 design (heat, MoBo failure, poor performance) and have taken a beating for it. Hence the decision to go Atom (maybe after failed negociations with VIA for the Nano?) and then just had to suffer the consequences of it (1Gb restriction for XP, price-range, …) and decided to jump on the bandwagon with competitors instead of being in a niche.
If they have decided to do both, and will come up later with a more expensive (~$700-800) model closer to what the 2133 is today (aluminum casing, good screen and speakers, normal HD, XpressCard) then I think it’s a good strategy. Otherwise, it’s just disappointing for many of us.
Maybe someone at HP said: “Hey, we can make more money by concentrating only in mainstream netbooks than by being in this niche.” and convinced the head cheese to do it… We’ll see.
Now, my question is: I have noticed from the various pics that the Kesington-Lock opening is on neither sides (is on the right on my 2133). I hope it’s on the back then. Or under?. Otherwise it means there’s no K-Lock??? That’d be stupid.
Also, I deplore the fact they trashed the XpressCard port. It’s amazing for external mass-storage. So much faster than USB. Why remove it? Especially if you’re going to have a 60Gb HD or lower-sized SSD’s… I don’t get this one… I hope it was an engineering reason in relation to space, and not just a choice.
Finally, the text above is confusing. It mentions that the VGA port is gone, and also later that it’s there. Huh?
Or is this an HDMI port I see on the left side, just to the right of the vent grille (which has kept it’s inefficient inner smaller-mesh grille it seems… (which should’nt be an issue with an Atom CPU)) ?
Thanks for the news (and the early scoops!)
-ChrisL
October 29th, 2008 at 10:02 am
And suddenly the 2133 is described as “business-oriented” by PR recyclers. Uh, sure. I guess I don’t care who HP thinks they’re selling them to, as long as they continue to produce a line with a decent (class-leading) amount of pixels. On the other hand, I should be glad there is no temptation to upgrade today.
October 29th, 2008 at 10:33 am
@n8
They’ve always said the 2133 is targeted to the educational market.
@supplanter
Yup, just two and they’re unpowered
@ChrisL – (I’ll try and get everything lol)
I agree totally. The Mini 1000 is just an entry level/basic model and I think we’ll see a new 2133 type within 6 months. Of course it will cost a couple hundred more, but it will be worth it.
I don’t think it has a k-lock spot on it. On the spec sheet for “security” it lists “mini-lanyard slot” which I guess means you can tie to down to something… :/
They probably removed the express card slot because it would be to ‘advanced’ for a home user. Also it’d be cheaper w/o it.
There is not a real VGA port on it, but what you’re seeing is the special expansion port called the Dock Connector. Basically it will carry video, audio, nic, etc… and there should be a special dongle just for VGA out I guess.
October 30th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Well, wrt security, it’s such a tiny thing I don’t know why you’d leave it anywhere (unless you’re saving a seat while you take a toilet break?) XD
October 31st, 2008 at 4:46 am
How is the SSD connected, is it PATA like the HD?
November 1st, 2008 at 10:49 am
I was looking at the system requirements for MS Office 2007 Home and Student and it says that it requires 1024×768 display resolution. So does that mean MS Office won’t work on the Mini 1000?
December 29th, 2008 at 12:24 am
Today I walked into a best buy and looked at all the netbooks there in the spirit of avarice and all, and decided to plug my portable usb-powered hd (yes, such a nerd) into the hp mini 1000 (or at least that’s what I think it was; intel atom 1.6ghz, 1gb ram; 16gb ssd w/ XPHome in; black plastic casing with, I think, swirly design) and… it worked. So does that mean the usb ports *are* powered, or do non-powered ports behave differently when the laptop’s not on AC power from when they are?