Move over Eee PC, the new HP Mini 1000 reminds us all again why bigger keyboards still rock our world. This could of been the 'mini' notebook to beat all others, except for a few glaring omissions.
Okay, we’ll admit it. The last ‘netbook’ from HP should of been four flavours of awesome, but it ultimately rated as a considerable let-down on closer inspection. We got a quick look at the latest mini from HP and felt a little more confident with the new offering.
HP’s first attempt at taking on the Eee PC: a look back
Our first look review of the original HP Mini-Note 2133 wasn’t exactly ecstatic; we described it with all the enthusiasm of an over-heated waterbottle, with the potential to render mankind sterile. It was that hot. Just ask our editor William Maher about its unique “groin-endangering” capabilities.
Though it did have some nice things going for it: a lovely metallic design, a rigid, solid hinge system and a relatively small, versatile outer shell. Judging by a PC by its cover, the Mini-note 2133 seemed like a real winner, until you started it up. It performed rather sluggishly under our tests and barely managed to function efficiently under the memory sucking power of Windows Vista.
It wasn’t just slow, it was also very expensive. It was so steeply priced upon release (at around the $899 - $999 mark), that it did little to persuade potential customers how it would be better value than the cheaper alternatives such as the Eee PC’s, Acer One or MSI Wind. Still, the 2133 was the first netbook to feature an gorilla-sized keyboard that didn’t require rodent paws to operate - and ironically, that has remained its legacy.
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| Rember the 2133? It looked nice, but failed to perform |
HP Mini-note 2133 vs. HP Mini 1000
Mini 1000 Pros:
Bigger Screen: At 10.2 inches and a full extra inch of screen size over the 2133, it’s definitely easier on the eyes and more suited to a larger range of visual based applications. The Mini 1000 appears a little thinner and the solid bolt-style hinge system of old remains in place, while the entire unit feels well constructed and capable of minor knocks.
Keyboard and weight: The Mini 1000 is a touch lighter (1.1kg vs. 1.2kg on the 2133) and the 92% scale-full size keyboard (which could be its greatest asset) appears to be a tad bigger than the 2133 model too. Indeed, as much as the Eee PC brigade prefer to ignore their painful cramped keyboards – we still believe that a larger keyboard can make all the difference, particularly if you’re planning on long-term usability.
Better OS: The arrival of XP is like embracing a long-lost friend. We definitely won’t be missing Vista anytime soon.
Processor: The new Intel Atom 1.6Ghz processor is a major step forward over the 2133’s 1.2 GHz Via C-7M chip, and as a result of this change, the Atom should make good use of the XP architecture.
(Continued on next page - pros and cons of the Mini 1000)
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| The new Mini 1000 is a big improvement over the previous Mini-note 2133 |