HP Mini-Note now just $399
I just got a promotional email from HP that shows the Mini-Note is now available for $399. This starting configuration is the low-end version of the netbook:
- Via processor
- 512 MB of RAM
- Suse Linux
- 4 GB SSD
The unit with 1 GB of RAM, 120 GB hard drive and Windows XP but with no Bluetooth is now just $499. It looks like HP is definitely trying to move these out the door. I hope that means a refresh is imminent.
The HP needs a 10″ screen and a Via Nano CPU (or Intel Atom) to compete against the MSI Wind.
If they can make it easy to install OS-X on the thing (Atom CPU), it would make a nice MacBook Mini…
Posted by: PJE | October 15, 2008 at 7:48 am
Can you say “refresh”? I wonder if HP will go Atom or drop the Nano into their existing design.
Posted by: Brian E | October 15, 2008 at 7:52 am
I’ve always wondered how the low-end one would fair in batt life. The CPUS uses literally half the power of the high-end model.
But wow, yeah, can you imagine if they did go Atom? It’d be the sharpest looking Hackintosh out there.
And that keyboard… mmmm..
Posted by: vance | October 15, 2008 at 9:16 am
i love Atom, but personally i would actually like to see them go with Nano just to have something DIFFERENT on the market.
it’s bad enough AMD doesnt compete in this market, the best they can do is blab marketing spin from their own insecurities & just say “netbooks suck”. we at least need Via in here to be some form of competition.
Posted by: DuPlori | October 15, 2008 at 9:50 am
I’m not finding the C7-M to be a bottleneck, but then I have no need for OSX in this device, which would require an Intel CPU.
Performance is pretty snappy with all the things I’ve been trying out so far. Office/web/multimedia all run without a hitch. Typing on the keyboard is lightning quick, the 1280 display is brilliant, while the driveguard technology, duracoat finish and magnesium-alloy case round off the experience.
I’m using the xp model with 2gb ram, 1.6 cpu, 6-cell battery and 160gb hard drive. Battery life is around 4.5 hours max, meaning in real life you’d be able to watch a 2-hour movie while still leaving 1 hour to do your work. Carry a 2nd small 6-cell and your set for a day easy.
Underclocking the C7-M to 800MHz using powercfg.exe processor-throttle switch will extend battery time by 30min to 1 hour. I have noticed though that most apps will come to a crawl, especially multimedia - VOB files still play back at 800MHz, but 720p HD will only run at 1.6GHz cpu speed. 1.0GHz seems to be the sweetspot, and using the adaptive setting the cpu will automatically throttle between 1.0 - 1.6GHz depending on processor load.
If the Nano does offer better performance without needing more power it would be a no-brainer upgrade, but overall I’m pretty satisfied with the C7-M. For what this device was designed to do, using such a nice keyboard, it works very well. It’s run everything I’ve thrown at it so far, and does what I want nicely. I honestly cannot complain.
Posted by: Luscious | October 15, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Is it true that the HP Mini Note is slow and the performance isn’t good, even with Windows XP on it? Cause besides the processor that looks like a nice computer…
Posted by: Amitai Rosenberg | October 15, 2008 at 1:04 pm
and dropped again to $299…
I cant figure out what theyre trying to do with these - theyre pushing Vista versions now.
Posted by: dave @ laptop deals | November 25, 2008 at 2:00 pm