jkOnTheRun

Want XP on the HP Mini? Who are you and how many units do you want?

The HP Mini product page indicates you can order your notebook with Microsoft Windows Vista and included geniune XP disk for a downgrade, but there's some interesting fine print. According to HP, in order to qualify for the downgrade, you have to be a business, government agency or educational entity that will be ordering 25 or more units with the same image. Here's the official language:

"Windows Vista Business disk also included for future upgrade if desired. To qualify for this downgrade an end user must be a business (including governmental or educational institutions) and is expected to order annually at least 25 customer systems with the same custom image."

If I read this right, this qualification applies to HP doing the downgrade for you because it's a footnote to this OS specification:

"Genuine Windows Vista Business downgrade to Genuine Windows XP Professional installed"

I could be reading this wrong, but if not, it doesn't look like you need to be buying 25 units in order to get an XP disk. I suspect that HP doesn't want to get into the imaging business for consumers, but for high volume business partners, they likely would. Laptoping reads it differently and thinks you need to be a qualifying entity or business for XP. I personally think it's confusing either way and HP should consider clarifying the options. I don't see why an individual couldn't or shouldn't have the option to have an XP disk with their HP Mini.

Asus Eee PC 900 available today as expected, around $560

Here in the U.S., online retailers are offering the Asus Eee PC 900 as expected today. Buy.com shows the device available at $565.99 with free shipping: this is the Linux-based model with 20 GB of flash storage. Small Laptops and Notebooks indicates the device status is "sold out" at NewEgg and OnSale, and it appears the same is true for Amazon. They show the device status as "not yet released" although they will accept a pre-order at $549.99 and free shipping. Once they have the device in stock, it will be on its way to you.

Having bought and extensively used the prior Asus Eee PC, I think the larger display and the higher resolution are well worth a premium, as is the extra storage and memory. I'm still not sold on low- to mid-performance sub-notebooks with a rising price trend, but clearly it's a personal preference on requirements and budget. Many folks will be happy with the new 900-series Eee PC, but my gut still says that Asus will sell far more of the 700-series over the long haul.

jkOnTheRun video- Lenovo IdeaPad U110 webcam recording

Rob Bushway of GottaBeMobile recently published a video demonstrating the use of the Lenovo IdeaPad U110 for recording video.  Rob aptly demonstrated that his video recorded with the included Lenovo EasyCapture webcam utility had intermittent audio/ video sync problems, an experience that mirrors my own.  I always use ArcSoft Webcam Companion to record video on laptop webcams which has always worked well for me and this video is an example I recorded on my Lenovo IdeaPad's webcam using the ArcSoft utility.  Have a look and see what you think.  The ArcSoft utility produces a MPG video file that I took into Windows Movie Maker to produce a WMV file which I find works better with YouTube.

The cheap, sub-notebook class gets sub-classed... and more expensive

I'm swamped today but happened to catch a little news in Google Reader after lunch. Is it just me or are the laptop companies trying to kill the newest sub-notebook market before it really hits critical mass? Don't get me wrong: I love what was started by the OLPC and the Asus EEE PC. It just appears to me that folks are trying to cash in on it by maximizing profits in the early stages. Here's what I've seen:

• The OLPC was planned to be around $100 or so and turned into a $200 machine. 100% increase.
• The Eee PC 701 was looking to be a $200 machine and quickly turned into a $400 purchase. Again, a 100% increase.
• The 901 Eee PC offers a little more storage, slightly bigger display and higher resolution. $549 is the pre-order price on a device that shouldn't require massive retooling from a build standpoint. Yet, the new features will cost you almost 40% more than the old model.
• HP's Mini is a nice machine that might have a wee bit more power than these competitors and it certainly has a beautiful screen and more usable keyboard. Based on the price, "you won't even need to consider this purchase". It starts at $499 and the highest-end XP model is just over $800. Who's dropping $800 without blinking? Even at the mid-range, you're looking at $600 or so... still not a "whim purchase".
• The MSI Wind is forthcoming as well: $610 is the pre-order price.

Each of these devices offers different feature sets, sizes and weights to be sure. It almost seems to me that folks are trying to create sub-classes of the sub-notebook class though. I also see prices trending up, not down. There's cheap and functional and there's expensive and faster. What happened to the $200 and $300 machines? Are the components truly driving the prices up or is the profit margins that are increasing?

HP Mini-Note drivers for XP Professional now available

Those of you who have been waiting for HP to provide official drivers supporting Windows XP before installing it can go download them now.  HP has put them up which would indicate that XP should be an ordering option pretty soon.  In addition to the XP hardware drivers you will find various HP utilities for download on XP too.  This looks to be expecting Windows XP SP2 so plan on having the SP3 update to do after you install this.

jkOnTheRun Geek Session: More of the U110 and a surprise application

We haven't had a dual-chat about the Lenovo IdeaPad U110, so today I got a better look at it. James also has an advance look at some software that I'm sure folks will want when it gets released. If you surf the web on a handheld device, you'll want to check this out.

Coffee break- the IdeaPad U110 in action

I finally have a few minutes to kick back in the coffee shop and share a few thoughts about the Lenovo IdeaPad U110 notebook.  Today I brought just the U110 with me in the Lenovo-provided slipcase and as I carried it around with me it struck me repeatedly that it was hard to believe there was a full laptop in the case.  It is just so thin and light, even with the 7-cell battery attached.  I arrived in the SBUX and handed the closed slipcase to my buddy who was working away on his HP Mini-Note and didn't say a word.  I watched in amusement as he unzipped the case, peaked inside and then a confused look came over his face.  He asked what the red thing was in the case as it hadn't hit him that it could be a notebook computer.  He pulled it out of the case, saw the Lenovo logo on the lid and said- well, I can't repeat what he said as this is a family blog.

I spent the next 15 minutes getting no work done whatsoever as he examined the U110 from every angle, played with the keyboard, oohed and ahhed at every little thing.  I finally got it back from him and tried to work for the next half hour as he kept going on and on about every cool feature on the notebook.  His reaction has been very similar to just about everyone I've shown the IdeaPad to and with good reason.  It is hard to believe it is not only a full-function notebook PC but such a powerful performer to boot.  It is actually liberating to open this puppy up and start working and keep thinking how it's faster than all the other mobile PCs I have used.  By a wide margin.

I find the U110 to be very comfortable to use for extended periods of time.  The keyboard is quite nice for touch typing and the wrist rest is just the right size for my hands.  I keep finding little touches that continually make my work easier the longer I use it, like the dedicated page up/down keys at the front of the keyboard.  The scroll area on the trackpad works better than most I've used and I find myself foregoing an external mouse and using that which is rare for me.  Lenovo has always designed the ThinkPad with an eye toward usability and they've definitely brought that experience to the IdeaPad.  I find I can use it for quite a while and then realize that I haven't even thought about the tool I was using, just about getting my work done.  That is just priceless.  I'll be sharing more thoughts including a complete review soon.  If you haven't seen my video of the IdeaPad then go watch that.

Vista power management- High performance or Balanced?

As a mobile worker I usually keep my portable devices running Vista or XP with a power management setting of Power Saver.  I'm always trying to eke out the most battery life I can so I don't run the risk of running out of juice.  Sometimes though I set the Vista power management to Balanced in order to get better performance than in Power Saver if I don't suspect that battery life will be a problem that day.  I find my performance is greatly improved under the Balance setting which according to Microsoft is defined as follows:

• Balanced. Offers full performance when you need it and saves power during periods of inactivity.
• Power saver. Saves power by reducing system performance. This plan can help mobile PC users get the most from a single battery charge.
• High performance. Maximizes system performance and responsiveness. Mobile PC   users might notice that their battery doesn't last as long when using this plan.

Logic would tell you how the 3 different settings would affect the performance of your mobile device but according to Jenn Lee of pocketables.net logic doesn't necessarily play a role in this.  She has recently run benchmarks on two ultra-portables, the HTC Shift and the Sony TZ notebook and discovered that on both devices the Balanced power setting provides better benchmark numbers than the High Performance setting.  Say what?  Check out Jenn's benchmark numbers and see for yourself.

jkOnTheRun video- first look at Lenovo IdeaPad U110

I've been using the sweet Lenovo IdeaPad U110 super portable notebook for a couple of days now and I humbly offer up my very first impressions of this little notebook.  Everybody who I've shown the U110 to has voiced the same 3 reactions in this order:

That red case is nice!
Wow, it's so thin and light!
Can I have it?

There is no question that the U110 is the thinnest and lightest full notebook I have used and I am still impressed with that every time I pick it up to take it with me.  Even with the extended (7-cell) battery attached it is one of the nicest forms in a notebook for less than $2,000.  The Sony TZ comes close but the last time I priced one of those babies it was over $3,000 so this is a nice deal for $1,799.  Take a look at this video of the U110 and see if you agree it's pretty darn sexy.

Lenovo IdeaPad U110 in da house- sexy factor off the meter!

I've only had it in my hands for just a few minutes but let me tell you, the Lenovo IdeaPad U110 is the sexiest notebook I've played with by far.  It is almost as light and thin as the latest model by that fruit company but far smaller overall due to its 11.1-inch screen running at a cool 1366x768 resolution.  I won't get into much detail here but I had to share some photos of this very attractive notebook.  This unit has a Core 2 Duo processor running at 1.6 GHz, 2 GB of memory, a 5-in-1 card reader, ExpressCard slot, VeriFace face recognition login, web cam, Bluetooth, WiFi, two batteries (4 and 7 cells), external DVD drive, 3 USB 2.0 ports, firewire, Dolby sound system, whew!  That's a lot in such a small package.  How small?  275 x 196 x 22.4 mm weighing in at 2.42 - 2.92 lbs depending on the battery attached.  Here's the promised pics until later:

More after the jump.

jkOnTheRun Geek Session: Skype video on the HP Mini with Windows XP

James and I are getting tons of questions on how well (or how bad) Skype video calls are on the HP Mini. This geek chat shows that while the quality isn't as good as higher powered machines, it is quite usable, and without any tweaks. I'm using a MacBook Pro on my end to record the video while James is using the HP Mini with Skype 3.8 for Windows. It's the 1.6 GHz VIA C7-M, 2 GB of RAM and running Windows XP.

Thoughts on the HP Mini-Note under WinXP

I've been running XP on the HP Mini-Note for a few days now and it's time to share some of my thoughts on the system.  Fast.  Everything is instantly responsive under XP and it still surprises me how quickly some things run.  My old faithful resource hogs, Outlook 2007 and OneNote 2007, open quickly and perform faster on the Mini-Note running XP than they do on my Dual Core 2 equipped Tablet PCs, both of them.  Hit an icon and boom something happens.  Surfing the web is quick and easy and the high-res screen makes it very pleasant.  Some other users have taken steps to make things appear bigger on the 8.9" screen for easier viewing but I haven't had to do that.  That's probably because I am already used to the 1280x768 running on the 8.9" screen on the Fujitsu P1620.  It's great having everything fit on the screen at once.

Lenovo U110 IdeaPad now available starting at $1,899

It's official: the Lenovo U110 IdeaPad is now available direct from the Lenovo site. A red one will currently get to you faster than a black one: 3 to 5 days vs. 2 to 3 weeks. Then again, a black U110 might be a smidge faster if the specs are correct: it apparently offers a 5400 RPM 120 GB drive instead of a 4200 RPM in the red base model. Might be a typo there.

Both start at $1,899 which gets you:

• 11.1-inch WXGA display
  
• Intel L7500 Core 2 Duo at 1.6 GHz
  
• Windows Vista Home Premium
  
• 2 GB of RAM; adding another GB will cost you $100
  
• Integrated DVD-Recordable optical drive
  
• VeriFace facial recognition
  
• 2 hours of runtime with the 4-cell battery, plus another 6 hours with the 7-cell battery. Looks like both are included.
  
• Integrated WiFi, Bluetooth, 1.3-megapixel camera, ExpressCard slot, 6-in-1 media card reader and three USB ports

The U110 has a nice weight of 2.4-pounds with the standard battery and it's less than an inch thick. I like the form factor for sure. Lenovo has definitely packed a bit o' tech in a small, light package. When we saw the unit at CES, we really like the touch controls for media as well as the frameless display. Here's the full set of specs in a PDF. Definitely a nice package that compares to Lenovo's own X300, the MacBook Air and the Sony VAIO TZ-line.

jkOnTheRun video- Windows XP on the HP Mini-Note

I couldn't wait for HP to release it, I had to install Windows XP on the Mini-Note to see how it runs compared to Vista.  I performed a clean install of Windows XP using good instructions found on the web and it went clean and easy.  In this video I show how snappy the system runs doing normal tasks like opening Microsoft Office programs, surfing the web and running the Windows Explorer.  I am pleased with the performance of the Mini-Note running XP but you can judge for yourself after watching the video.  Enjoy!

BTW, the Zune theme I am running can be downloaded here since I know many will ask.

Upgrading RAM on the HP Mini-Note- video tutorial

A lot of folks have asked me how easy it is to upgrade the RAM in the HP Mini-Note and fellow Mini-Notester Joanna Stern of Laptop Magazine has produced a video showing it done.  Joanna upgraded the 1 GB stick that came in her Mini to a 2 GB stick and shows the entire process.  It is pretty straightforward although watching her pop the keyboard out to gain access to the DIMM slot made me nervous.  Have a look and see what's involved.

Win one of 31 HP HDX Dragon notebooks! The 31 Days of the Dragon goes live

I played with an HP HDX, affectionately known as the Dragon, earlier this year and it is absolutely the finest desktop replacement notebook you'll ever see.  HP and BuzzCorps have taken it on themselves to give away not one of these $4,500 systems but 31!  One Dragon will be given away every single day of the 31 Days of the Dragon promotion from each of the participating web sites including here at jkOnTheRun.  Here's the deets of each awesome HDX to be given away:

The HP HDX Dragon comes with Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate (64-bit) and is powered by an Intel Core 2 Extreme Processor X9000 (2.80GHz, 6MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB). Other features include 20.1" diagonal WUXGA High-Definition HP Ultra Brightview Widescreen (1920x1200) 1080p, 4GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm), 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS, HP Imprint Finish (Dragon) + Fingerprint Reader + Webcam + Microphone, Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth, 500GB 5400RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (250GB x 2), Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer, Integrated HP HDTV Hybrid TV Tuner and 4 Altec Lansing speakers with HP Triple Bass Reflex subwoofer, and 9 Cell Lithium Ion Battery.

The entertainment notebooks will come with these evaluation software titles: Microsoft Office, Corel PaintShop Pro X2, Corel Painter Essentials, Corel Ulead Video Studio Plus  11.5, Symantec Norton Internet Security.

For the gamers in us the winners will receive the following games: Viva Piñata,Microsoft Flight Sim, Microsoft Flight Sim Expansion Pack, Gears of War.

And since this is an entertainment beast, you will enjoy the following Blu Ray movies out of the box: Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl, Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End.

Each of these giveaway packages is as big as you'll ever see anywhere but there are 31 OF THESE TO BE GIVEN AWAY!

Each of the 31 participating web sites will run a 7 day contest on the following dates and you can enter in each and every one of them:

02 May - 09 May www.absolutevista.com
03 May - 10 May www.arstechnica.com
04 May - 11 May www.osnn.net
05 May - 12 May www.jkontherun.com
06 May - 13 May digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com  
07 May - 14 May www.bostonpocketpc.com 
08 May - 15 May www.the-gadgeteer.com
09 May - 16 May www.thedigitallifestyle.com
10 May - 17 May www.digitalhomethoughts.com
11 May - 18 May www.windows-now.com
12 May - 19 May www.windowsconnected.com
13 May - 20 May www.geekstogo.com
14 May - 21 May bink.nu  
15 May - 22 May www.mediablab.com
16 May - 23 May www.last100.com  
17 May - 24 May www.labnol.org 
18 May - 25 May www.notebooks.com
19 May - 26 May www.slashdotreview.com
20 May - 27 May www.neowin.net
21 May - 28 May www.geek.com
22 May - 29 May www.lockergnome.com  
23 May - 30 May www.planetx64.com
24 May - 31 May www.thegreenbutton.com
25 May - 01 Jun www.istartedsomething.com
26 May - 02 Jun www.bleepingcomputer.com
27 May - 03 Jun www.hardwaregeeks.com
28 May - 04 Jun www.geeknewscentral.com  
29 May - 05 Jun www.geekzone.co.nz
30 May - 06 Jun www.thetabletpc.net
31 May - 07 Jun www.gearlive.com
01 Jun - 08 Jun www.gottabemobile.com

You'll have to mark these dates and sites down on your calendar as you won't want to miss entering each and every one of these for your chance at a great HP Dragon.  Each site will run their own contest so you need to check in to see what you need to do to win at each one.  Heck, this prize is worth a bit of work, isn't it?  Stay tuned to May 5 to see what you need to do to win here at jkOnTheRun.  The contest is open to anyone in the world, no US only for this big event!  This is so exciting!

Join me in thanking HP and BuzzCorps for this incredible giveaway!

jkOnTheRun video- using OS X on the HP Mini-Note via LogMeIn

Since I mentioned that I have been running OS X on the HP Mini-Note through LogMeIn I have gotten a lot of questions about the performance I get doing so.  I use LogMeIn to remotely access my MacBook Pro on the HP Mini-Note and it is quite productive.  In this video my intention is to show how responsive the LogMeIn connection renders OS X on the Mini and thus demonstrate how I am able to get real work done with this method.  The 17" MacBook Pro runs at a screen resolution of 1680x1050 and I demonstrate how the lower resolution of the Mini (1280x768) handles that using great utility built right into LogMeIn.  You'll also see how I can even access the external 2nd monitor on the Mac through the Mini.  Have a look at how cool OS X looks running on the HP Mini-Note in full-screen mode, it's just like being there.  :)  This is done using the free version of LogMeIn which makes it even better.

PS: Before you start jumping on me I know there are other remote access solutions out there.  I use LogMeIn because the free version is good enough for what I need and because I can run a Mac from anything else.

OS X on the HP Mini-Note the easy way

Kevin's dabbling with OS X on his Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium got me hankering to see the great OS running on the HP Mini-Note but I don't have the guts to do it the hard way like he did.  This past weekend I got to experimenting and found the easiest way to get it running on the HP Mini-Note.  I wanted to have the smallest MacBook around and I was able to do it very easily using LogMeIn.  It turned my MacBook Pro into a host for any PC with a web browser and the HP Mini sure has one of those so in just a few minutes I was running OS X on the Mini:

The speed was quite acceptable and this is using the free version of LogMeIn. I was very surprised to find that the HP Mini runs this better than the Fujitsu P1620. The screen updating is fluid on the Mini but choppy on the Fuji.  I even ran a Quicktime video on the Mini pretty well.

11.1-inch Asus U2E notebook: small, light and includes optical drive

Shame on me. I just posted info on some comparable small and light notebooks the other day and forgot about the Asus U2E. It could be just as worthy of a purchase as a MacBook Air or Lenovo U110 IdeaBook, couldn't it? AnandTech's review of the leather-topped U2E should help answer that question. One thing that became clear to me if I were going to purchase the 1.06 GHz Core 2 Duo device: I'd surely opt for the 6- or 9-cell battery in lieu of the standard 3-cell. As I read it, the AnandTech folks were seeing the small 29 W/hr battery last less than an hour-and-a-half. On the plus side, this under-three-pound PC does offer an integrated optical drive for those that need it. Not bad for around $1,700.

(via Small Laptops and Notebooks)

Asus Eee PC 900 officially unveiled

Holding off on an HP Mini purchase to see what the second-generation Asus Eee PC will sport? The details arrived in the form of a press release with few surprises. The Eee PC 900-series is under a kilo in weight but ups the screen size and resolution over the 700-series. The 8.9-inch display bumps up to 1024 x 600, which is certainly more enjoyable than the 800 x 480 of the older model. There's some basic multi-touch functionality on the trackpad if you want to zoom in or out on the display, which certainly beats moving your head closer or farther away for a similar effect.

The Windows version offers two SSD modules, one 4 GB and one 8 GB, while the Linux version swaps the 8 GB out for a 16 GB SSD module to offer a full 20 GB of capacity. Both versions come with 1 GB of memory standard, the 1.3-megapixel webcam (an improvement), integrated WiFi and what looks to be the same Intel Celeron CPU as the older model. Not much of a surprise there as at CES, Asus was gearing for an early spring launch and the Atom wasn't expected to be in devices until mid-year. Asus didn't announce a price in the release, but I'd hazard a guess in the $450 to $550 range.

After using the older Eee PC to cover CES, I can say that it's a handy little unit that can be used almost anywhere due to its small size and weight. The keyboard is cramped, but I'm able to touch-type on it. The new model addresses one of the largest issues: a bigger screen with a higher resolution. The additional storage is nice too, but was never a concern for me personally due to my reliance on web-based apps and storage.

(via Engadget)

Lenovo U110 IdeaPad appears online for $1,999

The next contender in the small but fully functional notebook market is nearing: Lenovo's U110 IdeaPad has surfaced at on-line retailer J&R. It's the same WXGA 11.1-inch unit that wowed us at this year's CES... so much so, that we left fingerprints all over the demo unit. The $1,999 price tag is justified by the specs and what's under the hood, although I was hoping we'd see this device under $1,500.

The U110 runs a 1.6 GHz version of the Intel Core 2 Duo ULV with 3 GB of RAM and a 120 GB hard drive at the two-grand price. Weight is definitely a "feature" in my opinion, as the U110 weighs three pounds with the standard battery. There are three USB ports, Bluetooth, 802.11a/g/n, VGA out, a 1.3-megapixel webcam and no optical drive. This device is definitely in the same space as the MacBook Air and Lenovo X300; looks to me like folks that long for an X300 but don't want an SSD, or the premium it commands, have another Lenovo option.

(via Laptoping)

Lenovo adding siblings to X300

I generally try to steer clear of the rumor-mill, but the more I consider this one, the more I see it being mostly true. Gizmodo indicates the Lenovo X300 will have a few bigger siblings and perhaps one smaller one. A 12-inch model would be dubbed the X200, and there is an expected X400 and X500, which are expected in at 14.1- and 15.4-inches respectively.

It's not much of a stretch for any of these to see the light of day, although I question if a 14-inch model is needed since 13.3- and 15.4 are likely to meet most people's needs in these standard sizes. As for a smaller model like the X200? There's a growing trend towards "full featured but small", so I could see it. In fact, I'd love to see an X100 with a 10-inch screen priced around $800.

HP to consider VIA Isaiah and Intel Atom in HP Mini-Note refresh

This info from Crave surprises me a bit. It's a good article on why HP chose the VIA C7-M for the HP Mini-Note, although I question the opening phrase "HP chose a relatively obscure processor from VIA..." It's only relatively obscure if you haven't been following the UMPC market since inception. Since most consumers haven't, I can see the point being made.

So Crave spoke with Robert Baker, an HP product marketing manger, on why the C7-M. Looks like a matter of timing, cost, and price / performance ratio. Makes perfect sense from a business perspective, but here comes the interesting part: Baker indicates an interim refresh of the HP Mini-Note in about six months.

Tablet PC- what's that premium worth?

I am an unusual Tablet PC user, I know that.  I am totally dependent on taking ink notes in my work and why the Tablet PC is so critical for getting my work done.  In addition to the inking ability the other criteria that is vital to me is mobility and since Tablet PCs usually come in thinner and highly mobile forms they work well for me.  The Fujitsu P1620 I am using now is a highly mobile inking machine and I love it.  It makes my work better and easier and that's worth a premium to me.  The recent introduction of ultra-portable notebooks like the HP Mini-Note have driven home to me how much a premium I paid for the Fujitsu and it's got me thinking about that.  The HP Mini I am evaluating is is about the same size and weight as the Fujitsu and with the exception of a much slower processor and the lack of a touch screen is similarly configured.  That means that it's roughly as mobile as the Fuji so the primary difference in functionality between the HP Mini and the Fujitsu P1620 is the Tablet PC bits.  Those bits are important to me as I mentioned but is it worth a 300% price premium?  Is it worth such a premium for you?  Let's discuss that so read on.

HP Mini-Note UMPC available for order

That didn't take long, the HP Mini-Note UMPC is already available for order from the HP web site:

No surprises here, ship dates of April 15th are quoted.

jkOnTheRun video- first look at the HP Mini-Note UMPC

The good folks at HP let me play with the brand new HP Mini UMPC.  It's been known as the HP UMPC, the 2133 and who knows what else but it's officially the HP Mini.  This video is longer than most we do because we wanted to give you the best look possible at this innovative mini-notebook.  The Mini will only set you back $499 for the entry level configuration but this video shows off the top-of-the-line model.  This one is only $749 so it's still a very good deal.  You'll see the HP Mini from every angle, see how well constructed it is and get a good look at how well the Via C7-M 1.6 GHz processor performs.  Take a look at the video and see what we think of the new HP Mini.

jkOnTheRun review- hands on with the HP Mini-Note UMPC

The Asus EEE PC woke people up to the benefits that a sub-notebook device brings to consumers, especially if it's priced attractively.  HP is releasing their hotly awaited sub-notebook and the Mini is a solid first effort in this small notebook category.  I know, we have heard this device called the 2133 or the Mini-Note but HP told me they are going to release it as simply the Mini.  I have been using the HP Mini for a week now thanks to the good folks at HP and this hands-on review of the device should answer all of your questions about it. There is an interesting story behind the Mini as I discovered by spending an hour with the folks at HP behind the device.  The Mini is the brain child of the group at HP that produces products for the education sector and not the main consumer group.  HP found that in discussions with educators that they needed a notebook computer that was small enough for students to easily handle and yet sturdy enough to survive the knocks that they dish out to the gear they use.  HP went to work and the Mini emerged to fit those needs and they've done it so well that I'm pretty sure it will appeal far beyond the education sector, especially given the attractive pricing.

Touch-screen, Tablet functions coming to Intel's Classmate

Eagle-eyed Steve caught the following information in an Intel PDF from the Intel Developer Forum: the third-generation Classmate PC is expected to offer touch Tablet capabilities. The device is slated to appear late this year in the price range of $290 to $440 and of course will be powered by Intel's Atom processor.

Having used touch-screen Tablet PC devices for the past two years, I'm wondering about the whole idea. I'm all for promoting Tablet PC technologies but will the experience be positive or negative for the target audience? Students and other end-users might end up abhorring the vectoring issues we've experienced and could possibly equate that to all Tablet PCs, which would be a tragic inaccuracy. The picture in Steve's snip shows a swivel screen to provide an an optimal writing experience, so my hopes are high, but we'll have to see how this develops. This could all be a moot point if the 3rd-gen Classmate will contain both a touchscreen and an active digitizer, but at these prices, I really don't think that's the case.

One other question: it's clear that will likely qualify as a ULCPC or Ultra Low Cost PC, and therefore Windows XP would be allowed on it. Does the Tablet Edition of XP have a stay-of-execution until 2010 also, or will the Tablet features be something from the Linux world?

The more I look at the screen snip, the more I wonder if there will be four distinct "flavors" of this Classmate model. The price variation for the "multi SKP path" means yes, there will be multiple configurations or editions. Could there be four, namely from the top box: Standard, Touch, Tablet, and eReader? Each could have a slightly different feature set. Standard would be your plain vanilla Classmate. Touch could offer the same model, but include a touch screen. Tablet would then build upon that with the swivel screen and eReader.... shoot, I was on a roll there...

Why the Dell XT is not for me

I have been intrigued by the Dell XT Tablet PC like many of you since the first leaked information began appearing on the web so long ago.  I railed along with many about the high price that Dell was placing on the new capacitive touch capability but even so I have been eagerly awaiting hearing how users find the innovative Tablet PC.  It was with great interest I heard that Rob Bushway of GottaBeMobile had ordered one as I knew that soon we would begin hearing and seeing the Dell XT second-hand to see what all the fuss has been about.  Rob received his Dell recently and I have been following his unboxing video and subsequent impressions with great relish.  Having seen Rob's initial postings about the Dell, I can state pretty emphatically that it's not for me.  I've given this a lot of thought and I'll share those thoughts with you here.

Sleep and charge USB function on new Toshiba notebooks

Boy, I could have used this function on the CES trip a few months back. Xavier notes a handy feature on the new Toshiba Satellite line of laptops: Sleep-and-Charge USB ports. You can charge devices over USB while the notebook is on (duh!), off, in sleep mode or hibernating. While in Las Vegas this past January, I had to make sure my computers were plugged in and powered on while I was sleeping-and-snoring-charging on a nearby mattress. That was the only way I could recharge my mobile devices that use USB to power up the battery. Look for the feature in the U400, M300, A300 and P300 notebooks in the Toshiba Satellite line. I can't believe that Toshiba is the only OEM that offers this function: does your notebook have it and if so, which brand / model do you have?

Win XP EEE PC at Best Buy in April- Laptop Mag's got one now

Word has come out that the Asus EEE PC with Windows XP instead of Linux will start appearing at Best Buy in early April.  The Asus EEE PC 4G  will set you back $399 and is the same as the Xandros-based model 4G just with Windows installed.  Laptop Magazine has gotten their hands on one early and have published a hands-on review including video of this WinXP mini-notebook.  They seem to like it better, at least found that some things that don't have drivers on the Xandros version work fine under Windows.  Here are the complete specs for the 4G:

• Colors: Pearl White, Black
• LCD Size / Type: 7″ Wide
• LCD Resolution: 800 x 480 (~WVGA)
• LCD Type: TFT
• Graphic: Intel UMA
• Chipset: Intel Mobile Chipset
• Processor: Intel Mobile CPU
• Memory: 512MB DDR2
• S.S.D Storage (Solid State Disk): 4GB
• OS: Windows XP Home Preloaded
• Software: MS Works, Windows Live
• Audio: High-Definition Audio CODEC
• Microphone: 1 Internal Microphone
• Speakers: 2 Internal Stereo Speakers
• Audio Jack-Out (3.5mm)
• Audio Jack-In (3.5mm)
• Wireless Included: 802.11 b/g
• LAN / Connector: 10/100 Mbps / RJ-45
• 3 USB 2.0 ports
• Memory Card Reader: MMC/SD(SDHC)
• VGA Port 1 (D-sub 15 pin)
• Integrated Camera
• Battery: four-cell 4400mAh
• Battery Life: 2.8 hours
• AC Adapter Output: 9.5V, 22W
• AC Adapter Input: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz universal
• Unit Weight: 2.0 lbs (with battery)
• Unit Dimensions: 8.86 x 6.30 x 0.79 ~ 1.26 inches

There is no perfect mobile device because size does matter

The quest for the perfect mobile device is a long-running and eternal one that many have undertaken and none have succeeded in finding.  I know because I am one of the worst, always looking at new gadget X to see if it will be the one.  The good discussion about the "two laptop minimum" has my thoughts going in overdrive and since I am in the enviable position of having many great gadgets at my beck and call I have been able to regularly test what constitutes the perfect device for me.  There ain't one.

I have two distinctly different careers running at the same time, something that sets my needs apart from most folks so my thoughts may not be pertinent to you.  But they are my thoughts and I have never been too shy to share them with others so here I go again.  Take them with a grain of salt, after throwing some over your left shoulder for luck, of course.

More HP UMPC info leaks- world waits

Engadget has gotten their hot little hands on what looks like a legitimate spec sheet for that hotly awaited HP 2133 UMPC and it's shaping up as expected and very nicely.  Four different models are revealed priced from $549 with SUSE Linux to $849 with the top hardware configuration.  For those living under a rock the 2133 is the new sub-notebook that HP will be releasing soon, April 7th according to engadget, that sports an 8.9-inch screen and priced to "sell like hotcakes".  All four models will be sporting a Via C-7 processor according to this new information and either 1 GB or 2 GB of memory depending on model.  The Via processor is the 1.2 GHz variety, no screamer for sure but designed to keep the cost down so HP can pitch the 2133 against other sub-notebooks like the EEE PC.  The new spec sheet shows choices of Vista Home, Vista Business along with the afore-mentioned Linux options.  Hard drives of 120 GB (5,400 & 7,200 rpm) and 160 GB (5,400 rpm) are offered along with the usual radio options of WiFi and Bluetooth.  There are two battery options, 3 and 6 cell.  I hope to get my hands on one of these babies very, very soon. 

Still good deals at the Lenovo outlet store

Reader Melvyn emailed me today that he just ordered a Lenovo x61 notebook PC from the Lenovo outlet store and his deal was so good I want to pass it on.  Melvyn's x61 is loaded to the gills:

Core 2 Duo- 2.2 GHz
XP Pro
3 GB of RAM
1 GB Intel Turbo Memory
200 GB hard drive- 7200 rpm
Dual Layer DVD drive
WiFi
High-capacity 8 cell battery
Bluetooth

Original price- $3,331
Outlet price- $1,375.79

If you're looking for a deal this sounds like the one and the x61 is a very nice notebook PC.

Computerworld- the two laptop minimum

Bob Russell of MobileRead sent me a link to a story on Computerworld that looked like it could easily have been written by someone we know and hopefully love.  Author Mike Elgan has written a very interesting article about how the small laptops like the EEE PC have changed the way he believes the road warrior should equip themselves for getting the most work done.  He states correctly that there is nothing better than these tiny laptops for getting work done on airplanes and during layovers on business trips.  He goes on to state that these laptops are too small to get the most work done in hotels as you need to get the biggest screen you can carry to be the most productive.  Thus, his "two laptop minimum".  He explains his thought process:

1. Regular laptops have gotten far cheaper. Moore and his law have brought down the costs of miniaturization, LCD real estate and other components.

2. Researchers have established an inescapable correlation between screen size and productivity

3. The Asus Eee PC and its ilk have transformed the market -- and pricing -- for tiny laptops.

For the most part I agree with Mike although in my case it's currently a 3 laptop minimum.  I don't even own a desktop PC like Mike thinks you need at home, no I'm quite happy with my 17" MacBook Pro with a second monitor attached on my desktop.  Throw in the HP 2710p and the Fujitsu P1620 and my 3 laptops are hard to beat.  I would disagree with Mike on needing a bigger laptop for working in hotels on trips however.  I find the P1620 to be a full-function laptop with no compromises for getting things done but that's likely just me.  I'm writing this on it as a matter of fact.  Mike's article is a good read though and shouldn't be missed.  Have a look at it and let us know what you think about Mike's premise.

Lenovo X300: "an exercise in balance"

No doubt you've already read a few reviews of the Lenovo X300 notebook, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to point out one more because it's from Sal Cangeloso over at Geek.com. James and I both have the pleasure of knowing Sal; he's a fantastic device reviewer who provides a judicious viewpoint and that's why I enjoyed his review. Sal hits upon one of the main themes of the X300 in a way that I think our readers will appreciate:

"The ThinkPad X300 is an exercise in balance. It’s designers were tasked with balancing performance and usability with size and weight and they did an excellent job. Sacrifices were made, like the dropped expansion slot and the lack of a card reader, but on the whole the system is extremely impressive. "

Other reviewers have looked at the X300 by comparing it to other devices, which is the obvious and easy way to go. But Sal's thought above echoes a central theme that we've hit here time and time again: mobile technology is about compromise. It's a great read so if you're considering the X300, you'll want to hit it. Nice job, Sal. Now if we could just get Lenovo to include a small screwdriver with every purchase, I think we'd see a few more sales. ;)

GeCube: first Asus Eee PC competitor to lose its head

At a passing glance, the GeCube Genie looks like yet another low-cost notebook entry over at Gizmodo. It runs on Linux, offers a 7-inch display and crams in a keyboard as well. The device doesn't look like a Cube or a Genie, but don't get hung up on the name because you might miss the the Genie's magic: the display is removable!

Actually, the magic is more of an optical illusion; it looks like you're removing the display, but you're really removing all but the keyboard as the PC innards are behind the display. You still have a working device without the keyboard and base, but of course, without touch capabilities you'll be "hard pressed" to be productive. Pop some touch goodness on this idea and you've got a dockable UMPC with a keyboard... best of both worlds I say. Thanks for the tip, Aaron!

Small trumps thin in notebooks

One of the benefits of being someone who gets to use a lot of different mobile devices is the conversations these devices start with those interested everywhere I go.  Whether I am in a coffee shop or a business meeting pulling out one of my mobile devices invariably starts a conversation with those around me who are wishing they had a good device to use in their own work.  Most of the devices I've carried around and used a lot are convertible Tablet PCs that are good notebook computers in addition to the Tablet stuff and that is what catches most people's attention.  Everyone is familiar with notebooks and how they look and work and that is what most people have in their mind when they think about mobile technology they can use in their own life.

Since the introduction of the MacBook Air (MBA) a lot of conversation has taken place about how thin it is and how that is what people looking for notebooks want for themselves.  I have said in the past that I don't think that thin is the primary attribute that people want in a notebook and the many conversations I have held with regular people drives that point home to me time and again.  I base this observation in large part due to the reaction that folks have to the different convertible notebooks that I carry and use.  It is interesting that no one ever says to me "how thin that device is" even though most of the notebooks I am seen using certainly qualify.  Not MBA thin of course but definitely thinner than most notebooks out there.  No, most people notice the overall size of the notebook and other features it may have.  The Tablet bits intrigue almost everyone who find that could be useful in their own work but no one ever states that thin is important to them.  Features, price and overall size carry the day in these conversations.

I do find that the smaller the notebook is the more attention it grabs from others, a point driven home since i have been carrying the Fujitsu P1620 every day.  The Fuji is not that thin compared to other notebooks I have used but the small size starts a lot of conversations and I find that many do feel that a small notebook could fit their work and that definitely interests them.  I hear a lot of people state that the small size would make it so much easier to carry and travel with and when they see that feature-wise it has few compromises the reaction is very positive.  I have seen that same reaction every time an Asus EEE PC enters the room.  Of course when I swivel a screen around for Tablet work it blows a lot of people away no matter what device I am carrying as most have never seen one in the real world.  Just about everyone comments that the Tablet features could aid them in their mobile work but no one feels the thinness of the notebook is a big deal.  So based on my interaction with real people I can state that small trumps thin in the notebook world, and Tablet trumps non-Tablet too.  I will be very interested to hear some real sales figures from Apple after a while to see how many of the MBA they are selling.  While everyone I talk to thinks they are sexy not many have indicated they intend to buy one or that the thinness would aid them very much in the real world.

Swapping optical for battery on X300: you'll need a screwdriver

If you're planning to take advantage of the Lenovo X300's swappable bay, make sure you have a screwdriver handy. That's the magic tool needed in order to release the optical drive or battery from the bay in case you want to switch modules. The procedure is quick, painless and easy as shown the Lenovo folks in the video above. Simply flip your X300 over, undo and remove a single screw, and then use the screwdriver to release the optical drive or battery inside. Once you swap, you just need to replace the screw... and put your screwdriver in a safe place so you don't lose it for the next swap.

Although easy to do with a tool, it's a shame that some button or latch mechansim couldn't have worked in this case. The more you have to carry, the less mobile you become and isn't mobility the point of the X300 to begin with? Not a major issue, but for perspective buyers that plan to take advantage of the optical drive and 3-cell battery option, this is good info to have.

(via Small Laptops and Notebooks)

Samsung P200: a hefty 12.1-inch notebook with magic dust

When I first saw mention of the Samsung P200, I figured it was meant to compete in the small and light category. You know, to take on the Lenovo X300 or MacBook Air. It sounded good on paper: a 12.1-inch widescreen display and a 6-cell battery for starters. Then I started digging a little deeper and became slightly disappointed. A weight of 1.89 kg, which works out to around 4.2 pounds... the battery life is estimated at 3.1 hours... no mention of an integrated optical drive (which makes me wonder why this notebook weighs over four pounds).

So it's definitely not in the same class as the recent "ultra-portables", but on the flipside, it sounds like a capable business machine: Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, ATI Radeon Xpress 1250 graphics, 2 USB ports, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, WiFi and Express Card slot. I hope that's not the ExpressCard slot on the front; I wouldn't want a 3G modem poking at my left wrist. If you're not entranced enough by the P200, Samsung teases us with the most interesting feature: magic pixie dust called "Silver Nano Technology. By sprinkling incredibly small, nano-sized silver ion powder on the keyboard the P200 system will remain completely “bacteria free”"

If I could just get some of that silver ion powder as an accessory, maybe I could shake this flu.

The draw of small notebooks

Now that I'm using a very small notebook again, the Fujitsu P1620, it's making me realize some things that I had forgotten from when I used its predecessor.  This has to do with the draw of carrying and using such a small notebook computer, something that I think has been a big factor in the popularity of the Asus EEE PC.  The Fujitsu is almost the same size as the EEE PC and I can certainly attest to the usability of a notebook computer so small.

The huge interest in the EEE PC after it was announced surprised a lot of people but I have to admit I was not one of those.  I had been using a P1610 for months and was never disappointed to find it attracted a lot of attention everywhere I pulled it out.  Don't get me wrong, the main reason the EEE PC has been so popular is no doubt the cheap price but I can tell you the form factor plays a big role in the interest that people have in the device based on my experience with the Fujitsu.  I am finding the same high level of interest in the P1620 the few days I have been carrying it around and that jogged my memory over how interesting people always found the P1610 when I was using it.

One most notable example was last year when I attended the BarCamp Houston, a geek festival with a lot of savvy people who are pretty familiar with mobile computing.  At the beginning of the BarCamp agenda I was sitting in the orientation presentation with probably a hundred people and I had the Fujitsu in my hands taking notes and surfing the web.  I didn't realize how many people were intrigued by this little notebook until after this session.  Over the period of the next few hours I was approached by no fewer than 20 people who had seen me using the Fuji who wanted to see the "tiny notebook".  You have to realize that just about everyone at this conference was carrying a notebook of some sort as these are highly connected people.  Every single person who asked to see the Fuji admitted they were highly interested because they could see that the size was perfect for carrying everywhere and using it with little or no trouble.  They would try the keyboard and once they saw they could type fine on it with a little practice each one of them said they'd buy one in a heartbeat if they could get something similar for a good price.  Enter the EEE PC and you see why this genre has really heated up and why I think HP intends to make a big splash in this area.  It's all about the size (and cheap price).  :)  It's also why UMPC will soon come to signify one of these small notebooks and not a handheld device of some type.  Numbers always win in the naming business.

Lenovo X300 available for ordering

Now that the reviews are in, it's time to see who's buying a light, thin Lenovo X300 since it's now available for ordering on the product page. There aren't many surprises in the options or the price, so if you've been following the drama of this new device there's not much to see. Some items I noticed on the customization page that I either missed or passed over on the initial news include:

• A wireless USB option costing $56
  
• Microsoft OneNote for only $20, which is a practical steal
  
• Dropping the optical drive saves you weight, but also saves you $96 and offers space for an extra 3-cell battery
  
• There's currently no option for a traditional hard drive as some had hoped; 64 GB SSD only

Kojinsha announces E8 mini-notebook

Everyone's attention has been focused on the rumored HP 2133 mini-notebook but they are not the only ones bringing out new low-cost mini-notebooks.  Korean OEM Kojinsha has announced a $600 mini-notebook the E8 that looks to address the low-cost notebook market that Asus has been so successful tapping with the EEE PC.  The E8 will be running the AMD Geode mobile processor, not a powerful CPU by anyone's standards but no doubt a heavy contributor to that low price of $600.  What sets the E8 apart from other low-cost mini-notebooks is the swiveling touchscreen running at a resolution of 1024x600 and it comes standard with Windows XP.  The E8 also comes with 512 MB of memory and a 40 GB hard drive which should be sufficient to run XP decently.  Kojinsha says the E8 will ship on Feb. 29th which is right around the corner and given the specs looks to be a pretty decent package for $600.  No word on US availability.

(via Mobilewhack)

Thoughts on the HP 2133 UMPC

The rumors and photo flying around of the rumored HP sub-notebook, the 2133 if they are to be believed, have captured the attention of a lot of people.  Not since the first rumors started appearing back when about the Asus EEE PC have so many gotten excited about such a small notebook.  I have been soaking up everything I hear about the HP, which isn't much, and have been giving a lot of thought about this (so far) imaginary device.  Here are my thoughts on it for what it's worth.  If only HP would give us some real facts to work with then al