POSTED BY

Rob Beschizza

AT 12:12 PM
Monday December 15, 2008

Computers • Reviews

hp mini 1001 • netbooks

Review: a weekend with the HP Mini 1000 netbook

524298.jpgHP's Mini 1000 is a superb netbook. If you're fine with getting three hours on a charge, its great looks, capable specs and excellent keyboard make it a 2.38 lb ultraportable you'll actually enjoy using.

If you do plan to spend time away from the mains, its 3-cell battery is a critical flaw. You won't get a morning of work out of it, let alone a day. (Update: HP wrote in to say a 6-cell battery will be offered in January)

This is a shame, because in other respects the Mini 1000 is excellent. Fundamentally a standard 10" netbook running Windows XP on a 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU, it has 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, bluetooth, WiFi-g and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. It's the aesthetics that make it.

hp1001_middle.jpg

Spiral designs traverse a glossy black case (also offered in a burgundy Vivienne Tam design). The speakers are concealed behind a distinctive metallic grille, which also covers the hinges. Most striking is its the Apple-like "infinity" display, in which the LED-lit panel seems to float.

The keyboard (view) is about full-sized, running flush to the edges. It has proper right shift and enter keys and should pose no difficulties to newcomers. This notebook has 2 USB ports, an SD card reader, and a proprietary HP connector for own-brand peripherals.

hp1001top.jpg

The Mini 1000 also has an integrated 3G cellular modem based on Qualcomm's GoBi chipset, which works with both radio technologies and hence every major carrier. Though it's quite expensive up front, adding $200 to the price, rebates are available.

If you're pulling the trigger at once and need a long-life battery, Samsung's NC10 remains the best choice. For those willing to wait until the new year—or who are happy to make do with a 3-cell option—the Mini 1000 is a real head-turner.

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8 Comments

things

#1 – 2:13 PM December 15, 2008

"a proprietary HP connector for own-brand peripherals."

O_o

vegipowrd

#2 – 2:26 PM December 15, 2008

Is this the one that will come with a homebrew Linux in January?

Rob Beschizza

#3 – 3:23 PM December 15, 2008

Things, I'm pretty sure it's just USB with a different plug, but I don't really care about it or for it. Pretty inexplicable, for sure.

technogeek

#4 – 4:20 PM December 15, 2008

How well do netbooks Suspend (or Hibernate)? Three hours of active use per day might be more than enough for a home-automation remote control, which would basically just be running a client/server control console app (or, I suppose, a VNC client to manipulate the central machine wherever it is).

Of course for that application a used low-end laptop would probably be a cheaper solution, since ultraportability isn't actually necessary.

Rob Beschizza

#5 – 5:14 PM December 15, 2008

Most, including this one, go to sleep when closed and then hibernate shortly thereafter. This HP woke from sleep in a few seconds, and from hibernation in about 20-30. Power management 's been reliable.

The one gotcha is this: if you think it's hibernating but is only asleep (say you've just had the lid shut for a minute or two) it's annoying when you open it and hit the power button, only for it to promptly wake from sleep and then start going into hibernation because you hit the power button.


jayturley

#6 – 11:28 AM December 16, 2008

Of course, buying an HP means you'll probably have to deal with HP's customer service at some point. Which in my personal experience is about the worst I've ever seen. YMMV.

blork

#7 – 1:39 PM December 16, 2008

I've had one of these for a couple of weeks, and it is pretty sweet. It's not a desktop replacement, but it's great as a mobile tool, or if you just like to have a super lightweight web terminal laying around the house.

Regarding Rob B's "Gotcha" (comment #5), if the machine is in "suspend," the while light on the power switch is on. If the machine is in "hibernate," the light is NOT on. Let that be your guide.

My biggest worry would be that suspend/hibernate would be really slow and/or stupid, but it works pretty well. The point at which it goes from suspend to hibernate is configurable (as with any XP laptop).

The "proprietary HP connector" is how you output to an external monitor. There are probably other uses too, although KB, mouse, disk drives (etc.) are easily done via USB. Annoyingly, I don't think that connector is available yet (at least not up here in the wild blowing snows of Canada).

Supposedly, HP is releasing an Ubuntu version in January. I hope I can cross-grade my XP machine, because ditching Windows for a reliable and fully-functioning Linux OS would be sweetness upon sweetness.

blork

#8 – 1:50 PM December 16, 2008

That should be "If the machine is in 'suspend' the WHITE light on the power switch is on..."

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