Welcome to a Laptop Battery specialist of the HP Laptop Battery
The HP Mini 1000 Mi Edition (Mini 1110NR) with battery such as HP HSTNN-LB4N Battery, HP HSTNN-UB4O Battery, HP PI06 Battery, HP PI09 Battery, HP TPN-Q122 Battery, HP HSTNN-LB6I Battery, HP VI04 Battery, HP HSTNN-DB6K Battery, HP Envy TouchSmart 17 Battery, HP Envy TouchSmart M7 Battery, HP HSTNN-YB4O Battery, HP H6L38AA Battery is a cool-looking, low-cost netbook focused on easy Web access and entertainment. It uses the same design as the Mini 1000, but runs the Mobile internet (Mi) software rather than Windows. Mobile internet is an easy-to-use interface built on Linux, but is it enough for most people to enjoy their e-mail, Internet, digital photos, music, and video?
Last year’s HP Mini-note 2133 looked great, but it was let down by a pokey slow VIA C-7 CPU and 4200rpm HDD. I can imagine many people who got to handle a 2133 trying to rationalize how they probably didn’t need too much CPU power because of how well-built and attractive the 2133 was. I know I did, but thankfully I came to my senses before plunking down $500 on what was sure to be a disappointing investment.
We’ll never know why the VIA/Centaur C-7 was picked for the 2133 (everyone loves to cheer for the underdog, and I am sure that the VIA Nano will rock when its released in 2012), but its descendants like the HP Mini 1110NR we are reviewing here come equipped with the much better Intel Atom processor. Here are the 1110NR Specs:
•Processor: Intel Atom N270
•Graphics: Intel 900 IGP
•Operating System: HP Mobile Internet UI (Ubuntu Linux)
•1GB DDR2 667 RAM
•8GB SSD (1.8” Form Factor)
•8.9” LED LCD (1024 x 600)
•802.11g, 10/100 Ethernet, Bluetooth
•MSRP: $379 USD, $449 CDN
There is a lot to like about the HP Mini 1110NR.
Cosmetically it succeeds on a hardware and software level. It is thinner than most netbooks in its class, and it offers more attractive styling (at least in my opinion). There are no batteries jutting out of strange places like on the Toshiba NB100 and Dell Mini 12. Materials are well chosen, and the lid’s finish is classy looking.
At a software level HP has taken the standard fecal brown aesthetic of Ubuntu and given it a glossier, sexier sheen. The theme is sharp and HP’s launcher/shell succeeds where several netbook Linux distros failed before it. This Linux OS is very easy to use and everything just works out of the box. This operating system is certifiably ordinary people friendly.
In terms of hardware and performance, there is little to choose from between most netbooks. This particular chassis was made for a 10” screen so the 1110NR’s 8.9” screen looks out of place. Also, the 8GB SSD is simply too small given HP’s current lack of Mi-integrated cloud services. Sadly, the 10” model that comes with a much larger mechanical HDD is only available with Windows XP. I would appreciate being able to buy the 10” model with hard drive running HP Mi (or even a dual boot). The Hp Mini chassis is very nice, but the memory compartment door is flimsy – a really bone-headed design decision.
I still think that in general the asking price for netbooks is a bit high for the functionality they offer. Looking specifically at the HP Mini some of its immediate competitors offer better bang for buck. At the moment you can get an Asus Eee 900HA for $30-50 less than this HP. The Asus comes with XP, a proper 160GB 5400 RPM notebook drive and a higher capacity battery – although it’s not as pretty looking as the HP and has a cramped keyboard in comparison. The Linux iteration of the Acer Aspire One with 8GB SSD is being blown out for as little as $279 CDN and it is very comparable to the HP Mini. Clearly value is an issue (at least in my tightwad opinion).
There have been recent promotions on HP’s own website taking the HP Mini Mi as low as $329. That price is better, but I would need to see a $299 USD price tag to unequivocally recommend the 1110NR. You might also want to wait for HP to fix the memory compartment door issue and actually release a restore utility as promised.
If you have your heart set on a netbook you will almost certainly find the combination of features and value you need – it just may not be this one. You might want to wait for the PC makers to bleed a bit more red ink and get aggressive with pricing before you plunk down your cash.
HP’s Mini Mi has been an eye-opener for me. This isn’t because the Mini Mi is a perfect product, clearly it’s not. The lesson I am taking away from this review is how friendly/easy/awesome Linux and specifically Ubuntu can be when a PC maker puts some sweat equity into it. I hope to see the Mi experience on other HP products in the future.
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