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GBM InkShow: HP Mini 1000 Netbook

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I have not been a huge fan of Netbooks, mostly due to the size of the keyboard, screen, and being worried about performance. Having a chance to review the HP Mini 1000 changed that for me, though.

The HP Mini 1000 is a fantastic choice for those wanting something more mobile without wanting to break the bank. I’ve been very impressed with the speed, the comfort of the keyboard, and spacious screen. Fan noise was almost non-existant. The screen is very glossy, and if glossy screens bug you, then the Mini 1000 isn’t for you. Personally, I like the vibrant colors that a glossy screen offers, so I can put up with a bit of screen tilting.

To see the HP Mini 1000 in action, as well as compared to the Asus 901 Eee PC, watch our video InkShow review below. Oh – and stay tuned. Along with 49 other sites, we’ll be giving away this Mini 1000, as well as a massive amount of other computers soon in the HP Magic Giveaway. If you can’t wait, head over to HPShopping.com, Costco, or other retailers. Prices start at $399. The unit I reviewed was $499, ran Windows XP Home Edition, had 1GB of RAM, and a 10.2″ screen.

All GottaBeMobile.com InkShows are sponsored by TechSmith.com

All GBM InkShows are sponsored by TechSmith.com

10 Comments

10 Comments

  1. gottabemobile

    11/27/2008 at 2:10 am

    Thanks for the comments, folks.

    I have not had an opportunity to test the battery. Being a four-cell, I wouldn't expect much, though. I'll report back, though.

  2. Shan Gee

    11/27/2008 at 3:12 am

    Great review Rob! HP has done a fantastic job on their netbooks. It is really important to have a good keyboard size on netbooks. I've tried the keyboard on an ASUS and I can't imagine ever using that netbook because of the experience I had with the keyboard. It's just too small and hard to type on there.

  3. Mario Filipe

    11/27/2008 at 3:24 am

    Hey Mr. I think that you were too rough handling my next netbook, you better not have scratched it!
    Now, all joking aside, that was a very interesting review, I especially appreciated the focus that you placed on the keyboard. Not having one, I see a netbook as a convenient secondary computer easy to carry around and work as a notepad replacement, meaning good for writing down notes and word processing with the added bonus of browsing the web for research. That implies that a comfortable typing experience is essential, and the HP Mini appears to deliver in that aspect, at least compared most of the other netbooks on the market.
    Now if you will indulge me giving my own two-cents, entirely based on your inkshow, I find that the glossy screen is less than ideal for a netbook. This exactly because I see a netbook as a put-it-in-your-satchel-and-carry-it-around machine ideal for working on a commute, or take it down to the park when the weather is nice or in a coffee shop when not so nice. A matte screen would fit such a scenario much better and I don't care much for vibrant colors as this is not really a machine suited for image editing. But I guess glossy screens is really an irrevocable trend, regardless.
    I'm also not so sure about the trackpad, particularly the side buttons. I understand that it's a concession due to the lack of space, but I wonder if the netbook is not the ideal form-factor for a Macbook-style multitouch-no-buttons-clickable touchpad (sorry, I'm abusing on the hifens : ). In all honesty I loath touchpads, and think that an even better solution would be a pointing stick, like the one on the Thinkpad X series, great for never having to take the hands off the keyboard and interrupt the flow of writing. But pointing stick are also on their way to extinction.
    Finally (promise) I still cannot understand the reason for the dwarfed arrow keys with wasted space around them (another trend). Either make the arrow keys bigger or use that space for placing easier to access home/end keys.
    Well I guess I'll end my diatribe here, all-in-all I still find that this look like a very nice machine and Rob, you did a very nice job reviewing it.

  4. Mario Filipe

    11/27/2008 at 6:24 am

    How about battery life, did you have the opportunity to test it.

  5. HOBOKEN

    11/28/2008 at 7:43 am

    Will you guys be reviewing the Samsung NC10? I've said this in comments on another posting, but I think the keyboard is every bit as nice as on the HP, plus it has nice touches like a third USB port, separate headphone and microphone jacks, and really excellent battery life in the 5-6 hour range. Moreover, though I've owned it less than two weeks, the build quality seems really first-rate. I'm just worried that the one area in which Samsung has dropped the ball is marketing, because they should have sent you guys a review unit!!

  6. Rob bushway

    11/28/2008 at 7:46 am

    If samsung will send us one, we will certainly review it.

  7. GoodThings2Life

    11/29/2008 at 2:13 am

    Not too shabby at all… pretty impressive. I like the fact that they keyboard is pretty reasonably sized. Not a fan of the glossy screen though. I think glossy screens should be banned from laptops but oh well.

    Nice video presentation of it– it definitely seems to run pretty smoothly, and holy crap at only 39 processes! That's fantastic, and I wish all OEM's configured their systems that way.

  8. 3ktl

    12/01/2008 at 10:40 am

    i could really use that netbook considering i travel back and forth to texas and california. i dont have i laptop so im stuck with my xp machine at home with only 256 mb of ram i. i just havent had the time or money to go netbook shopping. exellent reveiw

  9. alessiomedda

    12/02/2008 at 4:02 am

    Very nice machine. I am not sure the size is right for the work I usually do on my laptop, but it would make a very nice Christmas present for my wife. Overall I think 10 inch is the smallest I can go, and I like the fact that you can type almost as in a full size keyboard. The trackpad need some getting used to it, I think.
    Thanks for the nice job Rob.

  10. Anna

    12/18/2008 at 9:49 pm

    Just received mine. Great configuration BUT it won’t connect to my WPA2 wireless network and now isn’t connecting to a neighbor’s unsecured network either. I had an Asus 701 which wouldn’t connect WPA and I’m hoping that this doesn’t have the same issue. The Asus ALWAYS connected to my neighbor’s, so I don’t know what’s going on. Also, even though the “manual” says you can wire this into the wall, there’s no jack, so that’s odd. Also, I can’t find the SD card slot that’s supposed to be on the system. It is really annoying that there’s not even one of those awful diagrams with arrows pointing to all the features.

    I watched the video here for an overview of the system.

    Other than that small but important issue, it is a really nice upgrade from the Asus – and I LOVE the right shift key being in the right position. I use a mouse so I turned the trackpad off.

    Off to call tech support tomorrow night. Oh, joy…

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