HP unveils the Mini 1101, 110 XP and 110 Mi Netbooks – pretty and powerful

by Scott Carmichael on

There is no denying it – the Netbook is here to stay. If you need any proof of its success, just check out these three new machines announced by HP. Their new Mini 1101 offers a 92% full size keyboard (like featured on the HP Mini 2133 we reviewed back in August of last year). It is powered by an Intel Atom processor, and comes with 1GB of memory and a 160GB HDD.

The new Mini 110 takes that Netbook experience one step further, by finally adding an (optional) HD video accelerator. This means you’ll be able to load its 160GB HDD (or 32GB SSD) with some HD content, and watch it without any stuttering or dropped frames. Other options include a WWAN (wireless broadband) adapter and a higher resolution display.

The Mini 110 will be available with Windows XP, or the HP developed Mi (Mobile Internet) Linux based operating system. All three of these machines will come with a 10.1″ LED backlit display, WiFi, webcam and a VGA connector, for hooking the machine up to a monitor, projector or hotel TV (the current generation HP Mini requires a small dongle to connect to a VGA device).

In the final portion of good news coming from HP, all these machines will feature a new synchronization software package, which will help share content between your desktop and laptop computer. With this new application, you’ll always have access to the same multimedia content on the road, as you have at home.

Best of all, you won’t have to wait too long for these new machines – the Mini 1101 will be available on June 1st for just $329 (you read that right!), the Mini 110 will be available 10 days later (in black) and on July 8th in “Pink Chic” and “White Swirl”. The 110 Mi will start at just $279 and the Mi with Windows XP will retail for $329.

What all this means to us Netbook users, is that the Netbook has evolved from a toy, into a very affordable and very powerful computer. The addition of HD video support is very welcome, and I can’t wait to see if it lives up to its promise.

Daily gear deal – Kensington cordless netbook mouse with nano receiver for $25

by Scott Carmichael on

Today’s gear deal is for the new Kensington cordless netbook mouse with nano receiver.

This 2 button mouse runs off 2 AAA batteries (included), and communicates with your netbook with its “nano receiver”.

The mouse is part of a larger lineup of Kensington netbook accessories which includes a universal netbook charger and a compact netbook lock.

If you have ever spent any length of time using the tiny trackpad on your netbook, you’ll understand how a mouse could make your machine quite a bit easier to use.

The mouse is on sale for just $24.99, which means you are one penny short of reaching the $25 threshold for free shipping. I recommend adding something really cheap to reach $25.

Daily gear deal – Acer Aspire One with Windows XP and 120GB drive for $240

by Scott Carmichael on

Competition between Netbook makers is fierce – for the past 6 months, prices have been dropping at a very steady pace and have finally brought these machines to the price point where you really should consider picking one up if you are looking for a smaller and lighter laptop.

Today’s deal is for the popular Acer Aspire One. This 1.6GHz machine has 1GB of memory and a 120GB hard drive, which means it stands out amongst all the other sub-$250 Netbook deals. Most other machines in this price range have limited memory and a cramped SSD drive of just 8GB or less. The machine also comes with Windows XP.

To complete the package, the Aspire One also comes with an integrated webcam, WiFi and a multi-card reader.

The only downside to this particular Aspire One is the screen size – at 8.9 inches it may be a tad small for you. Other than that, it has the power to do most on-the-road tasks, and its 120GB drive means you can bring some music or video content with you for a little in-flight entertainment.

The Aspire One is available in black and white for $240, or for $20 more you can get the white version with a 160GB drive. Shipping is free.

Picking the right Netbook

by Scott Carmichael on

Our fellow bloggers over at Switched have put together an overview of some of the most popular Netbooks on the market, along with some great tips on how to pick the right one.

In their lineup, you’ll find machines like the Dell Inspiron Mini and the recently released Sony Vaio P.

Of course, if you are not entirely sure what a Netbook is, check out this article which appeared here on Gadling last year, and describes what you can (and can’t) expect from these new compact computers.

Bottom line is – the Netbook is here to stay, and if you are in the market for a smaller and lighter computer for on your trips, then I highly recommend checking out their overview.

Picking the right Netbook used to be easy, when the market only had 2 or 3 machines to offer, but with a new version appearing once a week, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find the right machine to meet your needs.

To make things even more complicated, some of the mobile operators are also starting to offer at least one Netbook in their lineup, selling it complete with built in 3G access. When you commit to a 2 year contract, you can often get yourself a decent machine for under $100 (plus about $60 a month for the 3G service).

Daily deal – Personalized Netbook case starting at $6

by Scott Carmichael on

Got yourself a nice Netbook? How about a nice personalized neoprene case for it?

Artscow.com is currently running a promotion on these cases. They offer them in 7″, 8.9″/10″ and 12″, so there is a case for every size Netbook on the market.

To personalize, you simply upload the image you want printed on the case, and they’ll take care of the rest.

The normal price for these cases is $9.99, $11.99 and $13.99, but when you enter coupon code NETBOOKCASE599 the price drops to $5.99, $7.99 and $9.99.

Compared to the price you’d pay in a retail store, this is a real bargain, and a great way to keep your new machine, looking nice and shiny.

One tip – before you upload the image, open it in a photo editing package and add your name and address to the picture, that way you’ll always have your Netbook in a case that should be able to find its way back to you.

The cases even ship for free, but since they are produced in Hong Kong, it may take 2-3 weeks to receive your order, a small price to pay for such a great deal.