HP Mini (the new one)

[happymommy]

So, I need some advice. I have a $300 credit (from switching to Verizon Fios) at HP. I wanted to wait until after the holidays to spend it, as I'd heard they always offer better deals or new computers starting in January.

I saw the new mini 210, and it looks cool! I have wanted one, mainly for the kitchen surfing the web, and taking on trips for movies and internet.

My decision is, do I spend the extra $70 or so for the HD one? The graphics would be better, as I would get netflix also.

Plus, it comes standard with a g card for internet, but I can pay $50 more for the n card (I think that's the letter). Our router at home is the better one, and the better card is backwards compatible. I think with streaming movies, the better one may be worth it.

DH is saying just get the cheapest one, but these are things I wouldn't upgrade later.

With the upgrades and an external disk drive, it's up to over $500 (the drive adds only $50 and then I can use DVD's), but still I get $300 off of that. My DH is saying that if I'm spending that much, I may as well look at a "real" laptop. I really want one that is lightweight though! The mini is so small, light, and darn it it's cute too!

Does anyone have a mini or a netbook with just the standard internet g thing? Does it lag for streaming movies?

Ugh, decisions...

Thanks!!!

 

[elgerber]

So, I need some advice. I have a $300 credit (from switching to Verizon Fios) at HP. I wanted to wait until after the holidays to spend it, as I'd heard they always offer better deals or new computers starting in January.

I saw the new mini 210, and it looks cool! I have wanted one, mainly for the kitchen surfing the web, and taking on trips for movies and internet.

My decision is, do I spend the extra $70 or so for the HD one? The graphics would be better, as I would get netflix also.

Plus, it comes standard with a g card for internet, but I can pay $50 more for the n card (I think that's the letter). Our router at home is the better one, and the better card is backwards compatible. I think with streaming movies, the better one may be worth it.

DH is saying just get the cheapest one, but these are things I wouldn't upgrade later.

With the upgrades and an external disk drive, it's up to over $500 (the drive adds only $50 and then I can use DVD's), but still I get $300 off of that. My DH is saying that if I'm spending that much, I may as well look at a "real" laptop. I really want one that is lightweight though! The mini is so small, light, and darn it it's cute too!

Does anyone have a mini or a netbook with just the standard internet g thing? Does it lag for streaming movies?

Ugh, decisions...

Thanks!!!

Yes, I have an Acer, and unless it's plugged in, it does lag when streaming video. But I don't use mine for that so it's not a huge issue. But it is nice to have the netbook for travel and mobility, they are so easy to carry.

 

[happymommy]

Thanks for the reply. That is what I'm worried about, so leaning towards the one with the video accelerator and the n card.

 

[elgerber]

Thanks for the reply. That is what I'm worried about, so leaning towards the one with the video accelerator and the n card.

After I jumped in the shower, I thought again. I have a Macbook with a g card also, and that streams video just fine. But I think it must be different on the Netbook since they aren't usually as powerful.

 

[happymommy]

Thanks!

 

[mickeymaker2003]

We have a Mini 311 that my husband customized and added just about every option under the sun (except software). Its specs are :
HP Mini 311
• Black Swirl
• Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit
• Intel(R) Atom(TM) Processor N280 (1.66GHz, 512KB L2, 667Mhz FSB)
• 3GB DDR3 System Memory (1 Dimm)
• 320GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
• NVIDIA ION with a 5-in-1 Digital Media slot (For the N280 processor)
• 11.6" diagonal HD LED BrightView Widescreen Display (1366 x 768)
• HP Mini Webcam
• Wireless-N Card with Bluetooth
• HP Color Matching Keyboard
• 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
• External LightScribe Super Multi 8X DVD+/-RW w/Double Layer

A regular laptop would have been cheaper, but we wanted an ultra-portable to use for traveling. He also works on other people's computers as a hobby, so he will be able to use the external DVD drive for that.

When we got it, it needed a bios update (we got it when they first came out). He seems to like it. We were annoyed that you had to get Windows 7 to get any upgrades beyond the base model (better processor, larger drive, more memory) since we already had licenses for 7 that we could have used instead.

 

[happymommy]

We have a Mini 311 that my husband customized and added just about every option under the sun (except software). Its specs are :
HP Mini 311
• Black Swirl
• Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit
• Intel(R) Atom(TM) Processor N280 (1.66GHz, 512KB L2, 667Mhz FSB)
• 3GB DDR3 System Memory (1 Dimm)
• 320GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
• NVIDIA ION with a 5-in-1 Digital Media slot (For the N280 processor)
• 11.6" diagonal HD LED BrightView Widescreen Display (1366 x 768)
• HP Mini Webcam
• Wireless-N Card with Bluetooth
• HP Color Matching Keyboard
• 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
• External LightScribe Super Multi 8X DVD+/-RW w/Double Layer

A regular laptop would have been cheaper, but we wanted an ultra-portable to use for traveling. He also works on other people's computers as a hobby, so he will be able to use the external DVD drive for that.

When we got it, it needed a bios update (we got it when they first came out). He seems to like it. We were annoyed that you had to get Windows 7 to get any upgrades beyond the base model (better processor, larger drive, more memory) since we already had licenses for 7 that we could have used instead.

I priced that one out, and it looks really nice! It's $600 and change, so just need to decide which to get.

Thanks!

 

[happymommy]

shameless bump