May 29th, 2009
Hands-on: Verizon Wireless HP Mini 1151NR netbook (Updated 2x)
First scooped in February then confirmed in March Verizon Wireless’ first netbook — the HP Mini 1151NR — began shipping on 17 May 2009 (the same day as VZW’s MiFi personal hotspot).
Priced at $199 with a 2-year contract (after MIR) the 1151NR’s price is subsidized by monthly data fees are either $40 or $60 per month.
Although it’s sold by VZW, the 1151NR netbook is a HP Mini 1000 that comes bundled with an internal Verizon Wireless 3G/EVDO Rev. A card. The built-in EVDO is the defining feature in the 1151NR and it’s easy to get online with Verizon’s Mobile Broadband using the pre-installed VZAccess software.
Specs-wise:
- Intel Atom N270, 1.6 GHz
- 1 GB of RAM
- 80 GB Hard Drive
- 10.1″ Flush Glass (1024 x 576)
- Integrated Webcam VGA (640 x 480x 30 fps)
- 3-cell Battery, 30 W AC Adapter
- 10.3″ (depth) x 6.6″ (width) x 1″ (height)
- 2.4 lb
- Windows XP Home Edition
Full specs are on the HP Web site.
Oh, about that last spec, I’m not much of a Windows person, so my next step will be to see how well ithe HP Mini 1151NR runs Mac OS X. According to Boing Boing’s OS X compatibility chart the HP Mini 1000-series can be hackintoshed although the lack of sound support and the question-mark in the Ethernet column give me pause. Here’s another good HP/hackintosh link, if you’re thinking of doing it yourself
Photos comparing the Dell Vostro A90 and HP Mini 1151NR after the break…
Update: The Dell Vostro A90, my current favorite hackintosh (left) compared to the VZW/HP Mini 1151NR (right). Note the HP’s wider (10-inch) screen and larger keys — both are welcome additions. One thing that I can’t get used to, however, is the HP’s side-mounted trackpad buttons. They’re super-unnatural feeling and would require years of de-programming to get comfortable with.
Update 2: I’ve posted some unboxing photos of the HP Mini 1151NR in this gallery.
Jason D. O'Grady is the editor of PowerPage.org, which has been publishing daily mobile technology news since December 1995. For disclosures on Jason's industry affiliations, click here or to view Jason's full profile click here.
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