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HP introduces NVIDIA ION-powered Mini 311 netbook

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Published: Tue 15th Sep, 2009 | Author: Parm Mann
Products: Mini 311
Companies: Hewlett Packard (All Hewlett Packard content)
External reviews: Hewlett Packard Mini 311

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HP has today launched an 11.6in netbook powered by NVIDIA's ION chipset and the ubiquitous 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor.

The system, dubbed the Mini 311, sports an LED display providing a high-def 1,366x768 resolution. Combine that with ION's GeForce 9400M IGP and NVIDIA reckons its capable of delivering "a big visual experience with HD video, accelerated video editing, and support for casual gaming in a small, sleek package".

Hoping, as always, to show the usefulness of the GPU, NVIDIA has teamed up with HP to ship the Mini 311 with ArcSoft SimHD - a GPU-accelerated software package designed to upscale standard-def video to near high-def quality.

What's also useful on such a small system is an HDMI port that'll power big-screen displays at full-HD 1080p resolutions without breaking a sweat.

That's joined by a couple of USB ports, a multi-card reader, Ethernet and Wi-Fi.

Prices start at around $400 for US consumers, but here in the UK we'll be seeing the system badged as the Compaq Mini 311. Although certain elements of the specification may change, NVIDIA's ION chipset and Intel's Atom processor will remain. The Compaq Mini 311 will be priced starting from £349, we've had a quick play with the system and our first impressions are good. It's well built with a decent keyboard and a vivid high-res display.

What's interesting is that NVIDIA is gearing up to launch an ION-led siege on the netbook market in preparation for the arrival of Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system. We're told to expect more than 50 ION-based products before the end of the year, and NVIDIA has a GPU-boosting surprise in store for October 5th. We can't tell you more just yet, but stay tuned for that one as it'll make GPU-acceleration on all NVIDIA devices far more appealing.

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Re: News - HP introduces NVIDIA ION-powered Mini 311 netbook

Posted by crossy - Tue 15th Sep 2009, 3:40pm

Ignoring the discussion of the merits of Atom+ION v's anything-else-from-Intel+ION, anyone notice the glaring "fail" in that article?

Namely, that the US price is quoted at a reasonable US$400 which, according to XE.com, works out at UK£243. However, HP want us to stump up UK£349 - in other words just over UK£100 for the 'privilege' of being on this side of the Atlantic rather than the western shore. :censored:

Damn shame, because it looks like a good box (spec and design) and it'd be nice to treat myself to a Christmas present to replace my elderly Acer Aspire One.

Bob (who isn't happy).Quote

Re: News - HP introduces NVIDIA ION-powered Mini 311 netbook

Posted by Funkstar - Tue 15th Sep 2009, 6:22pm

Yawn :sleep:

This again? the $400 doesn't include taxes as this varies in each state. Typical is about 8% though.

£349 will include VAT at 15%, so taking that off gives us £303, so only a £60 premium.

The costs of doing business in the UK and the rest of Europe are a lot higher than in the US, so mark up by retailers needs to be higher. Staffing costs, corporate taxes, rent and rates.... all generally higher in the UK. Then you have the very onerous consumer rights in Europe that just don't exist in the US.

What you will also find is that when HP says it will sell for $400, it will actually sell for $400. The £349 list price in the UK is just a guide price, retailers can sell it for anything they like. It margins are small it is likely to be within a few pounds of that, otherwise you could find some good bargains.Quote

Re: News - HP introduces NVIDIA ION-powered Mini 311 netbook

Posted by aidanjt - Wed 16th Sep 2009, 9:20pm

Quote: chis
I'm sure it'll be a single-core Atom, as well. This form factor has my interest piqued, but it's just too underpowered with such CPUs (wouldn't want a Core Solo either). I'm prepared to take a battery time hit for something like this with a capable CPU so working in Ableton would be feasible... Oh alright, a shame they can't bump the res up to 1440x900 too.

Hmm?.. Atom is perfectly fine for 99.9% of every day computing tasks.Quote

Re: News - HP introduces NVIDIA ION-powered Mini 311 netbook

Posted by crossy - Wed 16th Sep 2009, 10:12pm

Quote: Funkstar
This again? the $400 doesn't include taxes as this varies in each state. Typical is about 8% though. £349 will include VAT at 15%, so taking that off gives us £303, so only a £60 premium.

Fair point about the state tax, but no where does it state that the UK price includes VAT, in fact usual practise is to quote ex-VAT since most businesses will try and claw most of that back anyway.

Quote: Funkstar
The costs of doing business in the UK and the rest of Europe are a lot higher than in the US, so mark up by retailers needs to be higher. Staffing costs, corporate taxes, rent and rates.... all generally higher in the UK. Then you have the very onerous consumer rights in Europe that just don't exist in the US.

Again, I'll agree with the consumer rights, not so sure that the US costs are necessarily that much cheaper than UK. Plus since these are priced in US$ to start with, then there's the small matter of exchange rate.

Quote: Funkstar
What you will also find is that when HP says it will sell for $400, it will actually sell for $400. The £349 list price in the UK is just a guide price, retailers can sell it for anything they like. It margins are small it is likely to be within a few pounds of that, otherwise you could find some good bargains.

Again, good point. I'll maybe stick a note in my diary for around December time - I work for HP anyway, so maybe there'll be some more 'accessible' pricing on these on the company store. That said the company store prices tend to be higher than those you can get from even very good online stores like Scan - I've been living with a Fifer too long, don't like getting me wallet out! ;)Quote

Re: News - HP introduces NVIDIA ION-powered Mini 311 netbook

Posted by baius - Sat 19th Sep 2009, 12:43pm

Looks lovely, although I've yet to see what type of battery it uses. I'd be really, really, really pleased if it used the same battery as my MiniNote 2133 (but somehow I seriously doubt it).

At least the 311 should - hopefully - knock the price of the MiniNote 2140 down to a more reasonable level.Quote

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