MaximumPC 2002 09

http://www.maximumpc.com | FEB 09 |MAMAMAXIMXIMXIMXIMUUUUMMPPPCC| 93

T

he HP Mini 1001xx is easily the
classiest-looking little netbook we’ve
come across. Like most of HP’s recent
computers, from the Blackbird to the HDX 18,
the Mini 1001xx opts for subtle design fl air
instead of solid colors—in this case, faint gray
spirals on a glossy black clamshell lid. The
interior is smooth and matte black, and the
keys are soft and very square but still provide
an audible click—no mushiness here.
The keyboard is the most comfortable
we’ve ever used in a netbook; it doesn’t feel
cramped at all, although those with large
hands will still fi nd their wrists dangling
off the end of the board—a familiar
story in this category.
Like the other netbooks
we’ve tested, the Mini
1001xx is built on Intel’s
1.6GHz Atom proces-
sor, runs Windows
XP, and has 1GB of
DDR2 RAM. It has
the smallest hard
drive of any non-SSD net-
book we’ve tested, but we suppose
60GB isn’t terrible. Like the Lenovo S10,
the Mini 1001 ships with only two USB ports,
and the Ethernet port is so well hidden as to
be virtually invisible, but it is there, behind a
thick rubber cover.
On the performance front, the Mini
shuffled through our Adobe Photoshop CS3
script in 802 seconds, nearly two minutes
slower than the Lenovo IdeaPad S10, but it
had no problem playing H.264-encoded MP4
files without stuttering. It lasted two hours
and six minutes in our battery-rundown test,
a few minutes longer than any non-SSD-
based netbook we’ve reviewed, but certainly
nothing to brag about.
Interestingly, the Mini 1001xx actually
(eventually) managed to play Quake Live,
something no other netbook we’ve tested has
done. We think this is more likely the result of
updates to Quake Live’s still-in-beta code than
anything HP’s done, since the Mini has the
same architecture as all those other netbooks.

Unfortunately, the 1024x600 monitor just isn’t

tall enough to fi t the entire Quake Live game

screen, so this ability is of questionable value.

Perhaps in an attempt to make the Mini

1001xx thinner, HP removed the industry-

standard VGA port in favor of a proprietary

port, which allegedly fi ts a VGA-out dongle;

however, one wasn’t included with our review

unit, so we were unable to test this setup.

The Mini is neither the fastest nor, at $490,

the cheapest netbook we’ve tested. But it’s the

fi rst netbook that didn’t look like a honey-I-

shrunk-the-laptop version of a bigger device—

it’s comfortable being a netbook. And we’re in

favor of that. The Acer Aspire One still hits our

price/performance sweet spot, but if you want

a netbook that makes a style statement and

don’t mind paying a bit of a premium for it, the

Mini is your model. – N A T H A N E D W A R D S

HP Mini 1001xx

A netbook with panache

+ -

VERDICT

$490, http://www.hp.com

7

Great keyboard,

best-looking netbook

we’ve tested, decent

battery life.

Small hard drive,

only two USB ports,

proprietary VGA port.

MINI COOPER

HP MINI 1001XX

D.B. COOPER

SPECIFICATIONS

Display 10.2” TFT @1024x600

Processor 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270

Chipset Intel 945GSE

Graphics Intel GMA50

RAM 1GB DDR2/667

Storage 60GB Toshiba 1.8” HD

Ports Two USB, audio in/out (single jack),

multicard reader, proprietary video port

Wireless Bluetooth, 802.11b/g

Lap/Carry 2lbs. 8 oz/3lbs. 1oz

We can’t say

enough good

things about

the Mini 1001xx’s

keyboard.

PHOTOSHOP (SEC) 802

BATTERY (HRS:MIN) 2:06

H.264 Yes

QUAKE LIVE Yes

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