I am the new owner of a HP Mini netbook. After a lot of thought and research I took a few concessions on features in favor of some intangibles the HP Mini had to offer. What it really came down to was how HP presented a composed netbook – one that not only offered features essential to an ultraportable, but did so in a package that made the machine compelling and desirable. The excellent keyboard, light weight, superior build quality, clean and modern LED indicators, and glossy screen pushed me to purchase the HP Mini. I am still finding my way around the netbook platform and largely holding off on much customization and software until tomorrow, when I have a chance to install Windows 7 on the machine. I think Windows 7 UI improvements will really enhance the netbook experience and provide a crisp, clean OS for my Mini.

First Impressions:

See the gallery below for full unboxing pictures. What I can say in summary, HP is doing a hell of a job, having not owned a personal PC for about 4 years now I can say they are really trying to be a leader and in many categories have caught Apple. The Mini’s product packaging was pretty sharp looking, albeit ruined by inventory control stickers and lawyers with warning labels. When booted up my Mini was 100% free from crapware – whomever at HP was responsible for that policy change deserves a raise and some serious perks. Thus far the 1gig of ram the Mini ships with has been sufficient for running XP SP3, I believe it will run Windows 7 just fine, however it is nice to know I have the option to go to 2 gigs if deemed necessary. So where did I compromise on my purchase criteria? VGA port - in the interest of being slim and light weight HP skipped the VGA port and included a proprietary expansion port. Really I cannot fault them, a VGA port would have unnecessarily increased the thickness of the device. Additionally, I did not buy a machine with an ExpressCard slot – no clue what I would have used it for, but I don’t have it. Also, no Bluetooth – again, I probably wouldn’t have used it as I have a travel mouse with an RF dongle. After a few short hours of light browsing I can say I really like the device and I am glad I joined the netbook ranks. Tomorrow I’ll see what Windows 7 brings to the Mini and really get the device customized.

HP Mini 1030NR Specs:

• Intel Atom N270 1.60 GHz
• 16GB SSD
• 1024MB RAM
• XP Home SP3
• 3 cell battery
• 802.11 b/g
• 10.2” LED backlit screen

Unboxing and device images:

Recently I have been focusing on becoming more mobile for a number of reasons, the number one reason being greater productivity on the road. Thanks to a friend I discovered David Allen’s ubiquitous productivity book Getting Things Done. That discovery propelled my productivity when working off a BlackBerry into the stratosphere, but I remain feeling a bit thrown off when on the road because I have to adapt to the working conditions of a hotel or trade show floor. Just last weekend I added a compact travel mouse to my arsenal this one, supplementing the great Monster Outlets To Go product I received at It Won’t Stay in Vegas.

The next item I am looking to add to my computer bag is this promising TRENDNET travel router. Hopefully it makes it out sooner rather than later, the press release is linked because I could not find the device on TRENDnet’s home page. TRENDnet PR - if you are listening, when will this be available, from where, and how much? And how about a review unit?

Update: As commenter Coop astutely points out, this is merely a D-Link DWL-G730AP Wireless Pocket Router repackaged. I will probably pick one of these up before my next trip. Thanks Coop!

The folks over at OTBC have put together a mini job fair. Set for this Saturday in Beaverton, Oregon the event promises to be a great one for job seekers and employers alike. So if you are in need of work, or in the position to hire be sure to head down to the Round on Saturday from 12-3pm. Hit the read link to learn more about the event. READ Upcoming Link