HP announces Mini 1000 and Compaq Mini 700 netbooks, including designer option

Just a couple of days after the leak, HP has announced details of the Mini 1000, in both standard and designer editions, as well as the Compaq Mini 700.

The HP Mini 1000, at 25.2mm thin and weighing 1.1kg, features a 10.2-inch widescreen display, a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, either 8GB or 16GB SSD, webcam/mic, WLAN, and Bluetooth. Depending on operating system configuration, you can choose from 512MB or 1GB of RAM (XP Home) or 1GB/2GB (MIE Linux).

Bundled with the hardware is HP’s new Mobile Internet Experience software and HP MediaStyle, for “one-stop entertainment through a single interface”. In other words, it’s a dashboard interface which lets you play music, watch videos, visit favourite web sites, read email, and so on. Great for the everyday consumer, perhaps, but those wanting a stripped down netbook might want to turn off the “always on” applications.

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Optionally, an HP Mini Mobile Drive can be added, offering up to 8GB of additional storage capacity.

The Compaq Mini 700 offers more limited functionality, but at a cheaper price. It too has a 10.2-inch widescreen display, built-in webcam and mic, WLAN, Bluetooth, and optional WWAN. Other specifications are a bit sketchy at present, but as it’s touted as a secondary PC, it’s probably not as beefy as the Mini 1000.

Finally, for the fashion-conscious among you, HP will launch the HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition: “China Chic” digital clutch. Featuring much the same specification as the standard Mini 1000, but with a 60GB hard drive and 10.1-inch widescreen display, it’s quite happy to be seen with models in fashionable places.

If you want the Compaq Mini 700 for Christmas, you’re in luck, as it’s available from mid-Decemeber priced at around £299. The “designer” HP Mini 1000 comes out in January priced £399, while the standard HP Mini 1000 is available from mid-February, priced £399.

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