HP's Mini 1000 Mi Takes Netbooks a Big Step Forward (Business Week) [LWN.net]

Business Week takes a look at the HP Mini Mi. "The Mi doesn't try to replace a standard PC. It is not aimed at people who use Microsoft Outlook for corporate e-mail, create documents in Word, run spreadsheets, edit photos or video, or prepare presentations on their computers. Like all netbooks, it is designed for Web browsing and consuming information, not creating it. When you fire it up, the initial screen gives you a summary of your e-mail in-box, favorite Web links, and access to photos and music stored on the computer. A button at the bottom of the screen lets you use other installed programs, which are displayed as big icons sorted into tabs such as "Internet" and "media." The designers were careful not to cram lots of unnecessary information onto the home screen. They also kept navigation simple and made sure the choices are presented clearly."

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HP's Mini 1000 Mi Takes Netbooks a Big Step Forward (Business Week)

Posted Feb 20, 2009 20:03 UTC (Fri) by mattdm (subscriber, #18) [Link]

Ahh, it's nice to see lines like "Some netbook makers have experimented with Linux, which is better." in mainstream publications.

FLOSS benefits for small screens

Posted Feb 21, 2009 5:43 UTC (Sat) by pjm (subscriber, #2080) [Link]

In context, I take it as meaning better at fitting in the small screens; and unfortunately the very next sentence does say But that leaves non-techies struggling with an unfamiliar and sometimes ornery environment.

It might have been good for the article to note the following reason why FLOSS applications have come to work better in small screens sooner than the proprietary counterparts: the very fact that it is free/libre/open-source has allowed people who have small-screen devices to change the software to work better for their own needs.

Denying the major

Posted Feb 21, 2009 22:11 UTC (Sat) by man_ls (subscriber, #15091) [Link]

Their main point seems to be:

Like all netbooks, it is designed for Web browsing and consuming information, not creating it.

Apparently this idea comes straight from HP, and the whole article elaborates on that. What a short-sighted notion. I have used Lyx on my Eee and it works perfectly. And all LWN readers know that kernel hackers love their Eee. With that kind of reasoning HP is not going to win back our hearts.

Not the processor, the display

Posted Feb 23, 2009 16:16 UTC (Mon) by dmarti (subscriber, #11625) [Link]

"Big monitors are the easiest way to increase white-collar productivity, and anyone who makes at least $50,000 per year ought to have at least 1600x1200 screen resolution." -- Jakob Nielsen

Take a look at The Workstations of Popular Websites -- most webmasters want lots of pixels and machines that are capable of driving them.

Not the processor, the display

Posted Feb 23, 2009 16:58 UTC (Mon) by iabervon (subscriber, #722) [Link]

The Eee does support an external monitor. I think there would likely be a different boost in productivity for many sorts of user if it is convenient to bring their computer when they get up to talk to someone.

Not the processor, the display

Posted Feb 24, 2009 12:32 UTC (Tue) by man_ls (subscriber, #15091) [Link]

I have a 1680x1050 display attached to mine (even though it cannot drive more than 1600x1000 because of its 1st-gen CPU). The ability to take it away and continue working on exactly the same setting is certainly very interesting.