Comments on: HP starts sneaking lower res displays into Mini-Notes

By: Callum

Callum — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:54:53 +0000

The whole point of lowering the resolution is so that people can see the screen easier. While 1280×768 is nice, on an 8.9 inch screen it is, as said in the article, overkill. I have almost perfect eyesight and on my 2133 I still have to zoom to 150% on web pages to avoid eye strain.

Also, if you look at a lot of 2133 reviews, one of the main gripes is the resolution size relevant to the screen size. They are still offering the higher resolution though, as an option to the lower res. So really, HP are just listening to their customers and taking the criticisms on board.

By: Callum

Callum — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:54:53 +0000

By: Jenn

Jenn — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:20:45 +0000

Another 1024 x 600 model is the FT268UA. Same specs as the KS103UT except it has the slower 1.2GHz VIA CPU. I bought one from Fry's last month and was told that another configuration had never passed through there before. The guy I talked to didn't know when they first got the units, but it sounded like they had them for a while.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:20:45 +0000

By: Brad Linder

Brad Linder — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 09:53:48 +0000

Even in September it was just a rumor. If memory serves, HP wouldn't let anyone actually open up the netbook and look at the display. While we all kind of *expect* it to have a 10 inch screen I don't know anyone who's actually looked at it and lived to tell the tale… publicly.

By: Electric Vagabond

Electric Vagabond — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 09:12:26 +0000

The Vivienne Tam model i think has a 10″. Although that's not really publicized now, when it first debuted back in early September that's what was being banded around.

By: Josh

Josh — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 22:20:57 +0000

The new screen has LEDs for the backlighting, a different contrast ratio and decreased viewing angles: http://www.hp2133guide.com/hp-releasing-mini-no…

By: DougC3

DougC3 — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:47:43 +0000

Well, so much for the drop-in-the-chip idea. But I suppose you could still run Suse pretty well, or substitute Ubuntu or the distro of your choice, or maybe lighten up the Vista.

By: Josh

Josh — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:49:16 +0000

Nope you won't be able to just plug in a Nano chip unfortunately. It's soldered to the board in a special way called Ball Grid Array and would be a huge pain to change.

By: DougC3

DougC3 — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 11:38:17 +0000

This will be quite a disappointment to some of us myopic netbook fans who have no problem with high resolution.

By: DougC3

DougC3 — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 11:17:30 +0000

Well, it could make the market with me. I'm not crazy about all the vertical scrolling required with WSVGA. If my calculations are correct, that would require only 7.14% more vertical space in the Mini-note lid or 9.75% more in the lid of a 1024 x 600 device….

But, looking at Michael Evans's post below, it appears these dreams may be flyng out the window.

By: Michael Evans

Michael Evans — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 08:43:17 +0000

In speaking with our HP Education rep, the plan is to reduce screen resolution due to negative feedback from users about difficulties in viewing, change the chip set to Intel (Atom), and increase the screen size to 10.2″. We're expecting to pilot the new machines in January. Sounds like they're embarking on their roadmap….

By: Mikez

Mikez — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 06:37:29 +0000

I added a comment to your post about the table on the forum;
a 10-inch, 1280×768 would fall in the midst of the table at 0.17mm
a 10.2-inch, 1280×822 would be both 0.17mm and 14:9 aspect ratio.

I personally like my 0.15mm pitch (the original) mini-note, but the
10.2, 14:9, 1280×822 HD compatible display might be a market maker.

By: DougC3

DougC3 — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 05:10:16 +0000

I think a 10-inch or 10.2-inch display with 1280 x 768 resolution would be a great new step-up for HP to add to their netbooks to set them apart from the rest of the pack, even if it causes MS to keep them from using XP. I would certainly be willing to give up some other features to get the better resolution.

But, worse yet, here's another senario: HP brought out the Mini-Note, with its superior metal construction and good keyboard design early, without knowing everybody else would jump on the 1024 x 600 bandwagon. Now that lower resolution and cheap plastic construction are standard, they could just downgrade and use their name and marketing capability to sell more of same

Obviously I think this woud be terrible and hope they will not dilute the quality they have going with the Mini-Note.

By: Mikez

Mikez — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:25:24 +0000

I added a table of the dot pitch used in common netbook displays to the forum.
http://www.liliputing.com/forums/index.php?topi…
Just for those who might be concerned about how closely the dots are spaced.