The death of the HP 2133 Mini-Note may have been been greatly exaggerated. While HP did indeed roll out a new netbook this week, Xavier at Notebooks.com says he’s spoken with people at HP who say the origianl HP 2133 netbook is not yet at its end of life, and in fact updates may still be on the way.
While the HP Mini 1000/Compaq 700 does come with a zippier new processor and an optional 10.2 inch display, the older HP 2133 does still have a few advantages. First, it has a sturdy aluminum case. Second, it has a higher resolution 1280 x 768 pixel display, even if it is only available in an 8.9 inch form factor. Personally I’d love to see HP release an HP 2133 with a 10 inch, 1280 x 768 pixel display and either an Intel Atom or Via Nano processor. But as it turns out, this isn’t about me. Or most of you either.
Rather, while the HP Mini 1000/Compaq 700 netbooks are aimed squarely at the consumer market, the HP 2133 was always aimed at business and educational channels. And HP may continue to target those markets with this netbook. Unless business and education clients start to realize that they can save money and get a faster processor by switching to the HP Mini 1000.
Can not log on username problems
nano is for HP Thin client
The lack of the Nano processor will continue to leave the 2133 as an also-ran product. Once again HP shoots itself in the foot.
Does anyone else recall the digitimes articles a couple of months ago that outlined HP orders of VIA processors?
I seem to recall they placed an order of 500,000 additional C-7M’s so the continued availability of the current spec 2133 isn’t all that surprising. However, I specifically recall a piece that they ran that said they also ordered a quantity of NANO’s as well. I’m not a subscriber so I can’t reference the link but is this a case of misinformation on the part of digitimes or is it simply taking VIA that long to ramp up production?
Anyone else expecting the refresh won’t happen till 2Q 2009?
No, I don’t recall it but I just googled “HP orders nano” and this summary of the digitimes article was the first hit:
https://techreport.com/discussions.x/15320
They verify what you said but wondered if HP was going to use the Nanos in netbooks or just “stuff them into cheap desktops and the like.” (They also say the nano is a simple “drop in” relpacement for the C-7M, but someone on this blog just said a couple of days ago that it’s not nearly that simple but entails serious soldering.)
Well, drop in for HP or Compal (the company that actually puts these
netbooks together) isn’t exactly the same as drop in for the end user. While
it’s relatively simple to upgrade the CPU on a desktop motherboard, it’s not
quite as easy to pop out an old one an replace it with a new one on a
netbook.
If I understand this correctly, what VIA means when it says that the Nano is
a drop in replacement for the C-7M is that you don’t need to seriously
reconfigure the motherboard to switch your manufacturing process from one to
the other.
I see… I was wondering if they didn’t mean “drop into the PCB” instead of “drop into the socket.”
Eh, honestly I’m just making an educated guess here. Don’t place too much
faith in my speculation. 🙂 If I knew for sure I’d write up a post about it.
Actually, maybe I should go email VIA. Brb…
I’m sure you must be right.
I emailed my contact at VIA. I’ll let you know if he says anything
interesting.
Totally correct.
As far as I know, all of the net-books on the market today that I’m aware of utilize a process known as BGA (ball grid array) wherein the CPU is soldered directly onto the motherboard. This practice is employed in virtually all “closed box” integrated circuits (playstation & xbox and the average lapppy for example) as this simplifies the profile of the design from an electrical, thermal, and economical perspective.
Which is why CPU selection is a worthwhile feature to invest a little more in when buying any mobile device as you be married to that ol’ BGA for the life of that device.
Which is why I want my 2133 NANO now dammit =p
Thanks for elaborating, Mitsuo; I’ll remember this next time 🙂
in Plus HP Mini 1000/Compaq Mini 700 have better battery