I stopped by the HP booth at the Digital Experience show in Vegas last night, and they had all sorts of goodies, including the new HP Pavilion DV2, HP 2140 Mini-Note, and HP Mini 1000 Mi Edition running a custom version of Ubuntu Linux.
The Mi Edition software is slicker than the easy mode interface that Asus and Acer put on their Linux-based netbooks. It actually makes the HP Mini 1000 Mi Edition look more like a media center PC than anything else. The software provides quick and easy access to multimedia features like a music player, video player, and photo browser. You can also get to a program launcher that will let you load a web browser or other apps.
The user expeirence does look pretty nice, but I have to wonder how the HP Mini 1000 Mi Edition will hold up when users want to do something with their computer besides run the included software. I think one of the most frustrating thing for Acer Aspire One and Asus Eee PC Linux users is just how difficult it is to add or remove software. Since the Mi Edition is based on Ubuntu, I would imagine the process should be easier, but I’ll wait until I can get my hands on a review unit before passing judgement.
You can check out a short video of the Mi Edition user interface after the break.
If you have a chance I think we all want to know:
When will an ext. battery be available and at what price? What form will it take?
Can users install the MIE OS onto their existing XP Mini?
Thanks.
Can you find out when the “rumored” docking station will be out? I have an HP Mini 1000, and it’s slick, but I sure would like to use a nice 20″ monitor every once in a while!
throw easypeeasy at it – formerly ubuntu eee – in an adapted version (drivers) … it would be as cool as on the eee pcs. specially on a black one as the desktop also comes in black.
there everything needed is present right from the start, paket manager included
> I have to wonder how the HP Mini 1000 Mi Edition will hold up when users want to do something with their computer besides run the included software.
Brad, why don’t you ask them since you’re there? The question is critical for those of us considering this product. Will HP operate Linux repos? If so, will they cost anything to use? Can the MIE be deleted and replaced with garden variety Ubuntu and the like without the need to cook up special drivers? Don’t let them get away with, “The PR person is away from the booth”, “We’ll have tech support get back to you,” “We’re not supposed to talk to the press,” etc. etc.
MI looks great. WANT.
IIRC Mi is just a shell for Ubuntu… Brad, can you confirm this?