Acer Review, Asus Review – Netbook 10

The HP Mini 311 is the first NVidia Ion bearing netbook to hit the shelves and is pretty cheap at $450 $399 (Updated 10/20). The 12″ netbook indeed performs GPU (graphics) intensive tasks better than other netbooks, but the fact that it comes with Windows XP and Windows XP related restrictions such as 1GB memory hinders it’s wow factor. A good netbook to consider buying, but now – one week before Windows 7 launches – is not a good time to be purchasing it.

[Rating:5.5/7]

HP Mini 311 Features

• nVidia Ion – the Nvidia ION LE GPU is what sets this netbook apart. While the HP Mini 311 won’t replace your computer as your gaming device, it does perform better at GPU intensive tasks. With a higher memory, the Ion might be able to offer some more bang for your (admittedly low) buck.Another thing to keep in mind – netbooks that come out post Windows 7 may have better RAM, and other netbooks are anticipated to release with nVidia Ion Ge Force 9300/9400 which is a much stronger (and probably more expensive) graphics card. It’s what I use on my MacBook :)

• HD playback (720p) - as mentioned above, GPU intensive tasks like watching 720p HD movies works a lot better than regular netbooks. The size of the netbook helps too (1366×768 resolution). Not so great with 1080p playback though.

• Affordable – $450 for a 12″ netbook which has nVidia Ion. Enough said.

• Optional mobile broadband - great for conserving the battery while accessing 3G networks. Not so great for your wallet.

• Altec Lansing speakers - The speakers won’t be a deal breaker, but they’re decently loud and you get a good feel for the base. Like I said, more of a pat on the back than a deal breaker.

HP Mini 311 Drawbacks

• Not so great for Hulu – Hulu is Flash based and doesn’t (yet) take advantage of the GPU. As such, the HP Mini 311 performs the same as other netbooks – that is to say, choppy – when it comes to streaming videos on Hulu. This should change with Flash 10.1.

Rating – 5.5/7

• Value for Money  – 0.5
• Speed and Performance – 1
• Screen – 1
• Keyboard – 1
• Portability & Battery Life – 0.5
• Looks and Design –0.5
• Extensibility & connectivity –1

HP Mini 311 Specs

Processor – 1.6 GHz N270 / 1.66GHz N280

Graphics –nVidia Ion

OS – Windows XP/Windows 7

Memory – 1 GB

Storage – 160GB HDD

Display –11.6″ (1366 x 768)

Connectivity – 802.11 b/g

Ports –VGA, HDMI, 5-in-1 card reader, 3 USB ports

Battery – 6 cell

Dimensions – 11.4″  x  8.03″  x  0.78″-1.20″

Weight – 3.2lbs

HP Mini 311 Bottom line – Apart from the nVidia, kinda meh

The overall specs of the HP Mini 311 are average; the price is unbelievably cheap. The touchpad and design have received mixed reviews. General consensus is you should wait for Windows 7 to come out by the end of the week. You might find better 12″ Nvidia Ion bearing netbooks available before you know it, or you might find that the Windows 7 version of the HP Mini 311 really kills it with better RAM and performance.

HP Product Page

Related posts:

1. 11.6″ HP Mini 311 with NVIDIA ION graphics
2. Which 12″ nVidia Ion Netbook is right for you?
3. Asus 1201 with nVidia ion surfaces in China
4. Lenovo IdeaPad S12 Sans NVIDIA Now Available
5. Toshiba Mini NB205 Review: Large Keyboard, Long Battery Life

Filed under: Uncategorized