I am a tech geek. I am forever chasing the newest mobile phone models, the latest notebooks, the latest gadgets… not always catching them, mind you, but chasing them nonetheless. But when I saw the HP Mini 1001 TU Vivienne Tam digital notebook clutch from HP, I knew instantly that I WANT IT!
I want it so badly, I’ve spoken to my regular computer guy to pre-order it so I know the minute it comes in. I’m getting some conflicting news about whether its coming into Malaysia and when but I read that its due in Malaysia only in January 2009. I’m told its either RM1699 or RM2800 depending on which store you call. Since its US$699.99 and reports say its S$799 I’m more inclined to believe the RM2800 version. 🙁 That effectively puts it in unattainable range.
I’m not usually swayed by looks but this baby grabbed hold of my heart immediately when I saw it. Being a geek, I checked out the specs on HP and yes, it’s looking good, people! Its essentially the same specs in the more normal looking HP Mini 1000 except the jazzed up case. It comes with Windows XP which is awesome because my Asus EeePC doesn’t – it runs on Linux which takes some getting used to (I have the older version). It weighs about 1kg+ but I’m not sure if that’s with or without battery and a 10 inch screen. Light, portable and fashionable! I don’t carry a notebook for work purposes so I don’t need a work horse – just one that can work when necessary and be portable the rest of the time.
I’m not all that captivated by the peony on the cover, but the red colour and design sorta grabs me and anyway, the peony and colour will look good for the Chinese New Year 😀 Besides this baby looks good carried around – I’d stop my hunt for an oversized clutch once I find this one. I promise! Fashion + digital mobility, can you ask for more?
Of course, the practical side of me kicked in about 2 hours later after the euphoria had died down, to ask “Do you really need another notebook just because it looks good?” And sadly, I can’t bring myself to answer the question yet, because the practical answer is “No” but the impestous side of me says “Yes! By golly YES!” So yeah… dilemma 😛
*whimper* So, this must be how being in love feels like? 🙂
So this is love… hmm mm mm… so this is love….
[poll id=”11″]
Muta says
December 21, 2008 at 9:33 amI don’t really dig the peony design on the cover. But when you opened the lid, the red and black interior of the laptop is simply amazing. I’d want one too.
I feel looking at the specs isn’t enough. I always wait a few weeks for the reviews to come, to prevent future disappointment. Cnet.com is like my inner geek best friend! 🙂
jojoba says
December 21, 2008 at 10:53 ami like the design but i don’t like it being too small as it will be difficult for my trigger fingers. (I bellieve you know my medical condition???) it will not work for me but the FASHION part, hmm, i am totally in! i also like the outer design even if it’s soooo red. hey, my golla bag is super red and i love it! i wish i have nimble fingers for small tech gadgets. i only use old model phones, old model cameras, old model notebooks… geez…
get it and review it for us! 😛
looks a lot like a red packet!
synical says
December 21, 2008 at 11:27 amHeard about this clutch some weeks ago from CNET.
I admit, it’s pretty – If it wasn’t red with peony, I’d probably consider getting it. CONSIDER only, not really go and buy right away.
By the time it gets here, it’s obsolete.
Save yourself the pain and wait for the next one, haha.
kia says
December 21, 2008 at 11:53 amI love it! I want ine so baddd!!!!
Nikki says
December 21, 2008 at 1:30 pmI have seen this online! and I WANT IT TOO!!!! But you know how my hubby is…”with that amount, you can get a better specs..blah blah” LOL
geekchic says
December 21, 2008 at 1:49 pmMy main grouse when it comes to netbooks is that it doesn’t come with an optical drive. Of course, with thumb drives going up to 8 Gb these days, one doesn’t really need an optical drive. But, having said all that, I had to be a little bit creative when it comes to installing MS Office a few days ago onto my netbook.
Solution: Pop installer CD onto another machine with a drive, share the optical drive, map drive from netbook, and install it this way.
So, that’s something to bear in mind as well.
Having said all that, it IS very pretty and having a netbook has changed my life completely (getting some paperwork done on the train, reading of some documents during my hour long commute, typing of a blog post, ahem and posting it when I get home).
2.8K is a wee bit high I reckon, for a netbook. But, if the specs justify it, I’d say go for it.
With designers-partnering-tech companies for gadgets, I’d say don’t be swayed by the designer, put the specs of the machine first and foremost. The prettiness will fade after a while but you’ll need to stick with the core of the machine for the rest of its lifespan.
HAVE FUN! 😀
geekchic says
December 21, 2008 at 1:51 pmForgot to add this: XP is the way to go. Vista is a huge pain in the butt! While we’re on that too, I’m not a fan of HP laptops. I’ve worked off HP servers and desktops, they’re OK but I’d threatened to throw my work laptop into the coastal sea each day of my 3 years in the previous job 😛
rinnah says
December 21, 2008 at 4:29 pmI so want a portable netbook too! But then again, my shoulder’s already aching from carrying the DSLR baby around… 🙁
Ms. Blacklace says
December 21, 2008 at 6:48 pmYes! It’s the red!!! The color!!!!
I saw it in the papers and I started drooling!!!!! OMG! So… pretty!!!! But the price.. Really pretty too. Lol..
prettybeautiful says
December 21, 2008 at 7:00 pmit looks so pretteh!! and it is in RED. you should buy it…coz it matches your blog theme! 😛
too bad i just bought a notebook..no fate with this anymore
vonvon says
December 22, 2008 at 2:08 ami’ve been eyeing for a Flamingo Pink Dell laptop for a while now. But OMG when I saw this, Paris, you made me have a heart flutter! It’s gorgeous, and it’s gonna fit nicely into my new Victoria’s Secret laptop tote.
Gonna talk to hubby about this, ehem, ehem……..
vonvon says
December 22, 2008 at 2:10 amThis netbook is so ME!
the colors, the designs….it’s MINE! I need to have one……..or really, more like I WANT to have one!
Penelope says
December 22, 2008 at 11:36 amI’m currenly using HP Mini notebook 2133 (quite similar to 1000) which my hubby bought for me on last June when we were in Singapore for holiday. He bought it in Changi airport for SGD2,500 and additional SGD200 for the external DVDRW. It is cute, small and lightweight which i can carry it in my handbag but within a month, the hard disc got spoilt and i had to send it to HP service center to repair. Luckily it still under warranty so, HP replaced a brand new hard disc without any fees.
My mini is going to be 6 month old by end of this Dec and I cant live without it! =)
anis says
December 22, 2008 at 12:19 pmi read abt it in the newspaper n fell in love instantly! seeing a pic of a model carrying it look sooo preetttyyy! but like nikki’s hubs i’m sceptic when it comes to the price n specs. fashion vs practicality???!!
ParisB says
December 22, 2008 at 2:07 pm@Muta : Yep I always check online for reviews first. Problem is that its going to be limited 😛 still, chances are I won’t get it, after reflecting on it 🙂
@jojoba: Oh I love small – its the only way I can lug anything around! I’ll check it out but may not get it due to price. Most likely get a phone first then see.
@synical: Technology moves too fast to keep up with. Everything’s obsolete once launched. But this is mostly design so I’d likely pass.
ParisB says
December 22, 2008 at 2:09 pm@kia : Yep its one of those things I want too!
@Nikki:Yep I agree with your hubby which is why I decided to forgo design for functionality. Hey, I got the Asus EeePC and its working great for me thus far even with minimum specs.
@geekchic: Without the design, the price is about halved LOL… so yeah the rest is design. I’ve never used a HP but after reading your horror story I doubt I’d get it!
ParisB says
December 22, 2008 at 2:11 pm@rinnah : Ah! And that’s the other reason I’ve balked at getting a DSLR although I’ve been making enquiries.
@Ms. Blacklace: Haha… yeah pretty design = pretty price
@prettybeautiful: LOL I wish matching my blog theme was a good reason to get it 😉 Your notebook specs are much better I’m sure.
@Vonvon: I think Dell does one in red too if its just color you are looking at. I always look at colored notebooks then come back to the plain black ones hehe…
ParisB says
December 22, 2008 at 2:13 pm@Penelope : Wow that’s pretty pricey but so portable! Lucky it was repaired for free – imagine if it wasn’t under warranty anymore!
@Anis: Fashion is always good, but it passes too quickly. Gotta get something that actually works well too, and the same specs are only half the price without the shell.
Syen says
December 23, 2008 at 2:44 pmHOLY COW! This is one HOT looking notebook!!! =P
Dian says
February 19, 2009 at 11:54 amJust wanted to know if you finally got it– because I’m planning to get it, just wanna see how it fared with you. I know the specs are a little sub par compared to the average netbook, but let’s face it the average netbook is not a pretty and impactful fashion statement like this thing is. The female logic of buying things give more value to physical attributes (and why not? I want to have pretty things if I can help it)
ParisB says
February 19, 2009 at 11:59 amHi Dian
I could not get a straight answer about its price nor when its coming in so in the end I just gave up on it. Its pretty but I’d rather have something more substantial for the RM2800 they were going to charge. 🙂