Get a HP Mini for only $288!

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747 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#287967 8-Jan-2010 00:38

Hang on, you said 100 back orders, and then rainchecks? Maybe they are providing hp minis to those that have backordered, and the Asus custom built ones are for the rainchecks?

it has already been confirmed in here multiple times that the replacement unit is the Asus.

There is no HP option, there is no difference in this situation between rainchecks or backorders.

Everybody is in the same boat. Surely you can see that given every single confirmation in this thread has been that it is the Asus.

richms

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#287970 8-Jan-2010 00:52

c71931f: I might just go in if i don't get a phone call by the weekend..
Will have to catch a bus tho as my car's rego and wof are both expired :(

Do you expect to be pulled over?

Richard rich.ms

richms

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#287992 8-Jan-2010 06:55

Ah well, guess thats what you get when you drive a massive target of a car. Try getting a nana wagon and you can go years without rego and no problems. Its a much cheaper way of driving

Richard rich.ms

richms

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#287997 8-Jan-2010 07:08

I always have warrants because they are cheap, but rego... well a class a expemtion gets you off most things if you have a box of parts in the back that you are "going to get put in later today"

Richard rich.ms

tons

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#288046 8-Jan-2010 09:54

Guys, this thread is about the HN HP Mini deal, not about licences and WOFs. We want to see good robust, and above all else, helpful, discussion about HN and HP etc, not about your car situation. Stay on target please.

tons

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#288052 8-Jan-2010 10:20

If HN are getting Asus to custom build a small batch of machines for those with back-orders/rainchecks, then I think that is pretty crappy.

Firstly, someone above said they are wanting all deposits to be paid before they order. Well that is dumb, because if you have already paid, why should we have to wait for some dick head who doesn't want to pay upfront or who is slow to pay, before your machine gets ordered. Couldn't HN place an order for a set of people who have paid, then another order for those who are yet to pay or slow to pay etc?

Secondly, won't a customised model be of less value than a genuine/standard model? Not that I personallly would, but it would be pretty obvious if ever selling on TradeMe.

Thirdly, don't HN and Asus risk having more problems with quality and warranties, for a customised model? Most factories have well defined production line processes, so there a risk that this process would need to be modified for the customisation, and end up being rushed and ill-designed, and/or the resultant machines not being adequately tested. Are they going to create a user manual, just for the customised machine? What happens in 9 months time when something breaks and you need it fixed? Are they going to custom build you just one machine as a replacement then?

Fourthly, surely HN should at least be able to tell us which Asus machine it is going to be based on? E.g. it will use a 1005HA case etc etc.

I would have thought all of the time and effort to custom build a machine for HN would be more effort and cost for Asus, than just saying "We'll give you 2000 Asus 1005HA's, with a matte screen (which they can come with BTW), for 10% discount on normal wholesale prices.". If there is a slight difference on specs in some regard, I'm sure most people would be happy to accommodate it e.g. I don't think many people would complain if the machine came with a 6 cell battery rather than the 3 cell as on the HP.

Also, really weird that HP haven't come to the party to help out HN. Wouldn't it be better for them for 2000 customers to have their machines rather than the competitions?

This whole thing is being very poorly managed by HN, again (you would have thought they would have gone out of their way to do this right, given the stuff up in the first place).

Looks like my "LenoChing" concern from a few days ago is coming true aye! I am considering asking for a refund.

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photoman

217 posts

Master Geek

#288062 8-Jan-2010 10:47

Is this 'custom built' ASUS not just a red herring to make us feel important? There have been various numbers bandied around of how many backorders there are, from 200 to 2,000. Even if it were 2,000, isn't this just a drop in the ocean for a manufacturer like ASUS or even HP to produce. Frankly, I think HN are just trying to get the best deal for themselves and trying to keep their losses to a minimum.

The easiest solution for HN to this situation would have been to offer the 1197 model, which according to previous posts is the exact same spec as the 1111 but with Windows 7 instead of Windows XP. That way, they could have supplied one to everyone who placed a raincheck and everyone would now be happy - except HN who would be losing quite a bit of money.

Instead, people have paid their money (well, most of us) and now have to wait for a month for an unspecified machine. I know in the end I'll still end up with a good deal, but it could have been handled a lot better than this and HN only have themselves to blame.

BTW Still haven't received a call from HN Lower Hutt.

D.W

747 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#288071 8-Jan-2010 11:11

I would put money on it that nothing is being 'custom built'.

To get a 'custom unit' you would have to be ordering tens of thousands for the likes of Asus to even consider it.
A simple indicator will be what operating system they have. if they have XP, they'll be old stock.

The units will also most likely have a date of manufacture somewhere on them, and I'm sure that won't say January 2010.

I'm fairly confident we're just getting the end of line stock of a previous Asus model that has the same specs as the HP, that will be sourced from overseas hence the wait time.

Having worked for an IT hardware supplier for the last 5 years and dealing with notebook vendors and suppliers daily, this is by far the most logical situation.

robbyp

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#288075 8-Jan-2010 11:20

Sloth, then aren't they lying to their customers by saying that? I believe they are customising an overseas model ,which when it comes to customising it would simply mean changing the power cord to a Nz one.

D.W

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Ultimate Geek
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#288080 8-Jan-2010 11:31

robbyp: Sloth, then aren't they lying to their customers by saying that? I believe they are customising an overseas model ,which when it comes to customising it would simply mean changing the power cord to a Nz one.

If thats all they are doing, I would hardly consider that 'custom building' anything.

As for lying, a) they're sales people, b) they're only passing on information, the people who are phoning us will most likely have no real clue as to what is going on.

robbyp

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#288085 8-Jan-2010 11:54

If it is a custom built one , then i believe it will be impossible for it to match the HP mini specs,as a new custom model wouldn't be able to use windows xp. Is the correct that they can't get new xp licences? They could be buying in a bigjob lot of these asus netbooks, and the ones that aren't allocated may be sold and advertised as another hook to get people into their stores. Therefore there could even be another 288 netbook deal soon to flog off this asus netbook.Thus could work out well for hn

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hellonearthisman

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#288106 8-Jan-2010 12:57

Maybe the customisation is having a 3cell battery and not a 6cell one.

Should all know the reality of the matter late Jan.

robbyp

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#288108 8-Jan-2010 13:01

Anyone who ordered the HP mini from Lower Hutt been called yet?

I don't believe either switchIng the battery or changing the cable could be considered as custom building. HN should be telling us exactly what the specs will be and what model/shell it is based on. They would know this.

Paulthagerous

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#288113 8-Jan-2010 13:09

robbyp: Anyone who ordered the HP mini from Lower Hutt been called yet?

Neither I or my sister have by them.

andyj14

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Geek

#288115 8-Jan-2010 13:21

Okay, this is what Wiki has to say about the various models ASUS have released ...

"The 1000 series launched at COMPUTEX Taipei on June 3, 2008. It features a new 10-inch (254 mm) screen and a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom CPU, although built in power management software can increase the speed to 1.7 GHz. The 1000 model ships with Linux, 8 GB SSD and a 32 GB SSD (total: 40 GB); the 1000H model ships with Windows XP Home or Linux and an 80 or 160 GB SATA HDD. Both the 1000 and the 1000H support up to 2 GB of DDR2 RAM of 667 MHz. The 1000 has a rated battery life of 4.2-7.5 hours, while the 1000H is rated for 3.2–7 hours. It also offers a keyboard that is 92% the size of generic notebooks, aiming to make it more comfortable to type. Like the Eee PC 901, the new machines feature 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. WiMAX is not currently supported.

The 1000HD released in September 2008 is a slightly cheaper version of the 1000 series. It features the same specifications as the 1000H except it uses a 900Mhz Celeron CPU chip
.
The 1000HA released in October 2008 also costs less than the 1000H but has the same Intel Atom 1.6 GHz CPU, 160 GB HDD, and 1 GB of RAM. It also has wireless and some models present Bluetooth.

The 1000XPH has the same Intel Atom 1.6 GHz CPU, only 80 GB HDD, and 1 GB of RAM. 10/100 LAN, 802.11 b/g Wireless LAN, Integrated Webcamera but no Bluetooth.

In February 2009, Asus unveiled the 1000HE, using the new Intel Atom 280 processor with a 10-inch LED-lit screen, 6-cell battery, 160 GB HDD, Bluetooth, 802.11n wireless networking, and a revised keyboard. Asus also claims the battery will last for 9.5 hours.

At CeBIT 2009, Asus unveiled the 10-inch EEE 1008HA, introducing the new design concept "Seashell".

The 1005HA comes in three models, from least to most expensive they are the 1005HA-B, the 1005HA-V and the 1005HA-P. The 1005HA-B has a removable 3 cell battery with rated 4 hour life, a 1.3 megapixel camera, and uses the N270 processor. At the higher end, the 1005HA-P has a removable 6 cell, 5600 mAh, 63 Wh battery with rated 10.5 hour battery life, a 1.3 megapixel camera and uses the N280 processor."

I figure it could only be one of the 1000HE, 1008HA, or 1005H? The HE has the old, bulkier shaped case. Specs-wise, it is identical to the HP except for having the longer-life battery.

The 1008 has the new "seashell" shape, but only 2 USB ports and an unremovable battery. For that reason alone, I'm thinking it's not what will be provided.

The 1005's, the last ASUS model based on the Atom 280 processor, matches the HP specs again in every detail except for the precise dimensions of the case. As you can read above, this model did come out in a 3-cell variation, so that would match up against the HP machine.

So, if HN's intention is to match the HP's major specs as close as possible, I can only see a 3-cell version of the 1000HE or 1008H? being what they supply. They can be supplied as 3-cells because the battery is removable. Maybe that is the "customisation" that they are doing?

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