Get a HP Mini for only $288!

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217 posts

Master Geek

#288123 8-Jan-2010 14:11

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

I hadn't been called so decided to call in at lunchtime. Told the sales rep why I was there and hadn't received a call about the raincheck. His response was "Well, I'll call you now" - not a very promising start.

Anyway, I quizzed him on what was happening and that HN were not providing any information to its customers. He said he would speak to the manager and came back and told me it would be an ASUS model. I told him I wasn't informed at the time of payment that it might be a different brand, but that went nowhere. I asked about the model number but got no answer. I asked about the four week delay (having already paid) in getting these when the HP 1197 had the exact same specs (bar the OS) and was told it was being custom built. I told him I didn't accept that explanation for the small numbers involved, but he said that is all head office are telling them. I asked that since it was being custom built, what was the model it was being based on. The response was "one with the same specs as the HP". Again, not very helpful.

There are a few things that this indicates to me, and which have been covered in previous posts.

1. HN are trying to source EOL ASUS models and will make them 'fit' the NZ market. Won't be anything from Europe as it would mean replacing the keyboard, so that leaves the US market. They then just have to replace the power lead (so long as it's not hardwired to the PSU itself).

2. There is no way on earth that these will be custom built. The numbers involved are too small, it would cost HN more to get them built and ASUS would then have to somehow fit in these 'custom builds' into their existing schedule (as well as ensuring they get to HN only). They will then have to update their website for support purposes. Overall, a very expensive option.

3. I suspect HN staff are now becoming a bit annoyed with the HP debacle, or maybe I got a staff member on a bad day.

4. The easiest solution is for HN to offer everybody concerned the 1197 and accept their losses.

5. When the 'custom built' machines eventually turn up, and they are indeed EOL ones that have been modified (in whatever fashion), the manufacture date will probably be 2009. If that is the case, can we complain to the Commerce Commission that these so called custom built machines are not as they pertain to be. This would be even more egg on HNs face.

Can someone please PM me the email address of HN head office (or the top dog) as I would like to contact them directly, since them seem intent in keeping us all (including their staff) in the dark over this matter.

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Psilan

814 posts

Ultimate Geek

#288128 8-Jan-2010 14:17

Someone in the GPForums thread just picked up their raincheck. It was the original HP offered. Maybe a return...

mattwnz

19374 posts

Uber Geek

#288130 8-Jan-2010 14:22

Thanks photoman for letting us know. It wasn't a guy with an american sort of accent was it, as I ordered the HP mini from that guy last month and he wasn't the most helpful person?
I certainly don't like how HN haven't kept their promise and informed everyone of the exact model/specs we would be receiving on twitter. We need the specs in writing and what model shell it is based on, as what they tell you on the phone is just second or third hand information. I think they are going to end up with a lot of complaints over this.What happens if the models that end up being supplied are an outdated one with a 270 chip instead of a 280 chip, they could say you have to take it or leave it, and there is very little you can do. This could be why they are not disclosing this information now, otherwise there would be too much protesting before they are supplied. There are people who will be happy with the Asus netbook and it maybe a good solution for many, but the only solution that would have kept 100% of people happy was to provide the 1197 model, whch is essentially identical to the 1111.

andyj14

47 posts

Geek

#288131 8-Jan-2010 14:23

photoman: Can someone please PM me the email address of HN head office (or the top dog) as I would like to contact them directly, since them seem intent in keeping us all (including their staff) in the dark over this matter.

The person you probably want (and who appears to have been helpful) is Anna Johnson.

http://goharveycareers.co.nz/departments/computers.php

If the HN Twitter is accurate, she is probably off at some trade show at the moment though. From what I gather Shock & Akia have had direct email communication with her, so they would have the email addy.

mattwnz

19374 posts

Uber Geek

#288133 8-Jan-2010 14:30

andyj14:
photoman: Can someone please PM me the email address of HN head office (or the top dog) as I would like to contact them directly, since them seem intent in keeping us all (including their staff) in the dark over this matter.

The person you probably want (and who appears to have been helpful) is Anna Johnson.

http://goharveycareers.co.nz/departments/computers.php

If the HN Twitter is accurate, she is probably off at some trade show at the moment though. From what I gather Shock & Akia have had direct email communication with her, so they would have the email addy.

That careers website is a heck of a lot better then their sorry excuse for a company website!

photoman

217 posts

Master Geek

#288136 8-Jan-2010 14:31

mattwnz - No, not an american accent.

andy14 - Thanks. Will check it out.

tons

48 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#288137 8-Jan-2010 14:33

I just received a call from HN and they told me the model number - apparently it is going to be a whole new model number just for HN - it is going to be an ASUS 2010HN-SUX!

tons

48 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#288139 8-Jan-2010 14:33

That was a joke BTW

tomgeeknz

923 posts

Ultimate Geek

#288140 8-Jan-2010 14:34

tons: I just received a call from HN and they told me the model number - apparently it is going to be a whole new model number just for HN - it is going to be an ASUS 2010HN-SUX!

Me thinks you are Joking

andyj14

47 posts

Geek

#288141 8-Jan-2010 14:35

mattwnz: I certainly don't like how HN haven't kept their promise and informed everyone of the exact model/specs we would be receiving on twitter. I think they are going to end up with a lot of complaints over this. There are people who will be happy with the Asus netbook and it maybe a good solution for many, but the only solution that would have kept 100% of people happy was to provide the 1197 model, whch is essentially identical to the 1111.

I agree. The 1197 is the same machine with a different operating system installed. It was the logical solution, if not the cheapest one. They have obviously taken advice and see the ASUS solution as meeting their obligations under law.

The lack of communication has been woeful though. Someone clearly knows the model to be supplied and they should be furnishing this information immediately. Keeping disgruntled customers further in the dark is not going to lead to a favourable resolution, especially if the long-delayed solution they provide is a crappy one.

Perhaps they are going to supply more than one model, which is why they don't want to indicate a model until we are contacted and told to come pick it up. They know making an announcment to one, it will quickly get around this forum and others, and soon everyone would have the expectation of a certain model.

mattwnz

19374 posts

Uber Geek

#288150 8-Jan-2010 14:47

andyj14:
mattwnz: I certainly don't like how HN haven't kept their promise and informed everyone of the exact model/specs we would be receiving on twitter. I think they are going to end up with a lot of complaints over this. There are people who will be happy with the Asus netbook and it maybe a good solution for many, but the only solution that would have kept 100% of people happy was to provide the 1197 model, whch is essentially identical to the 1111.

I agree. The 1197 is the same machine with a different operating system installed. It was the logical solution, if not the cheapest one. They have obviously taken advice and see the ASUS solution as meeting their obligations under law.

The lack of communication has been woeful though. Someone clearly knows the model to be supplied and they should be furnishing this information immediately. Keeping disgruntled customers further in the dark is not going to lead to a favourable resolution, especially if the long-delayed solution they provide is a crappy one.

Perhaps they are going to supply more than one model, which is why they don't want to indicate a model until we are contacted and told to come pick it up. They know making an announcment to one, it will quickly get around this forum and others, and soon everyone would have the expectation of a certain model.

I believe the lower hutt store has made an error when they got their customers to pay, as they essentially contracted themselves to provide the HP mini. Other stores don't appear to have made this error, as they didn't require their customers to pay, nor were they provided with a receipt. This is becuase the lowerhutt stores required you to come into the store to make full payment in order for them to process the backorder, and the recept does clearly show that it is an HP mini that was backordered. They never disclosed that it was likely that you would be supplied with an entirely different brand altogether. Under contract law they would be required to provide the brand and model that is on the receipt, or to negotiate another model if they can't source it. I will also be contacting their manager to discuss this.

dolsen

1443 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#288158 8-Jan-2010 15:02

mattwnz: Under contract law they would be required to provide the brand and model that is on the receipt, or to negotiate another model if they can't source it. I will also be contacting their manager to discuss this.

But - what if their alternative is a better speced machine? You may be doing yourself & others out of a better deal.
I thought other stores were requiring you to come in and pay in full as well?

andyj14

47 posts

Geek

#288164 8-Jan-2010 15:07

mattwnz: I believe the lower hutt store has made an error when they got their customers to pay, as they essentially contracted themselves to provide the HP mini. Other stores don't appear to have made this error, as they didn't require their customers to pay, nor were they provided with a receipt. This is becuase the lowerhutt stores required you to come into the store to make full payment in order for them to process the backorder, and the recept does clearly show that it is an HP mini that was backordered. They never disclosed that it was likely that you would be supplied with an entirely different brand altogether. Under contract law they would be required to provide the brand and model that is on the receipt, or to negotiate another model if they can't source it. I will also be contacting their manager to discuss this.

I'm not sure this is correct. From what I can tell, many have made full payment and got a receipt. I went in and paid for mine of the third day of the sale and got a receipt which indicated I acknowledged brand and specs may vary.

Might not have been the smartest move come to think of it, but I assume they are going to come to the party with something pretty close to the HP specs. They also indicated I could get a refund if I didn't like the offered product, so I didn't see much problem with handing over the cash. It obligated them to offer me something, which was a far better position than many who didn't get clued up to the raincheck offer and have missed out completely.

andyj14

47 posts

Geek

#288183 8-Jan-2010 15:47

For comparison, the HP 1111TU versus the ASUS 1005HA ...

HP 1111TU

- Windows XP Home
- Intel® Atom™ Processor N280 1.66 GHz, 512 KB L2 Cache, 667 MHz FSB
- 1024 MB DDR2 533 MHz RAM
- SATA Hard Disk Drive 5400 rpm 160 GB
- 10.1” Diagonal WSVGA LED Anti-glare Widescreen Display
- Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950
- 3 USB 2.0, VGA, RJ-45, Headphone-out/Microphone in combo jack, AC adapter
- 5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader
- Webcam with Integrated Digital Microphone
- Keyboard 82-key (92% Full size)
- Integrated 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)
- Bluetooth® wireless networking
- Dimensions and Weight 1.17 kg 26.15 cm (L) x 17.2 cm (W) x 2.63 (min H) / 3.27 cm (max H)
- Battery type 3-Cell Lithium-ion (28Whr)

ASUS 1005HA

- Windows® XP Home
- Display 10.1" LED Backlight WSVGA Screen (1024x600)
- Intel CPU & Chipset Intel® Atom™ N280
- Memory 1GB DDR2 SO-DIMM
- Hybrid Storage 160GB HDD
- Wireless Data Network WLAN 802.11b/g/n @2.4GHz
- Bluetooth2.1 + EDR*
- Camera 1.3M Pixel
- 1 x VGA Port, 3 x USB 2.0, 1 x LAN RJ-45, 2 x Audio Jack (Head Phone / Mic-in)
- Card Reader: MMC/ SD(SDHC)
- Battery 3-Cell 23Wh Li-ion Battery
- Dimensions 262mm(W) x 178mm(D) x 25.9mm~ 36.5mm(H) 1.1Kg (with3-Cell Battery)

robbyp

1199 posts

Uber Geek

#288186 8-Jan-2010 15:51

andyj14:
mattwnz: I believe the lower hutt store has made an error when they got their customers to pay, as they essentially contracted themselves to provide the HP mini. Other stores don't appear to have made this error, as they didn't require their customers to pay, nor were they provided with a receipt. This is becuase the lowerhutt stores required you to come into the store to make full payment in order for them to process the backorder, and the recept does clearly show that it is an HP mini that was backordered. They never disclosed that it was likely that you would be supplied with an entirely different brand altogether. Under contract law they would be required to provide the brand and model that is on the receipt, or to negotiate another model if they can't source it. I will also be contacting their manager to discuss this.

I'm not sure this is correct. From what I can tell, many have made full payment and got a receipt. I went in and paid for mine of the third day of the sale and got a receipt which indicated I acknowledged brand and specs may vary.

Might not have been the smartest move come to think of it, but I assume they are going to come to the party with something pretty close to the HP specs. They also indicated I could get a refund if I didn't like the offered product, so I didn't see much problem with handing over the cash. It obligated them to offer me something, which was a far better position than many who didn't get clued up to the raincheck offer and have missed out completely.

My receipt didn't say anything about that I acknoledged the brand and specs may vary. It simply say HP Mini 110 .... Backordered, along with the price and discount. No mention of raincheck or that specs and brand may vary. They also didn't tell me verbablly, he just said that they would phone back next week when it comes in. I suppose only time will tell. If it is the ASUS 1005HA that is provided, that does look like quite a nice unit, and better than the 1000xx unit.

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