Get a HP Mini for only $288!

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534 posts

Ultimate Geek

#288586 10-Jan-2010 00:07

5loth:
stuzzo:

On what information do you base that?

I work for a local OEM and deal with cost pricing for MS operating systems.

From what I've read previously and backed up by Nitrotech's Article manufacturerer's pay more for Windows 7 OS. The article quotes $45US compared to $15US for XP.

The margin is apparently less for Starter but a significant cost over a lot of machines.

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stuzzo

534 posts

Ultimate Geek

#288587 10-Jan-2010 00:08

5loth:
stuzzo:

On what information do you base that?

I work for a local OEM and deal with cost pricing for MS operating systems.

From what I've read previously and backed up by Nitrotech's Article? manufacturerer's pay more for Windows 7 OS. The article quotes $45US compared to $15US for XP.

The margin? is apparently less for Starter but a significant cost over a lot of machines.

CYaBro

4084 posts

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#288590 10-Jan-2010 00:36

I don't think xp is available any more though is it?Even to manufacturers.
The only way to sell xp with a new machine now is to supply with win7 pro license and xp pro downgrade media.
Unless Asus still have their own stock of xp home licenses.

stuzzo

534 posts

Ultimate Geek

#288593 10-Jan-2010 00:56

Still available but on life support!

http://www.liliputing.com/2009/11/windows-xp-netbooks-days-are-numbered.html

andyj14

47 posts

Geek

#288595 10-Jan-2010 02:23

photoman: Got a response to my email from Anna Johnson this morning and a phone call from the Propeitor of HN Lower Hutt a couple of hours later. Confirmed the ASUS brand but couldn't give a model number of the chassis that they're doing the custom build on. Will just have to wait and see what transpires.

Will we? She either doesn't know or won't say. Either way it's a pretty poor effort on her part. If any of us were getting something "custom-built" we would want to know exactly what component parts are going into it, from the case design inwards. If she doesn't know these specifics then it's putting an unacceptable level of trust and faith in ASUS to produce what they want. Not sure I'd want my Head Of Computing to be handing off so much responsibility to the manufacturer in this case.

If she does know and simply won't say, then it makes you wonder what they have to hide. At the very least she must know what set of specs were presented to ASUS. All of us know the specs of the HP machine. It's surely no skin off HN's nose to verbalise those to the raincheck customers in order to allay any fears they might be trying to pull a swiftie. Saying it's "the same specs as the HP" is open to wiggle room if you ask me.

LZ

22 posts

Geek

#288608 10-Jan-2010 07:38

There are a fair amount of refurbished Asus devices around too. Let's hope that's not the 'customisation'.

photoman

217 posts

Master Geek

#288616 10-Jan-2010 09:48

andyj14:
photoman: Got a response to my email from Anna Johnson this morning and a phone call from the Propeitor of HN Lower Hutt a couple of hours later. Confirmed the ASUS brand but couldn't give a model number of the chassis that they're doing the custom build on. Will just have to wait and see what transpires.

Will we? She either doesn't know or won't say. Either way it's a pretty poor effort on her part. If any of us were getting something "custom-built" we would want to know exactly what component parts are going into it, from the case design inwards. If she doesn't know these specifics then it's putting an unacceptable level of trust and faith in ASUS to produce what they want. Not sure I'd want my Head Of Computing to be handing off so much responsibility to the manufacturer in this case.

If she does know and simply won't say, then it makes you wonder what they have to hide. At the very least she must know what set of specs were presented to ASUS. All of us know the specs of the HP machine. It's surely no skin off HN's nose to verbalise those to the raincheck customers in order to allay any fears they might be trying to pull a swiftie. Saying it's "the same specs as the HP" is open to wiggle room if you ask me.

It was pretty much the same response I got when I called in personally the other day. It does make you wonder what they have to hide at this stage.

tons

48 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#288623 10-Jan-2010 10:13

It is very strange HN are not telling us what the chassis is for the 'custom build'. From the way I see it, they must know what the chassis is, as they would have already done the planning and design and interim ordering, and therefore if they know but aren't telling, then they must have something to hide.

And having something to hide probably means they've used the 1000 chassis, which if true, is very poor of HN.

The 1000 chassis and design is about 18 months old, where-as the chassis and design of the HP Mini 110 is only about 6 months old. The only other Asus chassis that is about 6 months old is the 1005.

Therefore, if HN were having some machines custom built, that "match the specs" of the HP, then they should be using the 1005 (with XP, a three cell battery and 160 GB harddrive).

I wonder what the Commerce Commision would think of HN saying they were having machines built to "match the specs" of the HP, but then end up not doing so by virtue of the 1000 chassis being much larger and bulkier and heavier etc?

If it is a 1000 chassis, then I am going to ask for a refund. However I guess HN can't lose if they've built machines and people ask for refunds, as they'll just have another sale, sell the leftovers for more than $288 and HN's cost to make a profit, but still be cheaper than you can get a machine anywhere else, and therefore the crowds will flock to them again.

Oh well. After I get my refund, I'll go out and pay a whole lot more for a standard 1005 from another local retailer. But at least then I'll have the proper machine I want, and not some strange orphan model that was thrown together as quickly and as cheaply as possible, that will always have a limited value due to everyone knowing it is an "HN-cheapy".

And then I'll make sure I never shop at HN again, and I will discourage everyone I know from shopping there also.

I'm likely to be in the market for a big screen TV and surround sound system at some stage in the near future, so looks like HN are going to miss out on my dollars for that now also.

LZ

22 posts

Geek

#288628 10-Jan-2010 10:47

I think the various HN stores do not know any more than what they are telling us however I think someone at HN HQ definitely knows more than the vague information we're being given.

Someone from HN HQ should front up with some answers. The lack of information just leads to speculation and anxiety build up - people assume that you're being cagey as you have something to hide.

I'm making the assumption that same spec includes not just processor, memory etc. but size, weight and battery life too. I don't think that's an unfair expectation as all those things form the specification of a device.

People from HN who are following this; people listen to your customers!

andyj14

47 posts

Geek

#288629 10-Jan-2010 10:47

tons: And having something to hide probably means they've used the 1000 chassis, which if true, is very poor of HN.

The 1000 chassis and design is about 18 months old, where-as the chassis and design of the HP Mini 110 is only about 6 months old. The only other Asus chassis that is about 6 months old is the 1005.

Therefore, if HN were having some machines custom built, that "match the specs" of the HP, then they should be using the 1005 (with XP, a three cell battery and 160 GB harddrive).

I wonder what the Commerce Commision would think of HN saying they were having machines built to "match the specs" of the HP, but then end up not doing so by virtue of the 1000 chassis being much larger and bulkier and heavier etc?

I guess the major problem I can see is, with the 1000 being 18+ months old now, are they likely to have enough chassis left to build the number required for this raincheck? Let's hope they don't! Here are the dimensions of the 1000 & 1005 .....

ASUS 1005

262mm(W) x 178mm(D) x 25.9mm~ 36.5mm(H) 1.1Kg (with3-Cell Battery)

ASUS 1000

266mm(W) x 191.2mm(D) x 28.5mm~ 38mm(H) 1.45 kg

LZ

22 posts

Geek

#288632 10-Jan-2010 10:53

Could we have the name and contact details of the NZ business manager so that we can contact him/her directly?

tons

48 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#288651 10-Jan-2010 12:39

andyj14: I guess the major problem I can see is, with the 1000 being 18+ months old now, are they likely to have enough chassis left to build the number required for this raincheck? Let's hope they don't! Here are the dimensions of the 1000 & 1005 .....

ASUS 1005

262mm(W) x 178mm(D) x 25.9mm~ 36.5mm(H) 1.1Kg (with3-Cell Battery)

ASUS 1000

266mm(W) x 191.2mm(D) x 28.5mm~ 38mm(H) 1.45 kg

I have taken andyj14's info above and compared these to the HP Mini 110 dimensions:

                  Width (mm) Depth (mm) Height (mm) Weight (kg)
HP 110        262             172             263              1.17
Asus 1000    266            191.2          285              1.45
Difference     4               19.2            22                0.28

HP 110         262             172            263               1.17
Asus 1005     262            178            259               1.1
Difference      0                 6               -4                  -0.07

So from this we can clearly see that the Asus 1000 is wider, deeper, taller and heavier than the HP Mini 110.

Where-as the Asus 1005 is the same width, only slightly deeper, shorter, and lighter than the HP Mini 110.

The differences between the HP Mini 110 and the Asus 1000 are all large, where-as the differences between the HP Mini 110 and the Asus 1005, where they exist, are small.

So, the Asus 1005 is a far closer match to the physical dimensions of the HP Mini 110, than an Asus 1000 is.

Therefore, HN better be using the 1005 chassis for the 'custom build'.

CYaBro

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#288653 10-Jan-2010 13:06

LZ: There are a fair amount of refurbished Asus devices around too. Let's hope that's not the 'customisation'.

Surely they wouldn't be able to give us reburbished Asus devices when we have paid for, or got a raincheck for, a brand new HP device??
That would surely open them up for action from the comcom wouldn't it??
And I also don't think they should be able to give us an Asus model that is much older, bigger and heavier than the HP we were expecting.

robbyp

1199 posts

Uber Geek

#288660 10-Jan-2010 13:24

I would be surpised if they are actually allowed to change the brand, if a similar model in that brand is readily avaliable. The only reason they should change the brand is if the brand has gone out of business or no similar model exists. The laws are their to protect customers.

CYaBro

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#288662 10-Jan-2010 13:35

robbyp: I would be surpised if they are actually allowed to change the brand, if a similar model in that brand is readily avaliable. The only reason they should change the brand is if the brand has gone out of business or no similar model exists. The laws are their to protect customers.

That's what I thought too but apparently it has been confirmed that they will be replaced with an Asus of some sort.
But I wouldn't mind if it is an Asus as long as it is the same spec or better than the HP, in shape, size and battery as well.

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