HP Mini 110XP now available with broadcom chip

[ThisIsNot]

HP has finally updated their 110XP netbook to include Broadcom's HD acceleration chip that allows for the playback of 720p and 1080p video content without loading the Atom processor or GMA 950. Right now, ArcSoft's crappy TotalMedia Theatre software is the only application that supports the Broadcom chip. Cybershot plans on supporting it soon with their PowerDVD application. The upgrade costs $30 to add it to the 110XP configuration. If that wasn't enough, HP also allows for the purchase of an upgraded LCD option that uses a resolution of 1366X768 ($30) and you can get the 110XP in either black, pink, or white (all with HP's swirl pattern on the back of the display, pink and white cost an extra $20).

Unfortunately, none of these options are available for HP's Linux (Mi) powered 110 Mini. You need to purchase the Windows XP powered 110 Mini. I ordered a 110XP black Mini today and expect it to arrive in mid-August (my employer is cheap, we got the standard shipping). It carried a price tag of about $450 and that was configured with the Broadcom chip, 16GB SSD drive (the 160GB hard drive now costs $30 more), 1366X768 display, 6-cell battery, and standard one year warranty. Not too bad considering that it can playback 1080p h.264, VC-1, mpeg-2, standard mpeg-4, divx, and xvid videos in various containers using the supplied software. I think that is better than companies (such as Sony and Lenovo) charging $500 for the basic N280-GMA 950 configuration that everyone and their Mother is using now.

[wafin]

I can confirm this and total spec'd out with 160gb harddrive option is about $485.00. I was unable to get any of the coupons out there floating around to work so maybe somebody else can attempt to price it a bit lower.

[ThisIsNot]

I should have specified that my price quote (which has a 16GB SSD, not a 160GB HD) includes HP's $15 slipcase (which has the same black swirl design as the back of the netbook lid) was through their government program. I am also a graduate student (taking at least one class a year) at a university (New Mexico State University) and their education program also gives me the exact same price (it is actually somewhere around $445 but I don't think we are counting $ here).

I am not sure about their regular home consumer prices since my home computer will only show their HPA (or whatever their academic program is called) prices and my work computer will only show their government prices.

[ThisIsNot]

I am not sure what is going on with HP right now but their Mini 110XP netbook is $20 cheaper, they are offering a free shipping program, and their accessories are now less expensive as well.

I just configured a Mini 110XP with an N280 Atom processor, GMA 950, 1GB of RAM, 16GB SSD, Black Swirl pattern, 0.3 MP webcam (when will companies learn?), 6-cell battery (good for 6 hours of operation), and a Broadcom Crystal HD accelerator. The price came out to $399 with my education/business/government discount. The normal price is $425 but I get a small discount for my personal orders since I am still technically registered at a university (I take two classes a year as part of my PE requirements). They also have a matching sleeve that goes with the netbook. It is normally priced at $15 (with my discount) but it is now $11.

Lastly, HP normally charges $25 for standard 5-7 business day shipping. They are waving that for a short period of time (I don't know how long). The whole package came out to $431 including tax and the slipcase.

It looks like this is a good time to order a Mini 110XP netbook if you want a unit that can playback full 1080p content without issues. In fact, I went ahead and ordered one for myself. The Mini 110XP netbook came in here at work but, as usual, one of the higher ups basically came in and "stoles it from us." I was surprised that the netbook was delivered right when HP said it would. I opened up the box, plugged the netbook in to start charging it, went to go get a Monster, and came back to find out that someone already signed it out. I have tracked the department head down but he won't let me play with the netbook. I was hoping to sign it out for at least a couple of days but the department head wants to keep it for himself. He already applied for an inventory number and a metal tag. I might as well kiss it goodbye.

Either way, the HP Mini 110XP is a little less expensive now. I don't know how long it will last or if it is only for their government/education/business programs. However, the entire setup (that is listed above) would have come out to $500 had I ordered it last week. That is basically $70 in savings. I would wait for the tax free weekend here in New Mexico (starting August 1st) but I would gladly accept a $70 discount over a $20 one (HP is charging me $20 in taxes).