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My thoughts on my Mini Mi
I’ve had my HP Mini 1000 Mi Edition for a couple weeks now, and overall I’ve been very happy with it. The keyboard is the perfect compromise in size at 90%, and even the strange side buttons on the trackpad haven’t given me too much reason to complain. I have the 10.1″ version, but it’s small and light enough for me to carry comfortably all day (a huge different from my 15″ MacBook Pro, which I’m sure is the cause for all my back and shoulder pain!).
The big problem is the OS. Since I went with the Mi Edition, the netbook runs on MIE (Mobile Internet Experience), which is HP’s Ubuntu-based operating system. Admittedly, this was my first foray into Linux, and I’m not letting MIE taint my opinion of Linux whatsoever. Basically, there’s a lot that just doesn’t work right. The home screen, seen below, is supposed to have live bookmarks (and thumbnails) for my favorite websites. Even after adding them, the thumbnails just never loaded.
I wanted to add Boxee for Linux onto it, but adding third-party applications is very difficult. There is an application manager, but it’s locked-down to HP approved apps. There have been some stability issues as well, which I find interesting considering I’m rarely using multiple programs at once or doing anything “crash-worthy.”
At this point, I’m looking at a few different options for the OS: Ubuntu Netbook Remix and Windows 7 beta. I’ve heard great things about both, and I tried to install Windows 7 already and had some issues because I was trying to make a bootable USB on XP instead of Vista, which most of the directions seem geared to. Anyhow, I digress. Suggestions for what OS I should run are very welcome, or if you have tips on making the most out of MIE.
The kiwi above doesn’t come standard, by the way! It’s a GelaSkin called Jealousy, by artist Jen Lobo. GelaSkins are coming out with netbook skins very soon, so stay tuned!
UPDATE: GelaSkins for netbooks now available!
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V,
I found this link showing a Mini Mi with Windows 7:http://thetechnicist.typepad.com/the_technicist/2008/12/windows-7-on-the-mini-1000.html
And an install guide. I don’t know if this is the one you followed:
http://thetechnicist.typepad.com/the_technicist/2008/12/windows-7-beta-1-netbook-install-guide.html
He says that it runs pretty well. I don’t know what your requirements for these are, but I’m guessing very simply web work.
I’d like to hear if you get it working. I’ve been thinking about getting one of those too.
I have a serious distaste for Linux. It never, EVER works for me. There’s always something wrong with it, mostly a hardware problem. And as much as I love to play with OSs and get them working, there’s a limit to what I would do to get something working properly. I’d say use Windows, or even OS X if you can find install instructions for that. All IMO of course. I don’t like fighting my hardware/OS.
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#11 written by Joe 3 years ago
http://www.blogsdna.com/2016/how-to-install-windows-7-from-usb-drive-without-windows-7-iso-dvd.htm
This seems to be a method that works on XP since it doesn’t use the DISKPART tool.
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Well that sounds quite unfortunate. I was going to say at least the skin looks cool, but then I thought the skin really means nothing without good working content. I have Windows Vista on my normal size laptop and I am not the biggest fan of it because of its constant glitching and crashing so I am thinking of putting Windows 7 on here soon but for you I really would not know what to recommend. My friend took his Acer netbook of similar specs and turned it into a Macbook which is quite strange. lol. Anyway, I wish you luck with all of this and make sure you use Google when in need of help, it is your greatest friend on the internet.
~Freddy G.
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#14 written by Kenop 3 years ago
Nice machine there! I think Windows 7, although slimmed down from Vista’s level of bloatiness, would still be quite a pain to run on that little guy. I would be highly suspect of getting anything but very sluggish performance out of it. The GUI of 7 is also ideal for larger resolutions, and half your dialogs and menus will be hilariously, or aggravatingly large on that lcd.
Ubuntu might be a bit better, and give you a more fair chance at enjoying a real linux distribution.
Personally, I’d install 7 first, for the experience, and then end up with Ubuntu in the end
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#15 written by bk 3 years ago
VB: I look forward to more of your review on this laptop. a few questions: using Mi, is it easy to connect to other computers/files on your network? if you install W7, how easy is it to revert back to your base OS? have you tried playing mp4 or mkv files; if so, how does it fair? Thanks! Love Tekzilla!
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I bought a mini mi (heh I just like saying that) the day it was available on their site. I have pretty much the same feelings as you do. MIE has a lot of issues. I am good with linux so it was trivial to install whatever I wanted. press alt-f2 to bring up a run dialog. enter “sudo synaptic” (without “s of course) and it will bring up a full listing of packages you can install. On mine the web thumbnails work but email is broken for me as well.
I did get windows 7 on it and found instructions for xp. It’s definately a little more work to make it from xp but still easy enough once you grab a few programs: http://www.bwana.org/2009/01/11/how-to-install-windows-7-beta-from-a-usb-drive-to-an-hp-mini-1000-without-vista/
Windows 7 ran fine on it especially once I set the hp usb drive thing as a readyboost drive. But if you put windows 7 or anything else on it, be prepared to not get to MIE again. I know my way around linux and it still took a lot of work to get it back and restored since hp doesn’t have a restore image anywhere and phone support didn’t help any.
I’ve also put a standard ubuntu install on it. It was maybe slightly slower than MIE (which is based off of ubuntu) but still worked and then you have access to everything easily.
There’s a community at http://www.myhpmini.com/ (covers all the mini’s including the MIE version) that can be helpful when troubleshooting.
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I had a lot of trouble trying to get a bootable USB install to work. 2/4 of what I tried failed to boot. My Patriot Xporter XT and Corsair Voyager were successful, Sandisk mico (old metal one) fail, as did a cheap generic microcenter one.
Basically followed this guide: http://www.msfn.org/board/How-to-install-XP-from-USB-t111406.html
But if you can, I’m sure someone you know has a USB dvd drive you can just boot off of. SOOO much easier.
All my experiences are from a dell mini 9 tho, but it’s generic enough. I know Windows 7 runs surprisingly well w/ aero on the mini 9, but I haven’t used it extensively like that.
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#28 written by Matt 3 years ago
Liliputing.com has a great how to article on installing xp to a netbook using a usb drive that might help you getting your usb drive bootable.
http://www.liliputing.com/2008/04/install-windows-xp-on-mini-note-usb.html
I used this to install xp on my Eee 901 and it worked great. Keep in mind too that all pendrives are not created equal either. I have found that my generic drives with nothing on them work better than my fancy nice drives with preloaded software for installing OS’s on my netbook.
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#33 written by Kyle 3 years ago
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#34 written by Zach 3 years ago
Hey Veronica,
I’ve heard nothing but bad things about the stripped down version of Ubuntu that HP uses. Supposedly they don’t even let you go into the command line. I have an 10″ MSI Wind that I successfully put OS X on which has been pretty awesome. It took some tinkering to get it working perfectly but I haven’t had any complaints. Also an installation of the normal version of Ubuntu would probably be better than what HP gave you. I run it on my desk top and had it briefly on my Wind. It was very easy to install and recognized my hardware without a hitch. Good luck with whatever you choose for yours,
Zach
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#36 written by cacarr 3 years ago
I assume you have access to an external optical drive? I didn’t have any problems making a bootable flash stick, but, hmm, yes, I think I did use Vista.
Windows 7 is indeed a good option. Runs very nice on my Lenovo s10. On the Linux side, check out Mint 6 — a refined Ubuntu with all the necessary proprietary stuff already installed, and it’s pretty.
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Veronica, I don’t understand why you don’t just install Mac OS X on it? The only problem is the sound support, and that’s actively being worked on.
http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/12/17/osx-netbook-compatib.html
http://myhpmini.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=37 -
Hi Veronica
If your not having much luck with the hp ubuntu remix offered, why not try a full installation of ubuntu or Kubuntu, i have found both quite customizable, and very easy to use and install great third party apps on
I have only been trying Linux distros since ubuntu 6.06 lts but out of all the ones i’ve tried (Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Mint, Arch, PC Linux) i always end up back with ubuntu
here take a look at some of the effects I had running on my machine
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2935781&id=811075192&l=2a28c
Good luck in find an OS to suite you
Carl
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Hi Veronica,
I love the Gelaskin! I’m a Kiwi, well not exactly but you know what I mean… LOL.
Basically your laptop should operate in a similar fashion to any other PC based laptop. As long as its not made by Apple, it should be pretty flexible on the operating system. Unless HP has started adding closed proprietary hardware to their laptops recently.
I wouldn’t recomend Windows 7 at this point as it is still the beta, and we all know how terrible First Releases are, let alone Betas, when it comes to Microsoft. I would also steer away from Windows Vista unless you want all the money you spent on power to go down the tubes to that over bloated OS.
Therefore, I would recomend the following operating systems, depending on exactly what you want to achieve;
- Windows XP for User Friendly Usability
- Windows 2000 for Development or Server Friendly StabilityBoth of the above will not degrade your Laptops performance any where near as much as the later release Microsoft OS’s (although I cannot really say much about Windows 7 as I have not tested this one yet).
There are also several Linux options which may be suitable but the one I would recomend would be RedHat; if you did want to go through Linux. I’m not a huge fan on Linux on Clients, but it cannot be beaten for Servers.
Anyway… I am a consultant here in New Zealand for several medium to large sized businesses. I get paid for my opinion so I am sorry if the above recommendations seem overly opinionated… Force of habit
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Creating a bootable ubuntu usb key is as simple as 3 clicks. I’d explain how to do it, but the lovely duo of Patrick & Roger have covered it on the last Systm.
Try a full, unremixed version of Ubuntu 8.10 (up to kernel 2.6.27.9 …. as 11 seems to be buggy) It should run just fine. Install awn (avant window navigator) to get a familiar MAC like dock. Then install screelets to get some desktop widgets.
In theory, all drivers should work out of the box. the guys at Linux Action show and Linux-Journal did an install and it works great.
Good luck & welcome to Linux. lol.
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#47 written by cacarr 3 years ago
“If not then well you should try getting it Hackintosh’d as I did with my MSI Wind which runs beautifully with Leopard.”
I think I know the real reason why there is, as yet, no Apple netbook: OSX’s UI is really not all that great with a 10″ screen. Apps will often open taller than the vertical resolution of the screen, window resizing in OSX can be a pain, etc.
The Win7 window snapping feature is nice on the little screen, and in general, it just makes better use of limited real estate.
And FWIW, I’ve only a gig of RAM in my S10 (but can add another) and Win7 runs just fine — faster than my Mint installation if I’ve a bunch of Compiz effects enabled.
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#48 written by David 3 years ago
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#50 written by Kevin Yeaux 3 years ago
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Great!!