Coffee Break — Netbooking with Windows 7
HP Mini 1000, MS Arc mouse, MiFi
I recently returned the HP Mini 5101 netbook and this morning I realized I only have one netbook at Mobile Tech Manor. The HP Mini 1000 is the only netbook after returning 4 or 5 others along with the 5101. As I was pondering only having the one netbook, a highly unusual situation for me, I noticed that the 1000 was still running Windows 7 RC.
I had installed it when the Release Candidate first appeared, andthe Mini 1000 has run well with Windows 7. I couldn’t keep using a beta version so I set out to install the full blown version of Windows 7.
The install went flawlessly, and the first Windows Update after it completed found all the drivers needed to finish the job. It was the easiest install of Win 7 I’ve experienced yet.
I had to head out for some java and take the Mini 1000 along to break in that new Win 7 install properly, so here I am. The 1000 is running very well indeed.
As a refresher, this Mini 1000 has the following specs:
- Atom 1.6 GHz
- 1 GB RAM
- 16 GB SSD
- 10-inch display, 1024×576
- Wi-Fi
I am trying something with the Mini I haven’t tried on a netbook yet. I have a 4 GB SD card that I’ve been using for additional storage given the small SSD in the 1000. This time I have the SD card set to be totally devoted to ReadyBoost duty to enhance the performance of Windows 7 on the Atom processor. So far it definitely is making a difference.
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I did the same thing with my HP Mini, e.g. ReadyBoost on SD card, seems to definitely speed things up, and I have been recomending this strategy to all my Netbook pals.
That + ActiveWords, http://www.activewords.com/ make for a great experience on Netbooks… :)
I use readyboost… but I’m still using the RC version. I s there any notable speed difference between the RC and final?
On the RTM version, everything seems to work better, but not sure there is a speed difference..
Why did you return all of your netbooks? Were they loaners or are you just happy with your tablet?
E
All loaners, as is the Tablet. They all go back eventually.
How can you survive with just a mouse?
My netbook setup: http://andreasodegard.com/webpics/school.jpg :D
I have a real Tablet PC for that. :)
now that’s just showing off! ;)
I know you have the X200, thats why I posted my “alternative to” a tablet PC – netbook style :D. A real tablet would be nice, a but a netbook+wacom setup is actually quite useable for taking notes in class. Cant afford something as expensive as a real tablet and the netbook tablets suck in spec compared to the EEE 1101HA
Also the reason I have anything to use the tablet with is you (JK), since you recommended OneNote a couple of weeks back. It’s awesome. Also found Journal in windows (7), didnt know that was there but the wacom tablet had a hardware shortcut wired to it
hey andreas that is a nice setup. i also thought u were showing off but that is very practical in school since that bamboo is only $70. i had a real tablet pc that i used in school for a lil while but it was so big and heavy and the battery life sucked. a netbook has superior battery life and cheaper and with the bamboo it makes it a very compelling alternative. good job.
James
RehEAlley… (Jim Carey voice)
I had heard the SD boost was a joke in Vista… didn’t realize that it actually worked in Win 7. That’s good to know.
Now is it just because the Mini has such a slow main drive or it is all around better on win 7?
My Mini is the HP with the 16 Gig SSD, I just tried it to see what would happen, and it seems to work great, at times even surprisingly fast.
But again, so many variables, e.g. net speed, caching of a web page, and again a shameless plug for our product http://www.activewords.com, it truly makes a Netbook useful!
Really Buzz B.? Two self promotions in 10 comments is a little desperate wouldn’t you say?
Buzz hasn’t been spamming this or other tech websites, which I know he has to follow, and I’d be surprised if his comments are unwelcome here.
ReadyBoost on Vista isn’t a joke, but it’s also not a cure-all for not having enough power or RAM. I’ve seen good results on Vista. A system with the thinnest choices of power probably would benefit from using ReadyBoost, though the trade-off is limitations on using an SD would be not having access to as much storage.
ActiveWords seems like a natural on netbooks, as it has a remarkably small footprint and powerful features. It can be set to run invisibly, and with the free downloads, work a host of minor miracles without one even learning how to take advantage of its more powerful features.
Not desperate, just very good product, and we see netbooks and netbook users as an important market for us.
If you had a product that you had built and believed in what would you do.
Try our stuff and tell me what you think, always interested in both positive and negative feedback.
Buzz
what do you think of the Arc mouse? If there was a Bluetooth version, I’d probably pick one up.
I bring the Arc with me rather than a Bluetooth portable. It’s a better mouse.
I haven’t tried the Arc, but the Belkin bt is a killer mouse.