Well it’s taken a while, but the high priced netbook has been cloned in China for a lot less. The original HP Mini 100 Vivienne Tam edition netbook features a 10 inch display, 1.8 inch HDD along with a selling price of $700. HP are now phasing out the HP Mini 1000, which includes the Vivienne Tam model, so it’s not surprising to see that it’s been cloned. From the photo, the colors look less vibrant, but it’s not clear if they are, or if it’s due to the photo light. Again, the clone model features a 10 inch display along with a HDD storage. The HDD on the clone however is a 2.5 inch HDD. It’s not clear if this affects the size of the netbook though. Whether it does or not though, pretty much becomes irrelevant when the price is considered. The Vivienne Tam clone is retailing for $300, making it less than half the price of the genuine model. The clone is created by Qifang Electronics and appears to only be available in China.

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The Mini 1000 netbook from HP originally launched with two storage options, 16GB SSD or 60GB hard drive but HP have updated the storage options available for the Mini 1000. It’s now possible to get the HP Mini 1000 with SSD memory of the original 16GB or with 32GB. Where as the hard drive option has only upgraded it’s 60GB hard drive. The 60GB version is no longer available to purchase from HP, but an 80GB hard drive option is.

For most netbooks, 80GB is pretty minimal, but HP use 1.8 inch hard drives instead of the usual 2.5 inch hard drive which makes prices for more higher storage, much more expensive. The speed of the hard drive however remains the same at 4200RPM.

Other customizable options for the HP Mini include a choice between 512MB of RAM or 1GB, 8.9 inch or 10.1 inch display, as well as a choice between a 3 cell battery or a 6 cell. There’s also an option to receive both batteries so you have a backup. Bluetooth is also an added option when purchasing the HP Mini.

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Some ladies in Germany who may still be eyeing the pink and uber-girlified HP Mini Vivienne Tam Edition netbook won’t have to be waiting for a chance any longer. Already widely available in other parts of the world since last year, this feminine netbook is now listed for sale by none other than Amazon Germany. The overall specs are the same, so that means it’s equipped with a 10-inch screen, Intel Atom processor, and a floral decoration on its outer lid. In the U.S., it is available from HP’s web site for $699.99. Amazon Germany is offering it for only 499.23. Euros (equivalent to $677 USD, which makes it at least $20 USD cheaper than in the U.S.). Check out the rest of the details of the deal via the links below.

Amazon Germany via Eee-PC.de

In case you wanted to see the HP Mini 1000 Mi Edition netbook “in action” and learn all about its nifty feature at the same time, there’s a video review posted on JKontherun that will let you do just that. The machine itself has already been available for pre-order for quite some time now, but some of you may still want to learn more about it before deciding to jump on it, credit card on hand. Head on down to JKontherun’s video review of the HP Mini 1000 Mi Edition for more details.

Via JKontherun

As what HP has promised, it has now released the HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition in sleek red design. The said netbook is now available for sale at the HP online store for $699.99. Definitely a bit pricer than most of the netbooks of its class. But we all know how HP prices its netbooks, right? The HP Mini 2133 was also ahead of its class in terms of pricing when it was released not so long ago. So, we didn’t really expect the HP Mini 1000 to have a lower price this time.

Anyway for your almost $700, you’ll get the following features:

• 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor
• 10.2-inch diagonal WSVGA HP LED Brightview Infinity Display
• 1GB RAM
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
• 16GB SSD or 60GB HD
• HP Mini Webcam
• HP Color Matching Keyboard
• Wireless G-Card, Bluetooth
• 3-Cell Battery
• 2.45 lbs
• Windows XP

Plus of course, you’ll get your HP Mini 1000 in all its sleek Vivienne Tam-inspired design.

Wait, before you go on splurging on this HP netbook, you might want to consider taking a second look at its feautures and specs and see if there are available netbooks in the market with the same specs and features yet being offered at a lower price. Unless of course you’re a big HP fan, then you might as well grab this netbook now.

Aside from releasing the basic model of the HP Mini 1000, HP has also announced two upcoming variants of the said netbook which are already in the works. These are the HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition and the HP Mini 1000 MIE.

Similar to the HP Mini 1000, these two variants would feature Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor, Brightview widescreen display, flush glass and LED backlight, built-in webcam and microphone. In addition, the HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition will come in vibrant red accentuated by peony-flower designs, 10.2-inch display, runs on Windows XP Home, and comes packed with Ethernet Jack, USB ports, Wifi and soon 3G capabilities.

Meanwhile, the HP Mini 1000 with Mobile Internet Experience (MIE) also supports similar specs as the other HP Mini variants. But for the MIE model, HP has made mobile Internet more easily accesible, and packed the netbook with Instant Messaging, email and Skype for online communications. These applications sit on the Mini 1000 with MIE’s dashboard and could included users’ favorite websites.

The HP Mini 1000 with MIE runs on Linux OS and also comes packed with Ethernet jack, USB ports, Wifi and Bluetooth capabilities.

The HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition will be available sometime in December 2008 for $699, while the HP Mini 1000 with MIE will be available sometime in January for $379.

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