Compaq Mini 311 and Windows 7 in the UK?

[emmawheatley]

Hi,

Could anyone please help me clarify whether the new Compaq Mini 311 comes with Windows 7 in the UK?

Copied from the overview page here HP website

• Featuring genuine Windows 7 for superior digital entertainment and advanced features

• Take your entertainment to go. Enjoy an 11.6" screen, Genuine Windows® XP Home, and NVIDIA Ion graphics for smooth HD playback. HDMI port delivers easy-to-use single-cable HD audio/video connection

This is the only thing holding me off from buying - its quite confusing as it states both operating systems in the description. I did email HP several days agobut am still waiting for a response.

I noticed that it is available from the US store with Windows 7, and a ram upgrade - do you think this is likely to be similar in the UK? TheUK store doesn't seem to offer the same configuration options for its products.

Many thanks in anticipation

Emma 

[CharlesHP]

You may have the option to choose which one, for a different price.

[Craig85]

I sent them the very same question a while back.  I'm still waiting on a reply too although if they don't have the courtesy to send one soon I will be buying an Asus instead.

I'm not really that bothered about the ION graphics, I just couldn't find another device with an 11.6" screen and an N series processor except for UMPC types, which have horrible battery life and aren't really designed for extended travel.

If it's of any interest to you, for some reason Amazon.co.uk have the Mini 311 listed as "Available for pre-order. This item will be released on 3 Nov 2009."  The Compaq version (as opposed to the HP version in the states) seems to have had a very low key release.  Maybe it will be getting a proper release and marketing campaign on the 3rd Nov (to coincide with the upgrades).  The 311 specification page seems to be a work in progress at the moment - it barely even makes any sense.

Get your act together please HP.

Message Edited by Craig85 on 10-27-2009 07:51 AM

[JeffJSmith]

I want to buy one of these Netbooks but want Windows 7 installed - when will that be.  Surely someone in HP in the UK has an interest in selling these ...

Is there anyone there?

[JeffJSmith]

Having been in touch with HP on this, they are saying that there will be a Windows 7 version of the Compaq 311c available in the UK soon. 

I will post an update when I have timescales and any other details.

I am now trying to decide whether to buy an XP version and upgrade it myself - the costs might not be so different.

[JeffJSmith]

I have now heard that soon means January or maybe into February 2010.

So, I have bought one with XP and will upgrade it myself. 

It is a nice system - I love it so far.

[azz1844]

I understand that with the 311 installed with XP you cannot install RAM above 1GB. Is this a hardware limitation on models released with XP, or is it a restriction they have set with the OS?

i.e. If I buy an XP version and upgrade to Win 7, will I be able to upgrade the RAM?

[JeffJSmith]

I upgraded mine to 2GB with XP installed, and if I remember rightly, the OS did recognise it.  The graphics chip takes 128MB for itself, so the OS RAM shows as 1GB or 2GB minus the 128MB.

If you are upgrading to Windows 7, do visit the HP support site for the Mini 311 and download and install all the drivers.  The system works without them, but I think some of the chip support improves with the specific drivers.

[azz1844]

JeffJSmith

That's weird... on HP's website the XP versions all say 1GB max... Even the guy on the phone said that was the case, although I did find it a bit odd, seeing as XP has no trouble with more than 1GB on any other computer.

Just to confirm:

You bought a Mini 311 pre-installed with XP and 1GB RAM, but were able to just stick in another 1GB of RAM without any trouble?

Did you buy it in the UK?

[JeffJSmith]

Yes - I bought the Netbook from Amazon UK and the memory from Crucial.  I definitely installed the memory with XP and it came up fine, and I am almost certain it reported the extra RAM.   I am sure I would have checked but only ran it for an hour or two before upgrading to Windows 7. 

I did it in this order since the netbook came with XP.  I installed the memory and checked it was all running fine before changing to Windows 7.  I wanted to make sure that the system ran OK with the new memory before changing something else.