HP Mini 1033CL Intel Atom N270 1.60GHz Netbook, 1024MB RAM, 60GB HDD, 10.2" WSVGA, Fast Ethernet, 802.11b/g, Webcam...$279.99

HP Mini 1033CL Intel Atom N270 1.60GHz Netbook, 1024MB RAM, 60GB HDD, 10.2" WSVGA, Fast Ethernet, 802.11b/g, Webcam, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Factory Refurbished - FZ978UAR#ABA-BUY

$279.99

http://www.buy.com/prod/HP-Mini-1033CL-Intel-Atom-N270-1-60GHz-Netbook-1024MB-RAM-60GB-HDD-10/q/loc/101/210958196.html?adid=17653&dcaid=17653

 

My order for the HP Mini 1030NR with similar specs except it has a 16GB SSD has not yet been shipped.

Would I be better off switching to this one?

Same price.

I would be using it for entertainment while travelling, and I am thinking that the 60GB HD might be a more flexible choice than the 16GB SSD, even though I will be using an external portable loaded with movies.

Thoughts? Advice?

 

if you use an external disk anyways, go with the ssd, it should be much faster, and you don't care if you drop it accidentally.

 

agree with dave.

 

Thanks, Daveperman and ajreynol...Your advice completely makes sense.

I'm sticking with the SSD version.

 

The 1030NR came...and went back to buy.com.

The SSD version seemed to have a very subtle vibration in the wristpad area, so it went back in the box and I ordered the 1033CL. It's coming Tuesday.

 

HP Mini 1035NR 1.60GHz Intel Netbook w/ Webcam & Bluetooth - FT313UAR#ABA
1.60GHz Intel Atom Processor N270, 1GB RAM, 60GB Hard Drive, 802.11b/g WLAN, Bluetooth, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950, 10.2" BrightView LED Display, Webcam, Windows XP Home w/ SP3 (HP Recertified Model)

http://www.ecost.com/Detail.aspx?edp=43459305&navid=155441519

 

I should mention that my wife's 1010nr feels a little sluggish compared to my 1000HE. I don't know if I would get one again, even at a really good price.

 

I have read other reviews saying that the SSD versions can be a little more sluggish under certain circurmstances.

 

After my recent experience, I would urge everyone to tread very carefully when dealing with Buy.com and their refurbished HP Mini's, both 1030NR and 1033CL.

I ordered the 1030NR the first week of April and received it about a week later. The computer had a noticeable vibration which was very annoying. I returned it within a day. I am awaiting my refund.

I thought I might have better luck with the 1033CL. Because I did not want to wait for them to receive my return before I placed my order for the replacement 1033CL, I ordered it the same day I returned the 1030NR. I received it a few days later, and thought all was well...looked great...like brand-new...

Then, I moved the screen slightly to get a better viewing angle and the screen went black, never to return. I called Buy.com's (outsourced) agents again; arranged for the return and replacement, and then thought better of it. I really did not want to wait for them to receive my return, credit me, and then place another order only to have to wait again (for, perhaps, another broken computer.)

I realized, after reading this forum, that Costco had the HP Mini 1033CL, albeit at a higher price ($399.99), which after due consideration, turned out to be a bargain. I purchased it that afternoon. I had a 25 dollar gift certificate from Costco bringing the price down to 374.99 before tax.

Costco offers an automatic one-year extension to the one year HP warranty, so I now have a two year warranty, instead of the 90 days that buy.com offers. If I were to buy the same 2 year warranty from Square Trade, I think it will be upwards of 75.00. I did not have to pay shipping, so my Costco HP Mini came in very close to the price that I was paying at Buy.com. Plus I have 90 days to return it...IF something better comes out in the meantime, Costco will cheerfully take my return, unlike Buy.com which makes you jump through all sorts of hoops to do a return. Just read Buy.com's "rules" on returns. Very sobering. And, I got a brand-new machine, instead of a refurb which has been subjected to God-knows-what before it gets to me. The Buy.com machines are supposedly Best Buy returns. All you have to do is spend a few minutes at Best Buy's return counter to see how they chuck returned items around after they take them back.

I just felt I needed to warn everybody that Buy.com's refurbs can be a problem. I will say that Buy.com was decent to deal with, though, even though their policies are often difficult to navigate. The outsourced agents were very nice in dealing with me and gave me a $15 gift certificate for my trouble, which was not expected but much appreciated.

So, this is not a complaint against Buy.com. I am just posting to let people know my experience so they will be forewarned of any possible problems. You may have a better experience than me, but I, for one, realize that I do not have the patience or the temperament to deal with refurbs and their potential problems.

 

Here is the other HP Mini buy.com thread...This one is for the 1030NR with 16GB SSD...

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=369462

I obviously got two bad ones...both the 1033CL and the 1030NR...so wanted to warn everybody. Some may think it worth the trouble given the discount. Unfortunately, I do not.

 

Do you think I would get a more reliable unit if I bought from eCost.com rather than Buy.com?

http://www.ecost.com/Detail.aspx?edp=43459305&navid=155441519
It's the 1035NR model which comes with bluetooth as opposed to the 1033CL model on Buy.com

Thanks

 

It's hard to say.

I have read some things online regarding Ecost.com and while some may have positive experiences, it seems that they can be a bit difficult to deal with, especially if something goes wrong. I think somebody had mentioned something negative also about them on this forum, as well.

Ostensibly, these things are supposed to be checked by HP-certified techs, but as far as how closely they look things over, and test them, I don't know. Based on my experience, I would say this can be very hit-and-miss.

Others have reported spotty experience with buy.com's HP Mini sale. One person had a relatively good experience...bought 3, had to return one for problems. 2 out of 3 is better than I experienced, however.

My concern for you would be the lack of a decent warranty, as well as the arcane return policies of both buy.com and ecost.com.

Are you a gambling man?

 

Well I don't know how you define a gambling man but I live over here in the Middle East (Lebanon) and I'm having my brother bring over a refurbished netbook with known issues. :O

Just hoping for the best.