A little background before we begin. HDCP stands for High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection, and it is a protocol that was designed by some evil people in an evil lair for the sole purpose of frustrating the crap out of you. Actually, I suppose I should clarify. HDCP is a protocol designed by a subsidiary of Intel, and it’s purpose is to prevent piracy. However, as with most anti-piracy system, it generally makes things extremely complicated and painful for the legitimate user, while the content-pirates find their way around it anyway.

So you’ve got an HP Mini 311 and you want to use the HDMI port to output an HDCP protected video source to your HDTV? This is what I attempted to do last night and was hit with a frustrating error message: Your System is not compatible with HDCP, BD playback is disabled”. This sort of error message really makes me mad because I know that most average users wouldn’t have any idea where to go from that point. To be clear, HDMI output from the HP Mini 311 to an HDTV as a monitor works with no problem. It’s only when you attempt to play HDCP protected content, such as a Blu-ray disc to the display, that problems arise.

There are unfortunately a lot of things that need to be in line for HDCP protected content to play back on your HDTV. Luckily, with the Mini 311, most of those things should be taken care of out of the box, such as a certified video card and a driver that supports HDCP. You also need a proper software player among other things. The hard part is when you get an error and you don’t know which of these several factors is to blame. I spent a while last night troubleshooting until I finally stumbled upon the solution. It wasn’t the driver, it wasn’t the video card, it was simply a strange quirk with the HDCP protocol.

Apparently HDCP content can’t be output if you have your display set to clone, instead of extend. Yeah… instead of the numerous other things that could have gone awry with the HDCP chain, it was the simple fact that I was cloning the display to the output rather than using the extend option. And I think we all know that if you have the display cloned, then you are obviously pirating the content (sarcasm).

Anyway, here’s what you can do on the HP Mini 311 to ensure that this doesn’t happen:

1. Open the Nvidia Control Panel
2. Click the View HDCP Status item in the list under Display. You’ll be able to see that the system currently is not HDCP compatible because the external display is cloned. Click on Set up multiple displays under Display. (note: you must currently have your external display plugged in via HDMI in order for this option to appear in the list)
3. Right-click on the monitor diagram and select Extend desktop on this display.
4. Return to the View HDCP Status page under Display, and verify that your setup is now HDCP compatible.

If you are still having HDCP issues, you should continue to consult the HDCP status section of the Nvidia control panel. If you are running a different setup other than the Mini 311 and are having HDCP problems, but don’t know where to turn, you can give the BD Advisor from CyberLink a try. It is a small and free download which will check out stuff like your display, video card, drivers, and more in an attempt to help you figure out what your HDCP compliance issue is. Unfortunately HDCP is pretty complex so the advisor may or may not be able to pinpoint your issue (for example, it didn’t spot the display clone issue that was described above) but at least it’s a starting point, which is more than an error such as Your System is not compatible with HDCP, BD playback is disabled” can say.

How To: Avoid an HDCP Nightmare on the HP Mini 311 when Using HDMI Out is a post by Ben from Notebooks.com.

I’ve written recently about the value that Nvidia’s ION” technology adds to a netbook and showed you full HD flash playback in the Mini 311 full review (see the Performance section). Before ION, the name netbook made sense because a netbook was a small, low-powered notebook that was best fit for browsing the web. With the addition of a system like ION, which greatly improves video performance capabilities, the netbook name becomes somewhat of a misnomer.

It’s one thing to be able to play local HD content as well as flash HD content from the web at full framerate, but if you were to tell me that the HP Mini 311 could handle Blu-ray playback at full framerate… well let’s just say I’d need to see it to believe it. And see it I have. Using HP’s sleek USB Blu-ray drive, I watch through the entirety of Kung Fu Panda on Blu-ray. The setup was simple and yet it worked so well, which is why it’s so impressive. The HP Mini 311 has HDMI output which makes it easy to output HD quality video to any modern HDTV. Using HDMI I sent the video (and sound) out to a 32” HDTV and was able to enjoy 720p Blu-ray playback powered completely by the HP Mini 311.

The video watching experience really was flawless. Through the entire movie, I didn’t see a single stutter, even during the movie’s fast paced action sequences. On top of that, there was zero vertical or horizontal tearing. Throughout the whole movie, the content was played smooth and at full framerate.

What I think is so awesome about this is that we’ve got a relatively cheap computer that doesn’t even come with an included disk drive, and yet it still has the capability to handle some of the most demanding media playback scenarios out there. It’s nice to be able to purchase a netbook and then turn it into a full performance Blu-ray player just by adding an HDMI cable and a USB Blu-ray player.

ION Equipped HP Mini 311 Netbook Impresses with Flawless Blu-ray Playback is a post by Ben from Notebooks.com.

The HP Mini 311 is HP’s first netbook that is equipped with Nvidia ION, which is a video accelerator that allows the Mini 311 to support smooth playback of high quality video (even up to HD resolutions). The 311 is part of HP’s line of Mini” computers which is their low-cost series, or what many call netbooks. I’ve had my hands on several netbook style devices in the past (based on Intel’s Atom platform) and I have to say, the 311 has demonstrated to me the potential of these inexpensive devices. I wrote an article about the value that ION brings to the Mini 311 (and presumably other netbooks which use it), have a read if you are interested, and we’ll definitely be talking about ION performance in this review, so read on! But first let’s have a good look at the computer itself.

Hardware Tour

From right to left: Kensington lock port, A/C plug, Vent, USB 2.0, HDMI

Multi-card reader (SD/MS/MMC/XD), Headphone/mic input, USB 2.0 x 2, VGA output, Ethernet adapter

I’ll spare you detail shots of the front and back as they lack any ports or buttons whatsoever. For the more adventurous of you out there, removing a panel on the bottom allows access to a single RAM slot as well as the HDD, and two Mini PCI Express connectors (one of which was unoccupied on my model).

Specifications

The Mini 311 that I’m reviewing has a 1.6GHz Atom CPU, Nvidia ION graphics, 2GB of RAM, and Windows 7. The screen is 11.6” with a 1366×768 resolution, which is higher than most netbooks (often 1024×600.) Higher resolution, of course, means that one can see more on the screen when compared to a lower resolution.  One can configure most of these specs to their liking, but the base model can be had for a reasonable $399 direct from HP, and possibly even cheaper elsewhere. All models are equipped with ION. If you are customizing through HP, you have several options: a 1.6GHz or 1.66GHz CPU, 1/2/3GB of RAM, 160/250/380GB HDD (or 80GB SSD), Windows XP or Windows 7, and your choice of white or black lid. The 311 can also be equipped with a 3G WWAN chip for cellular internet access for an additional $125. HP says this works on AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint.

Design

I’ll be up front with this one. The 311 is sleek. HP has really stepped up their game lately. While you might be used to very noisy designs on HP laptops of the past… the Mini 311 is undeniably clean, and could easily be mistaken for a more expensive computer just by its looks alone.

The lid, which is predominately black, has a spiral/swirl design which is revealed if one looks closely, which I feel is a nice touch over the alternative (completely black). The 311 slopes down (as you can see in the side images above) to a nice thinness. This slope makes the 311 feel even more thin than it is (1.2” at the back end and .78” toward the front). It is also rather light — weighing in at 3.26 pounds making it easy to tote around.

Once you open the lid on the Mini 311, the clean and sleek look will really grab your attention. There are only two buttons (not counting the keyboard and mouse keys) on the entire computer. These two buttons are the power button at the top left of the deck (the plane that the keyboard is on) and a WiFi toggle button opposite the power button.

The keyboard is also quite stylish, featuring some very spacious keys, and HP’s usual curve look which is found on other netbooks from their Mini line. The trackpad is perfectly flat with the rest of the deck and has a left and right mouse button running along the bottom of it. It is perfectly smooth and the only marking on it is a simple line to show where the scroll-sensitive area is. (We’ll talk more about the keyboard and trackpad, and how well they function, in the performance section below.)

Performance

Nvidia ION

The Mini 311 is based on Intel’s Atom platform, as the majority of netbooks are, and while most netbooks out there feel like they are fresh from the cookie-cutter, the ION equipped Mini 311 really stands apart from the crowd.

ION is quite the game changer. In simple terms, ION means that the 311 has a chip that is dedicated to increasing the performance of visually intensive processes. Video playback is particularly improved. The Mini 311 is the first netbook that I’ve seen that can handle HD playback, which for some media junkies out there, is a huge deal.

What is even more impressive is the fact that, when combined with Flash player 10.1, the Mini 311 can provide users with silky smooth flash HD playback. This represents a really important step forward for netbooks; While just a few months ago, a netbook might not even be able to play Hulu videos smoothly — now ION allows the 311 to make quick work of flash content, really completing the idea of the ‘netbook’ which is supposed to be great for the web. Awesome portals of HD entertainment have been unlocked, even for those that don’t want to spend $1000 on a computer. I stand in awe as I watch the Mini 311 handle a 1080p flash video with perfectly smooth playback:

ION also enables the 311 to do some light gaming. I was able to play Half-Life 2 (albeit with the settings turned way down) at a reasonable framerate. Still, I wouldn’t look to play any modern games with the 311.

Screen & HDMI output

The Mini 311 has a high resolution screen when stacked upagainst most netbooks. The screen is 11.6” and runs at 1366×768. The screen is semi-glossy which some people prefer, while others would rather have a matte screen. In general, glossy displays aren’t going to offer great outdoor (high-sunlight) performance because of glare.

The viewing angles (how accurate the screen looks from an angle) are adequate on the Mini 311. Horizontally, the screen can be viewed at a very steep angle, while vertically it is less than great, but not too bad. If you are looking down on the screen from a high angle, the screen washes-out pretty quickly. I found myself adjusting the screen after repositioning myself in my seat so that I am looking at the screen more head-on when using the Mini 311.

The 311 has one HDMI port which allows you to output video to anything that will accept HDMI (you’ll find an HDMI port on pretty much any new HDTV that you’d see in a store today.) Output to my HDTV works great, but so far I’ve been unable to get the audio to output through my HDTV through the HDMI port. It should be supported however, and may simply a matter of figuring out how to enable it in Windows 7. (Look above in the ION section for a demo of the Mini 311 and HDMI out.)

Keyboard & Trackpad

The Mini 311 features a very spacious keyboard. It has everything that you’d expect from a full laptop keyboard. The style of the keys lend themselves to large footprints, but this comes at the cost of feedback. What I generally say about this type of keyboard is that it is great for people who look at the keyboard as they type, but for those of us that type without looking, it can be less desirable than a keyboard where one can feel more easily around the keys.

The Mini 311 is no different. The keys are very wide and nearly run into each other, with little space between. This ensures that each key has a lot of surface area, but doesn’t provide the feedback that a more traditional keyboard style would (think: raised keys), which allows serious typists to feel their way around the board without looking. Not to say that one can’t get used to it, but if you are an established typist, you’ll need a bit of practice. On the other hand, the 311 keyboard is great for people who are less experienced with typing.

The keyboard has Fn key shortcuts which are bound up in the function-key row. While the letters printed on each key are a bold black color and easy to see, the Fn symbols are grey and very similar in color to the plastic of the 311′s deck and keys. This sometimes makes it hard to see these symbols. At the right angle they can almost look invisible against the grey plastic of the keys. I often have to adjust my angle when looking for a particular Fn-key symbol to be able to see it clearly.

The Mini 311′s trackpad is of ample size, but it lacks the usual hardware trackpad toggle button that is featured on many other HP notebooks. A rather bothersome issue with the 311 is that the trackpad is very close to the keyboard. In testing, I would find that my palms frequently graze the sensitive trackpad, sometimes resulting in a click or movement of the cursor, which can wreak all kinds of havok when you are in the middle of typing something. I found a small utility called TouchFreeze which helps to some extent, but doesn’t completely eliminate the issue. I really wish that there was a hardware trackpad toggle, or even a button bound to the function-keys which would allow you to temporarily disable it, but unfortunately there is not.

The mouse keys on the trackpad a split evenly down the middle and act as your standard right and left click. Clicked in the right place (near the center split) they are nearly perfect in terms of the force necessary to press them down, but unfortunately as you move away from the center click it becomes very hard to press them down. When they are pressed in the right spot, the result is a satisfying click sound with good tactile feedback.

Battery Life

The Mini 311 comes with a 6-cell battery standard (many netbooks come with a 3-cell, and offer 6-cell as an extended battery at an additional cost.) I was surprised to find that despite the large high resolution screen, and Nvidia ION, the Mini 311 has some pretty good battery life. I ran a test using a small piece of software called BatteryEater. The test runs the laptop at 100% CPU usage until it shuts off. All power-saving features are disabled for the test as well. Under these conditions, which are designed to simulate the lowest possible time that the computer will be able to run for, the Mini 311 lasted for 3 hours and 12 minutes. This translates roughly to around 5 or 6 hours of real use, which is decent by most standards. And when I say real, I mean average web browsing and word processing usage. I’m sure you could drain the battery pretty quickly if you are attempting to watch flash HD content for hours on end.

Heat and Noise

I’m very surprised to report that the Mini 311 is not only cool, but it also stays very quiet. There is a single fan which seems to rarely turn on, and when it does run, it is quiet. I have a small handheld computer that is probably 1/4 the size of the Mini 311 and it can make more noise with its fan than the 311 seems to be able to.

I was assuming that with the ION graphics doing some extra processing, the Mini 311 would get pretty hot and have to run the fan often. I’m sure it’ll run constantly when it is being used for high performance applications, but using the Mini 311 for standard web browsing doesn’t seem to prompt the fan to run too often or too loud.

Conclusion

The HP Mini 311 alone could be looked at as a stylish and high quality netbook, but the infusion of Nvidia ION, and the performance that it provides, really pushes the Mini 311 beyond just good netbook, and in to the realm of great value. Adding to this value is a high resolution screen, good battery life, HDMI output, optional 3G cellular internet, and probably most importantly, a reasonable price. If you are interested in purchasing the HP Mini 311, check out links below directly from HP (where it can be customized) or through Amazon:

HP Direct

Amazon

HP Mini 311 Review is a post by Ben from Notebooks.com.

I’ve got the HP Mini 311 netbook that I’m checking out. This is HP’s first generation of netbooks with Nvidia ION, which affords the netbook much improved processing for videos and other graphical tasks over netbooks which lack ION.

The Mini 311 has an 11.6” screen with a 1366×768 display which is higher resolution than most netbooks. The little green ION sticker on the computer might not look like much, but it represents a very impressive leap in performance for netbooks, adding a great deal of value to the inexpensive genre of computers that we call netbooks.

I’ve been using the HP Mini 311 over the holidays, and it’s been an awesome little device to have. It’s thin, lightweight, and is really useful as a couch top surfing machine due to low heat and noise production.

Aside from aesthetics and build quality rivaling that of a more expensive computer, ION is definitely the most impressive part of the Mini 311. If you told me a year ago that in one year I could go to the store and pick up a computer for $399 that could handle HD video playback (let alone flash HD playback), I would have called you a liar. Yet here is the Mini 311 with ION, and it can do those things very well. Not only can it handle local HD video playback very well, but with the recent release of Adobe’s flash player 10.1, ION can even play flash HD videos at full framerate, which was once a task that would stutter on even powerful machines.

An interesting thought I had pertaining to the Mini 311 was this: If I handed the Mini 311 and my much more expensive (and more powerful) HP 2525 tablet to someone who had not seen either device previously, and asked them to tell me which one costs the most, I’m fairly certain that their answer would be the Mini 311. Why? Because the Mini 311 is small, lightweight, and has the illusion of high power.

Illusion might not be the best word here… what I’m trying to say is that the Mini 311 has the guts to proficiently perform tasks that are highly relevant to most general computer users (word processing, web surfing, flash video [YouTube HD, etc.], and local HD video playback) without being an all around power-house of a computer. Specializing in specific tasks allows the computer to stay small, cool, low cost, and retain good battery life. All of this culminates into a very valuable machine for the user despite the Mini 311 being price inexpensively.

Stay tuned for a full review of the, so far very impressive, HP Mini 311 netbook.

HP Mini 311 Brings High Value to Low Cost With the Help of ION is a post by Ben from Notebooks.com.

Picking the right netbook isn’t an easy decision and thanks to the inclusion of Nvidia ION technology in more netbooks it hasn’t gotten any easier. The inclusion of an ION GPU to the typically underpowered netbooks has made it possible for users to watch HD video, edit images at a reasonable pace and yes, even play call of Duty thanks to ION/Atom combo.  Joanna Stern at Engadget has put 4 ION powered netbooks to the test to make it easier for you to choose the right one.

Joanna tested the ASUS Eee PC 1201N, Lenovo IdeaPad S12, HP Mini 311 and the Samsung N510 netbooks which retail between $475 and $650; a range typically reserved for cheap notebooks and above the average cost of a netbook. The ION netbook roundup looked at 5 areas to find the top ION powered netbook including;

• Design
• Keyboard, touchpad and screen
• Overall performance
• Graphics and HD performance
• Battery life

One surprise that showed up in the head-to-head was that all of the ION powered netbooks felt a bit sluggish when opening programs, possibly a result of higher screen resolution, but something to keep in mind.

You can check out the full ION powered netbook Head-to-Head (with pictures and detailed stats) for the overall ION winner; but don’t forget that CES is just a week away and we will likely see new ION powered netbooks sporting the Atom N450 processor which could bring better performance to the table.

via jkOnTheRun

Which ION powered Netbook is the best? is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

It used to be that finding a notebook under $600 was a challenge, even for a low end machine, but thanks to competition and advances in technology you can get quite a wide range of notebooks for under $600. These aren’t just Black Friday or once a year specials, just great buys on solid computers. I’ll admit, even I was surprised that you can find a notebook with Blu-Ray for under $600, but it is available and you don’t have to wait in a line or stay up until midnight to order it.

As we mentioned prices have dropped on many computers and new advances have lead to a wide range of notebooks being available under $600. This guide will span the range form your basic netbook, which is great for portability, all the way up to 17″ entertainment notebooks. We’ll also show you an ION netbook that has more graphical power than its peers and a few other notebooks that run from 11.6″ to 16″ and offer options like a full number keypad, thin and light styling and the ruggedness of a ThinkPad.

While there are many improvements in the capabilities of sub $600 notebooks today compared to in years past you still need to sacrifice some features to get below $600. For the most part these notebooks will not offer high end processors, beefy graphics cards, 8GB of Ram or blazing fast SSD hard drives. But, with that warning aside, these budget notebooks do offer a tremendous value for many users including students, small businesses and home users.

Whether you’re looking for a gift to give away or a gift for yourself here are 10 notebooks under $600 that fit the bill.

Basic Netbook: Samsung n130 with Failsafe

Price: $299

A basic netbook is great to toss in a bag and take wherever you are going. Whether you’re heading to school, the coffeeshop or across the country the small size and sturdy build of the Samsung N130 make it a great choice. Unlike many other netbooks the N130 has a matte screen which makes it easier to use outside and cuts down on glare from overhead lights. You can also purchase the Samsung N130 with Failsafe, a service that lets you track down a lost or stolen laptop and even recover files, which makes it perfect for a forgetful person on the go.

Entertainment Netbook: HP Mini 311

Price: Starts at $399

Basic netbooks often choke when you try to perform a demanding task, like watching HD video, but the new ION powered netbooks like the HP Mini 311 make use of a new graphic processor to do provide a better computing experience. An ION powered notebook such as this can watch HD videos, edit photos faster and even handle Call of Duty (if you turn the graphics settings WAY down). When Flash 10.1 comes out netbooks like the Mini 311 will be able to stream Hulu without you feeling like you’re watching a poorly dubbed kung-fu flick. For more information check out our HP Mini 311 review roundup.

11.6″ Thin and Light Ultraportable: Acer Aspire TimeLine AS1810

Price: $599 ($549 model also available)

If a netbook is too small, but you don’t want to jump up to a full size laptop than the Acer Aspire Timeline AS1810 may be the perfect fit of form and functionality. Without adding significant size or weight to your bag the TimeLine AS1810 gives you an Intel Core 2 Duo processor which is more powerful (and will let you do more than a typical netbook. The trackpad on this model also allows you to use gestures to pinch, flick and swirl for easier navigation. Keep reading for detailed specs and reviews of the Acer Aspire Timeline AS1810.

13.3” Ultraportable Notebook: HP dm3z

Price: Starts at $529

The HP dm3z’s brushed aluminum chassis and slim shape may give off the appearance that it couldn’t possibly fit into a gift guide for notebooks under $600 but HP is able to sell this notebook for just $529 and it typically includes 3GB of Ram and a 320 GB hard drive so it isn’t skimping on features. Aside from the aluminum chassis, another feature that sets this notebook apart from the others on this list is that the dm3z is powered by a mobile AMD processor. Even though the dm3z has left the netbook screen size, like the smaller computers, it lacks an optical drive so if you may need to purchase an external one.

14″ Notebook: ThinkPad SL410

Price: $499

If you’ve had the pleasure of using a ThinkPad at work you know that, as a whole, the ThinkPad line of notebooks are sturdy and provide a user friendly layout. The ThinkPad SL410 shares these same attributes with its big business brothers, but what is different about the SL line of ThinkPads is the price. Aimed at a small business buyer these ThinkPad’s start at $499, yet still retain many of the features you have come to love. If you want a ThinkPad, whether for work or play, this is the cheapest you’ll find one.

15.6″ Budget Notebook: Gateway MD 7309u

Price: $399

Notebooks in the 15.6″ screen size are quickly becoming the new budget notebooks, and that’s the category that this Burgundy colored Gateway MD 7309u falls into. With a Dual core processor, 3GB or Ram and a 320 GB hard drive it isn’t a screaming machine but it will fit the needs of many computer users. One area that you sacrifice when purchasing a budget 15.6″ notebook is portability. Sure, it won’t throw your back out to take it from place to place, but if you really need a big screen to haul around town then a thinner lighter notebook would be a better buy.

15.6″ Thin and Light: Dell Studio 15z

Price: $599

If you want a decent sized screen and portability than the Dell Studio 15z is just right for you. Following the tradition of the Z line computers, like the Dell Studio 14z we reviewed, the Studio 15z offers a lighter notebook and better battery life thanks to a low voltage processor ($30 will get you a faster Intel Core 2 Duo processor if you need the speed). The Studio 15z differentiates itself from the other thin and light notebooks in this list by including an optical drive so that you can watch a DVD or backup your files to disk without the need for an external drive.

16″ with Blu-Ray: MSI CR600-017

Price: $599

If you’ve been holding out for a good deal on a Notebook with Blu-Ray than the MSI CR600-17 is the notebook for you. Packing a 16″ screen this new notebook from MSI offers the cheapest portable Blu-Ray experience to date. While the retail price of this notebook is $649 and technically places it above our $600 limit it is routinely available for $599 from retailers like Fry’s. The only downside is the lack of a Core 2 Duo processor, but if you want Blu-Ray and a big screen than this is a small sacrifice to make.

Big Screen: HP G71 17”

Price: Starts at $569 ($589 with HDMI out)

The HP G71 notebook is a great find for anyone who wants a big screen on their notebook but doesn’t want to pay an arm and a leg for all the extra room. When it comes to big screen notebooks they aren’t meant to hauled around all the time, but as a desktop replacement the G71 works well. For an extra $20 you can add an HDMI connection which will make it a snap to hook up to your HDTV giving you an even bigger screen to use. Keep your eye open on Black Friday when you can find the HP G71 at Staples with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor for $598 and at Walmart with a slower processor for $398.

Affordable Power: Toshiba L505-S5993

Price: $579

The Toshiba L505 is available in several configurations, but the current model on sale at Amazon offers the best value for your dollar. The Toshiba Satellite L505-S5993 comes with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor (2.1GHz), 4 GB of RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive and a 15.6″ screen. One little plus to the L505 that most notebooks don’t have is a full size number keypad, making this a good gift for an aspiring accountant or number cruncher in your family. The only thing you need to consider before buying the L505 is that it only has a 2-3 hour battery life so if you are on the go for extended periods you may want to put an extra battery in the stocking.

Holiday Gift Guide: 10 Notebooks under $600 is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Nvidia is giving away 12 custom HP Mini 311 netbooks featuring Nvidia Ion, a component of the netbook which provides much improved graphic performance over netbooks which only utilize an on-board graphics processor.

With Ion, the Mini 311 is capable of playing back full 1080p content and pushing said content through its included HDMI port to a 1080p HDTV. Good thing that Nvidia is including an external Blu-ray drive in the prize package! As I said, the bundle is quite epic, have a look at the goods:

Mini 311

• Windows 7 Home Premium OS
• 320GB Hard Drive
• 3GB of RAM
• WiFi and Bluetooth
• HDMI port
• Custom paint-ob

Installed Software

• Total Media Theater 3
• with SimHD plug-in by Arcsoft
• MediaShow 5 by Cyberlink
• Badaboom by Elemental Technologies
• vReveal by MotionDSP
• The Sims 3 by Electronic Arts
• Portal by Valve
• Left 4 Dead by Valve (which Xavier has demos here on the Alienware m17x

And more…

• HP external Blu-Ray drive
• HDMI cable to connect your netbook to the

  big screen in your living room

• A case to hold all the goods
• 3 hot new Blu-Ray titles for you to watch at home
• And top it off with $50 credit from Roxio CinemaNow

  so you can watch Hollywood’s latest hits on the go

Nvidia values the bundle at $1500, and offers up to three ways to enter. The contest runs from now until the 22nd of November, and is open to US residents and Canada (excluding Quebec, sorry Quebecians). Jump over to the site to find out how to enter.

Win an Epic Netbook Bundle From Nvidia is a post by Ben from Notebooks.com.

Engadget reports that Verizon is readying two new netbooks for sale on the network.

That’s right the “Big Red” should soon be offering the HP Mini 311 and Hp Mini 110 netbooks for sale with integrated global mobile broadband in place of the aged Mini 1511 currently for sale.

The Hp Mini 311 will be available starting October 22nd with Windows 7, 2 GB of Ram, Bluetooth and a 160 GB hard drive for $249.99 after 2 year commitment and $100 mail in rebate. Engadget is decidedly sickened by the $249 pricetag but when you compare a similarly spec’d Hp mini 311 at HP, complete with the integrated wireless ($125), you would have to spend close to $600 for the same machine.

This doesn’t change the opinion I have of subsidized netbooks or integrated mobile broadband, but I do feel that the price is more reasonable than past offers.

Along with the HP Mini 311, Verizon will also be bringing the HP Mini 110 to its network for an after rebate 2 year contract price of $199. The Hp Mini 110 will be available after the 1151 is sold out and comes with Windows XP, 1 GB of Ram and a 160 GB Hard drive and is less of a bargain than the HP Mini 311.

Yes, the price of the HP Mini 311 is more enticing than the current $199 for the HP Mini 1151 on Verizon, but there’s still plenty you should know about subsidized netbook offers, especially given the current 5 GB cap on data usage and the total cost once you consider the 2 years of data service. If you do want a highspeed mobile broadband solution, and a Mifi or USB adapter won’t cut it, then the HP mini 311 for $249 is a decent deal. It’s certainly cheaper than buying the same configuration straight from HP and activating a high speed connection.

HP Mini 311, Mini 110 Coming To Verizon For Under $250 is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

HP officially announced the Mini 311, an 11.6″ netbook that features NVIDIA ION graphics. The Mini 311 looks pretty similar to the Mini 110, but there are a few key differences that may make the Mini 311 more attractive for some users.

The Mini 311 stretches the definition of “netbook.”Its 11.6″ display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, giving users more real estate to enjoy digital content compared to the 1024 x 576 resolution that is standard on the Mini 110 and many other netbooks. It comes standard with 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive and 1.6Ghz Intel Atom processor.

I got to take a look at the Mini 311 a couple of weeks ago and shot the following video.

The Mini 311 will start at $399, which is pretty reasonable considering it comes with NVIDIA ION Graphics. While I haven’t had a chance to play high-def video or video games on the Mini 311, NVIDIA ION reference designs do allow users to play popular games at low settings. The Mini 311 has an HDMI port, which can be used for displaying content on an external monitor or HDTV.

The Mini 311 has a six-cell battery that fits neatly within the computer’s silhouette. This is a much better design than the six-cell battery that extends beneath the Mini 110.

The Mini 311 is the first HP netbook with mouse buttons that are in the right place. The Mini 110′s mouse buttons are placed to the side of the trackpad, which takes some time to get used to.

The HP Mini 311 is significantly larger than the Mini 110. As you can see, the Mini 311 has a silver keyboard, trackpad and palmrest area. The Mini 110′s keyboard is color-matched to the rest of the netbook. You can see the difference in the mouse button layout in this photo.

Here are some photos of the Mini 311 that HP sent over:

HP Mini 311 Introduced (Video, Specs and Pricing) is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.