HP Mini 311

Pros: Sleek, great performance, AMAZING display, awesome battery life, very sturdy, runs Windows 7 flawlessly, 2 slots for DDR3 memory.

Cons: Everything stated in the Cnet article is true. Touchpad can get a little annoying, the white lid can look dirty because the design has random spots in it (19 to be exact). Also, HP did not offer a case/sleeve for this netbook when I purchased it.

Summary: I think the HP Mini 311 is easily the best netbook on the market. I had originally decided to hold off on purchasing a netbook because they could only run Windows XP, had low resolutions, small solid state hard drives and provided mediocre performance. After a lot of research I discovered the HP Mini 311 and knew it was the netbook for me, the perfect compromise. I waited a month and ordered mine the first day it was available on the HP website. It arrived yesterday and I couldn?t be more pleased. I really think this netbook should be in a class of it?s own. What I find particularly interesting is that there are two slots for DDR3 RAM. Most netbooks only have one slot meaning you can really only afford to install 2 GB of memory, max. I ordered a 2 GB stick of DDR3 ram from newegg.com for $33 with free shipping. I installed the RAM (couldn?t be easier) and then installed Windows 7. Now I have what I believe to be a perfect computer, running 3 GB of RAM.

When purchasing a new computer you really need to sit back and think about what you are going to be using it for. Gamers need a high performance dual core machine while others who do no more than take notes in class and surf the web just need a basic netbook. The HP Mini 311 combines the functionality of both into one device which allows it to not only be portable, but powerful. This computer was designed for people like me. I do not play any graphics intensive games, but I do enjoy HD content. I also appreciate long battery life, and a sexy design. The options I chose to customize my computer with were the white lid, upgraded processor, wireless G w/ Bluetooth and a second 6-cell battery for 50% off. I would highly recommend the second battery because it is a great deal at $50, and now your new laptop can run twice as long while on the go.

All in all, this is a great computer for an affordable price. The screen size is great and the keys are larger than the competitions. Buying new pieces of technology can be hard because you know that within a month all the other competing products will be released. If you keep following the best devices on the market you will end up very confused and empty handed because technology changes so quickly. If you want a safe reliable bet, just purchase the Mini 311. Despite what others have said about HP I find their products to be outstanding. My 4 year old HP Livestrong edition laptop still works perfectly. If you decide to wait for Windows 7 to be released that?s fine too. But keep in mind it is going to be a $70 upgrade. If you happen to be a college student then you are in luck. Microsoft is going to be offering Windows 7 to college students for $30. So, you might as well buy the computer now and install 7 when it is released.

I hope this review was helpful and good luck with your purchase decision.