HP Stream & Pavallion mini cloud required?

[BarkingGhostar]

About a week or so back during CES HP announced the Stream mini and Pavilion mini, which are slated to go on sale today for US$180/320, respectively. Barring I loathe computer manufacturer developed software, these are being advertised with "Connected" application services.

Does anyone know if these are required? Would HP be such an a-hole (yes)? I like the SFF, many USB3 ports, wireless KBM and networking, but not entirely sold on Windows 8.x or the potentially connected requirement.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I have learned that these are upgradable. One report on the HP Stream mini was that it has two m.2 ports, one occupying the 32GB SSD and the other by a wifi card. Amazon is selling Samsung m.2 SSD for $135 for 250GB (Transcend 256GB for $113).

I am guessing I might be able to use Samsung's cloning s/w (or Macrium Reflect) and swap out the SSD boot drive, and restore the wifi card. Now I just need to find out what pin count the 2xSODIMM is being used. Anyone know?

 

[gmaster456]

There's no connected requirement. Not even sure what exactly that entails but you don't need to use any HP software if that's what you're asking.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I figured the Stream mini having only a 32GB SSD was suggestive that they expected you to store everything online, but I guess that purpose is defeated by the four USB3 ports and the SD card slot.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Sure the Steam mini isn't using a soldered-on 32GB eMMC HDD? The Stream 7 and 11 use eMMC.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I wish I had the source of the information handy, but alas I do not. someone reported they opened it and the 32GB SSD and wifi card were connected using the two internal m.2 ports. It would be nice if someone like iFixit tore one apart.

 

[gmaster456]

I figured the Stream mini having only a 32GB SSD was suggestive that they expected you to store everything online, but I guess that purpose is defeated by the four USB3 ports and the SD card slot.

Cloud storage is encouraged but not required.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

OK, I found where I read that this product has two m.2 ports. Unfortunately, I am not positive this is where I read it first, nor if this is only on the Pavilion mini only or also the Stream mini.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

This morning I Googled and found a two day old video on YouTube. If you go to the 1'29" mark you can see there are two m.2 ports. On is indeed occupied by the 32 SSD (Stream mini) and the other is occupied what I believe was previously reported a wifi card.

The unfortunate aspect of the second m.2 port is its location. Because of its location you will have a difficult time getting an m.2 SSD to fir the space. There appears to be one or more electrical components (capacitor?). Not sure if you could torque a car into place long enough to clone the original SSD.

Surprisingly there is a large enough space in the chassis design for a conventional HDD, which is used in the Pavilion mini. I'm wondering if an m.2, or even a regular SSD could be mounted and some sort of adapter cabling used.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I wonder if something like this could be used in such a tight space.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

So the $180 Stream mini can't be had. Tried to buy it, but that failed miserably on Monday, again on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Each time sending in an inquiry to HP. I finally got a response from HP and their solution was to not buy a $180 (since they ain't selling one) and instead buy a $320 unit.

Is it me or does it sound like HP never believed in their $180 vaporware?

 

[ninaholic37]

I can see the $180/$179.99 one (it looks like it exists?) but it says "Out of Stock"

http://store.hp.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/us/en/pdp/desktops/hp-stream-mini-desktop---200-010

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I can see the $180/$179.99 one (it looks like it exists?) but it says "Out of Stock"

http://store.hp.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/us/en/pdp/desktops/hp-stream-mini-desktop---200-010

My original order got cancelled and all last week I was checking their website 5-6 a day. I checked it at 7:30 AM on Saturday and still OOS, but then at 10AM bingo! I got an email at 2AM this morning stating my order shipped.

Seeing is believing so I'll just wait the month for it to arrive before proclaiming truth in HP advertising. The silly part was someone was selling the $180 version on eBay (friend sent me the link) for $350. I ordered two from HP so maybe I could make some moola on the second unit.