Netbooks with HDMI. Got one? Use it as HTPC??

anyone using as HTPC one of the later Netbooks with high-def video & HDMI output ???
what works?
what doesn't?
best models to pick?

 

I have a Sony VIAO VGN-NW230G with HDMI output that uses the Intel onboard video chipset.

I hooked it up to a 42" Toshiba for a PowerPoint presentation a few months ago.

Meh.

Although adequate for PowerPoint, I wasn't blown away by the overall quality of the image. The text and JPEG images were viewable; however close up I noticed minor color bleeding and fuzziness. Given this, I strongly doubt it will provide the video quality on movies must people expect on a larger HD LCD/Plasma set.

(Disclaimer: I also have a true HTPC with an AMD quad core and hybrid Crossfire. As such I am spoiled by the video quality it provides.)

This review is not to kill off the idea of using a notebook as a HTPC; just to point out the limitations of the Intel video chipset and possibly other lower-end on board video options. I'll leave it to others who have notebooks with beefier video cards to weigh in on if their experiences have been better.

Hope this helps.

 

yeah, I did a lot more digging after posting this and its a bit of a minefield although the makers have gotten the message now and the "later the better" seems to be the word.
Its interesting that some of the technologies and techniques that the HDPC community THOUGHT would be terrific turned out to bomb -some so badly that products were killed just prior to launch. So the good news is they are all wide awake now.

There are some good picks it seems:
Dell Inspiron 11z
Acer Aspire 1410-#### and some other brandings of the same

there are more expensive models obviously, fullblown notebooks that are probably overkill for the purpose - I"m more interested in lean/mean/focused systems. The Aspire 1410's range over a lot of variables from low to high-power, all of them having HDMI capability. Not terribly expensive either

There's a new Asus [i think it is] model coming in a month or two that I have waitlisted on Amazon for notification - will have to wait 'til the jury sits when that one ships - I ain't brave enough to buy something with unknown reputation!

 

It's also worth checking out user reviews on sites such as NewEgg and Amazon. You might find specific user experiences on HDMI for models you're considering - or at least what notebook video chipsets seem to perform better with HDMI.