If you’re in the market for a compact netbook with healthy screen real estate and a budget price, HP’s got you covered with their new NVIDIA Ion-powered Mini 311. Equipped with an 11.6-inch (1366 x 768) widescreen LCD, an Intel Atom Processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB HDD and 1080p HD video playback as standard – the 311 is ready to go from just $399.99.

Also including 3 x USB ports, a 5-in-1 card reader, HDMI, VGA out, a 10/100 Ethernet jack, 802.11b/g WiFi, a dual microphone/headphone jack and a built-in webcam, the Mini 311 boasts a near full-size (92%) keyboard, built-in Altec Lansing speakers for decent quality sound and a 6-cell lithium-ion battery promising up to 6 hours of use per charge.

With dimensions of 11.4″ (28.9cm) L x 8″ (20.4cm) W x 1.2″ (3cm) H, the Mini 311 pushes the boundaries of what we typically categorize as a netbook, but with a weight of just 3.22lbs (1.46kg) – won’t weigh you down like a notebook.

Including Windows XP Home SP3 and available in your choice of either a black swirl design as standard, or a white swirl for an extra $20 – the Mini 311 is available now direct from HP starting at $399.99.

Note:
Word has it that the price will jump to $475 once Windows 7 lands on October 22 – so if you’re happy with XP, best get in quick.

Sources:
HP via SlashGear