The Hannspree HannsBook SN12E2 Thread!

[Thor316c]

Hello NBR forums,

I picked up the HannsBook SN12E2 this last summer, and it has been a really nice piece of machinery for what I paid for ($400). Coming for a atom powered netbook, you really appreaciate the little things loading quick such as flash, and being able to multi-task as well as play HD video. Comes with an awesome neoprene case too! (Stretches to fit all of my accressories, mouse AC adapter etc.)

Incase you are not familiar with the specs, here they are:

• Brand: Hannspree

• Model: SN12E23BUP212

• Colors: Pearl Black, Red

• OS Provided: Windows 7 Home Premium

• CPU: Intel Dual-Core SU4100(1.30GHz), 800MHz FSB, 2MB L2 Cache ULV

• Chipset: GS45

• Display: 12.1", 1366 x 768, LED HD Widescreen

• Graphics: Intel GMA 4500MHD with HDMI out.

• RAM: DDR2-800, 1 slot, 2GB installed.

• HDD: 320GB SATA 2.5"

• Dimmensions: 11.70" x 8.50" x 1.25"

• Weight: 3.40 lbs

• Camera: 1.3 Megapixel

• LAN/WLAN: Gigabit Lan and N-draft Wireless.

• USB Ports: 3 Total

• Video Ports: 1x VGA, 1x HDMI

• Audio Ports: 1x Microphone, 1x Headphone

• Audio: 2 Speakers Built in

• Card Reader: 3in1 SD/MMC/MS

• Battery: 6 Cell Battery 5200mAh advertised at 6 hrs, lasts about 4 for me.

Windows 7 Ultimate x64 runs like a dream on this machine. I'm even able to play some games at very low settings such as team fortress 2 and battlefield heroes.

I did notice that there was a freezing issue while playing these games when I first got it, but updating the bios (provided on the hannspree website) seemed to have fixed it.

Ubuntu in my opinion really makes this laptop shine, almost instant boot times, nice resolution, and fully capable of running all the gui enhancements that it offers.

There is one thing I do wish for, maybe an aftermarket battery, like a 9 cell would be nice.

Any questions, comments, regarding this laptop should be posted here.

Manufacturer's Page (Drivers/Manuals/Info etc): http://www.hannspree.com/US/product_...=54205&c=54091

Reviews:
http://www.digitalversus.com/hannspr..._8451_431.html
http://www.retrevo.com/s/HANNSPree-S...14ag319/t/1-2/
NBR User Review, VERY well written!

Retailers:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834237003
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...=19-49570155-2

OP might want to add Costco to the list of sellers. Costs $400 there and supposedly warranty extended to 2 years.
BLACK and RED

Tips and Tricks From the Thread:

Bluetooth Install Guide on Page 2 by Hanspree: LINK

Also, just a note that I put in an 80GB Intel G2 SSD and my battery life is over five hours with light to moderate use, wi-fi always on, screen dimmed to about 60%. It was only about four with hard drive.
Check out this Toms Hardware review if you want to get an idea on power consumption for SSD's if battery life is important to you. One user (Phil, actually a moderator) in the hardware forum indicated he went from six hours to almost eight using one of the new Samsung SSD's too. So I guess they're super power efficient. Something to consider.

For those interested, I downloaded and did a prelimnary run with the program "ThrottleStop". Here's the thread with links to the download and guide on the program made by a member here at NBR (Unclewebb)

The ThrottleStop Guide

With this notebook, it allows you to drop the multiplier down to 0.900V from the stock 0.975. I ran Prime95 for a while with no ill effects. It allows you to set the multiplier manually to 6.0 or 6.5 as well. I haven't run a battery test, but theoretically lower voltage should earn a decently improved battery life. When I have time I will do a battery test later and see if it improves it by much. Since this is a low voltage CPU anyhow, it may only drop the total power consumption by less than a Watt. But any little bit helps right?

My keyboard is flexing too but it doesn't bother me.
I installed Ubuntu 10.10 and found the following:
1. HDMI video works but the image is cropped on my TV (probably some xorg configurations need to be done)
2. audio over HDMI does not work
3. 2 finger scrolling and gestures don't work. I couldn't find any drivers.
If someone can help me with these issues i'd appreciate it very much. Until then i installed windows 7 ultimate retail and it works like a charm.
The only thing that i don't like but am getting used to is the scrolling on the touch pad:
1. The 2 finger scrolling is very weird (it jumps to the end of the page)
2. Scrolling on the right margin of the touch pad is done in a very weird way (you press on the upper/bottom corner). But from what i understood it's because synaptic patented the scroll as we know it. Shame on them!
Other than the pad it's an exceptional laptop for it's value.
I'm successfully using:
1. Adobe flash builder 4
2. php designer
3. eclipse
Battery while using the above and full display brightness was almost 5 hours (without 10 min or so)

[H.A.L. 9000]

I love that little subnotebook. Good price, great performance, and it's awesome it just got it's own forum!

[Thor316c]

I love that little subnotebook. Good price, great performance, and it's awesome it just got it's own forum!

100% Agreed!

[hannspree]

Just got this notebook today. Cheapest SU4100 notebook I could find.
It's a bit big for my tastes -- I wanted the Acer 1830T or the new Macbook AIR -- but for $400, I'm not complaining.

A really major letdown is the 'Warranty Void' stickers covering the hard drive and memory panels. What was Hannspree thinking?!

I have to upgrade the HD to an SSD and the 2GB ram to 4GB, so there goes my warranty. Pretty upset about that.

After that, I have to find out whether it will be possible to overclock this laptop using setFSB or some kind of hardware mod. Have to find out what kind of motherboard and chips are inside there.

I'm also going to install a crystal hd card and see if that makes any difference in playback of HD content.

Overall, it's a good buy.

By the way, mine came with DDR3 memory. Are there different versions of this laptop floating around?

[jeremyshaw]

Chrystal HD is useless on this laptop. The laptop has a GMA 4500MHD, which easily handles 40mbps+ 1080p content smoothly. (VC-1, H264/AVC)

The GS45 chipset can use either DDR2 or DDR3, though that choice is upto the vendor, not to the end user (don't try DDR2 sticks in a DDR3, at any rate).

There should be a way, similar to the older m11xR1 (SU4100/SU7300) that can flip the FSB bus to 1066, up from the default 800, for a 1.73 GHZ clock...



Welcome to NBR

[hannspree]

Thanks for the quick response and warm welcome, Jeremy. You just saved me $50 towards the purchase of a Crystal HD decoder card.

I'm really liking this laptop. I decided to throw caution into the wind and opened the casing. This looks like what the Acer 1410s should have been.

There is a fully functional SIM card holder ready for use. The miniPCIE slots are both functional as well. The bluetooth module is connected and I replaced the 320GIG scorpio blue drive with my Vertex2 SSD.

Now I have to add a 4-port usb hub inside and I should be good. There is plenty of space to stick in an accelerometer or a fingerprint reader or even a tiny tv-tuner usb stick on the side which makes me wonder if hannspree could have shrunk this thing down to a 10" footprint.

Oh darn. I just remembered what I forgot to do. I forgot to jot down the PLL part for this thing. I'm still hoping it will be possible to overclock this to 1.7-1.9ghz.

ETA: Forgot to mention. The touchpad is terrible. Not as responsive as the synaptics one.

[Microbob]

Hannspree, how exactly do you take it apart? Can you post some photos as well as a brief tutorial? And please post the clock generator info when you do find out what it is. Thank you.

[hannspree]

I have a few assignments this week so I won't have much time open the notebook and tinker until the weekend.

With that said, taking it apart is actually extremely similar to the ACER notebooks.

First you remove the screws on the bottom. Then you flip it over, and remove the keyboard using a plastic pic to press in the tabs at the top of the keyboard while pulling the keyboard up. Then you disconnect the small wires and lift off the keyboard. Remove the screws underneath, and then you gently pry the sides apart. (I broke a small tab because I forced it open, but if you use a plastic pick at the front left and right edges to separate the cover, it should be fine.) I didn't take apart the LCD because it required removal of those plastic and rubber tabs and I don't want to scratch up the notebook trying to do that.


I'll update this post next weekend.

[turned2black]

I'm getting an SN12E2 from Costco. Costco's website has the screen listed as a 12.1” LED HD Widescreen (16:9 Diagonal) Color Active Matrix TFT (Anti-Glare) screen. Some of the stuff around the internet shows the screen as being glossy, but they also have it listed as the SN12. Does that mean the SN12E2 has a matte screen?

[Thor316c]

Mine has a glossy screen