Multipurpose HTPC - Solving Problems

If you read my last post Multipurpose HTPC - The Problem, you know that we are migrating our computing needs to two disparate system types. My wife just purchased a HP netbook, the HP Mini 1035NR 10.2-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 60 GB Hard Drive, XP Home) It is extremely nice hardware, and the nearly full-size keyboard is fantastic.

I also got a smoking good deal on a 25 inch Hannspree LCD monitor, which is slightly smaller than we wanted, but for $250, I thought it may be good enough to get us by until the price of 28 inch machines comes down a bit more. Then the 25 will make a handy second monitor for my MacBook Pro.

With the monitor costing only $250, my goal of creating a multipurpose HTPC for under $900 may be achievable. I still have $650 to build the box itself.