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One of the best parts of any netbook is the ability to tinker with it, upgrading the hardware and trying all sorts of strange software and OS cocktails on it. Some netbook vendors make this difficult for the user, while others make it so easy it is almost a crime NOT to spend a few dollars and a little time upgrading your netbook.

An example of one of the easiest to upgrade is the Compaq/HP Mini 311, the 11.6 inch netbook rocking an Nvidia ION/Atom mix. At first modders were disappointed when HP announced that the 1GB of RAM that the device ships with would be soldered in place, a favorite tactic used by companies to ensure that when you want more power, you have to buy a bigger netbook. However once the device shipped, it was discovered that there is a SECOND RAM slot that is incredibly easy to access, allowing you to add a 2GB RAM stick to bring the device up to 3GB, more than enough to run Windows 7 or anything else you want. Want to see how it’s done? Check out the step by step pictures after the jump.

First and foremost, buy yourself a brand new stick of DDR3 1066Mhz RAM. You can use a 1GB stick, but since you are in there anyway, might as well make it 2GB. I used KIngston ValueRAM for this upgrade and had no problem with it.

Flip the netbook over and you will see a large panel on one side, the rear edge against the battery. Two screws are on the outer edge. Make sure the device is unplugged and the battery is out then open the two screws, being careful not to unscrew them all the way or lose them.

The panel hinges out with little flanges on two sides. Set it aside and behold the frightfully straight forward interior of the Mini 311.

Once the 311 is open, you can see the empty RAM slot on the right side, an empty bay for a WWAN card on the lower left and the Hard Drive on the upper left. Should you be of a mind to, a hard drive replacement would also be quite simple, or adding a WWAN card for yourself. If you do so however, Google it to make sure the hardware will work with the 311. Also in the case of the WWAN, keep in mind that unless the model comes with WWAN already built in, there won’t be an antenna for it behind the screen.

Here you see the new RAM stick already inserted but not locked down yet. It works in the standard way for laptop RAM. Match up the slots, slide the memory stick into the bay at roughly a 45 degree angle. Don’t force it, but it should be a solid fit, then click the stick in place by pushing it down like a switch.

Make sure you didn’t leave any sponges or forceps inside the machine then replace the cover, no muss no fuss. Replace the battery, boot up the device and open Start > Control Panel > System to confirm Installed Memory reads as 3GB and you are done. Enjoy.

Now that you have all that extra memory, perhaps you are wondering how you can swap out the ION LE for a full ION chip? The answer is you don’t need to. The difference between the full ION and ION LE is completely on the OS side. A simple hack will allow you to access the full DirectX10 goodness of the ION, not being restricted to DirectX9 as the ION LE is.

Find the ION Hack instructions HERE.