When we heard that HP was making some big changes to its small business Netbook, we were worried. After all, the current version--the Mini 2140--is probably our all-time favorite Netbook, thanks to an innovative keyboard (since adopted by HP's consumer Netbooks), full ExpressCard slot, and solid metal construction.
This new version, the Mini 5101, is indeed a stylistic departure from the 2140, trading the gently rounded silvery metal look for a sharp-edged black brushed-metal chassis. It's a little bigger than its predecessor, and also a little less expensive, at $425.
But since the start of 2009, we've seen a radical shift in Netbook prices, with entry-level models coming in under $299, for essentially the same combo of an Intel Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM, Windows XP, and a 160GB hard drive (in this case, you get the slightly faster N280 version of the Atom).
Still, if you can spend a little more for your Netbook, you'll find that the Mini 5101's keyboard and touchpad are hard to beat, and the rugged metal construction screams quality.
On Sale Now: $416.25 - $449.99
View the latest prices for HP Mini 5101 (Intel Atom N280 1.66GHz, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, XP Home Basic)
(Credit:
HP)
One of our all-ime favorite Netbooks is the HP Mini 2140, a brushed-metal system from HP's business line that's a cousin to the consumer-focused Mini 1000. Interestingly, it's one of your favorites, too, as the Mini 2140 is the fourth most-viewed laptop review on CNET.
The revamped, and actually quite different, Mini 5101 trades the silver metal look, with a slight curve to the lid, for a more squared-off design in black brushed aluminum. HP's Ted Clark, senior vice president and general manager, Notebook Global Business Unit, calls it, "truly a work of art, a sophisticated companion PC crafted for the trend-savvy mobile professional who needs functionally, durability and style." We're not sure we'd go that far, but it is a pretty slick looking Netbook.
We always liked the HP Mini 2140 for it's solid construction and high-end extras, such as an ExpressCard slot. The new version loses the ExpressCard, but adds a default 7200rpm hard drive and an optional higher-resolution 1,366x768 display. An optional, integrated Gobi-powered HP Mobile Broadband module will also be offered, along with some custom syncing software for organizing files between desktop PCs and portable Netbooks (and HP has promised us it will work better than the broken version of the same software found in the recent HP Mini 110 Netbook).
The other thing we're a little concerned about is changes to the Mini's keyboard -- one of our favorite features. The wide, flat, closely spaced keys have been tweaked to look and feel a little more like the keys on a MacBook or Sony Vaio laptop, with a good amount of space between them. We'll have to play around with the system a bit more to decide if we like the new layout better. One positive change -- the touchpad's mouse buttons have been moved to a more traditional spot below the touchpad, rather than on either side.
The inevitable catch is that the HP Mini 5101 starts at $449, which is at odds with much of the Netbook marketplace, where entry level systems are $299, and higher-end ones are $399. The HP Mini 5101 is expected to be available in late July.
(Credit:
HP)
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