Best Netbook Review » HP

HP Mini 5102 Business Netbook Unboxing Video

Michael — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:27:28 +0000

Brad from Liliputing has done an unboxing video on the HP Mini 5102 business class netbook. The netbook is currently available for $659 on Amazon, and is rated 3 out of 5 stars by Amazon customers. See the review of HP 5102 here.

HP Mini 210 Review Roundup

Michael — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:07:30 +0000

HP Mini 210 Overview

The HP Mini 210 is the latest generation of consumer class netbook from HP. This 2.7-pound netbook features Intel’s latest Atom N450 processor which gives it a longer battery life and a more unified design due to the N450’s smaller package size.

Here’s the run down of the specs for HP Mini 210:

Intel Atom Processor N450 (1.66 GHz, 512 KB L2 Cache)
1GB DDR2 System Memory (1 DIMM)
A choice of 160GB or 250GB (5400RPM) Hard Drive (SATA)
Windows 7 Starter
A choice of 3-cell battery that supports up to 4.25 hours battery life or 6-cell battery that supports up to 9.75 Hours of Battery Life
10.1″ Diagonal WSVGA LED Anti-glare Widescreen Display. 1024 x 600 resolution for standard version and 1366 x 768 for HD Edition
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 (shared) with up to 256MB Total Available Graphics Memory

The starting price of the HP Mini 210 is just around $299.99, but will vary according to the configuration that you select. HP offers a ton of options to trick out your system, including a full HD display and Broadcom Crystal HD Enhanced Video Accelerator for smoother full-screen video playback on sites like Hulu.

HP’s commercial on the Mini 210:

Unboxing video of the HP Mini 210 by nDevil:

Review Roundup

In terms of design, the HP Mini 210 looks pretty stylish and are available in several color choices including white, black, silver, blue, and red. The chiclet style keyboard and large touchpad are both pretty comfortable to use. It has integrated touch buttons on the touchpad instead of real physical buttons which some people might not like, but according to Laptop Magazine, the Mini 210 is one of the better implementations of the integrated touch buttons that they have used on a netbook.

In terms of performance, the 1.66-GHz Intel Atom N450 CPU and 1GB RAM on the HP Mini 450 delivered a score of 1,365 on PCMark05, which is slightly lower than Toshiba mini NB305-N410 (1,383) and ASUS Eee PC 1001P (1,384). There’s no problem performing everyday computing tasks on the HP Mini 210 (eg. web surfing, email checking, word processing, etc..), but playing 1080 HD video is not be possible without installing Broadcom Video Accelerator. Below is a video from nDevil demonstrating HD video playback, gaming (Counter Strike), and running Abobe Photoshop on HP Mini 210. Note that the unit shown in the video is a standard version with no video Accelerator installed.

Here’s another video showing how World of Warcraft (WoW) runs on a HP mini 210 netbook.

In terms of battery life, the Mini 210’s six-cell battery lasted 6 hours and 37 minutes on Laptop Magazine’s battery Test. It’s shorter than other Pine Trail netbooks such as the Asus Eee PC 1005PE, 1001P, and Toshiba NB305, but should be enough to get most users through a full day of on-and-off use.

Customer Rating

3.5 out of 5

PLUSES: Takes 2gb memory module; SD card can be used for ReadyBoost; easy access to memory, PCI-e card slot, and hard drive via “pop off” bottom cover; available slot for PCI-e card (in my case, a Broadcom Crystal HD video accelerator, $25 mail order, but you may want to insert a 3G card etc.); MATTE SCREEN for glare free viewing; more ergonomic keyboard than most in this… (Read all reviews >>)

Availability

You can find the HP Mini 210 netbook with various configuration on Amazon. The lowest price that you can get for this netbook is $299.99.

HP Mini 210 HD Reviewed

Michael — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:58:01 +0000

Engadget has recently reviewed the HP Mini 210 HD which comes a 10.1-inch HD screen and a Broadcom Crystal Accelerator chip that promises decent HD video playback. Here are some of the results and comments they made on this netbook:

It has an decent, but not stellar battery life – 4 hours and 45 minutes on continuous playback of HD videos and 5 hours and 15 minutes on standard def video
720p video (including Flash) played back smoothly, but 1080p Flash video wasn’t as smooth
Touchpad with integrated buttons isn’t user friendly and will take some time to get used to

Below is the video playback demonstration on the HP Mini 210 HD.. for the full review of this netbook, visit Engadget.

HP Compaq Airlife 100 – first look

Michael — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:44:48 +0000

HP Spain recently announced the Compaq Airlife 100, a smartbook with a netbook-style form factor. The features of this smartbook includes: 10.1-inch touchscreen, Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon processor, a 16GB SSD, Webcam, SD Card Slot, WiFi, and integrated 3G connection. According to HP, the HP Compaq Airlife 100 will last for 12 hours on a single charge or 10 days in standby mode. The smartbook will arrive in Europe this spring, as a subsidized deal with carrier Telefonica, but no word of a US launch or any pricing details.

Check out the first look video on the HP Compaq Airlife 100 (by MobileBurn.com):

HP Mini 210-1010NR – 4.25 Hours of Battery Life ($298)

Michael — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:35:40 +0000

Specification

Intel Atom Processor N450 (1.66 GHz, 512 KB L2 Cache)
1GB DDR2 System Memory (1 DIMM)
160GB (5400RPM) Hard Drive (SATA)
Genuine Windows 7 Starter
Up to 4.25 Hours of Battery Life
10.1-inch Diagonal WSVGA LED Anti-glare Widescreen Display (1024 x 600)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 (shared) with up to 256MB Total Available Graphics Memory

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 – Read Reviews>>

Overall rating and customer reviews

Prepare to be noticed when you take this Netbook out on the town. Small, slim and stylish, the HP Mini 210 lets you surf the web, stay connected, and be entertained wherever you go. Amp up the fun by playing videos and music or showing off your photos. Exclusive, integrated software keeps you in sync with your life by letting you e-mail, chat, and instantly access your files from anywhere. Take just what you need And leave the rest on your primary PC. At less than one inch thin and starting at just 2.69 pounds, this ultra-compact PC wonâ��t weigh you down. Youâ��ll enjoy a 16:9 10.1" diagonal BrightView Infinity display and nearly full-size keyboard.

HP Mini 110-1115NR – Up to 3.75 Hours of Battery Life ($279.17)

Michael — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:35:40 +0000

Specification

10.1″ Diagonal WSVGA LED Anti-glare Widescreen Display (1024 x 600)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (shared) with up to 128MB total available graphics memory
1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor (512 KB L2 Cache, 533 MHz FSB)
1 GB DDR2 RAM (1 Dimm), Max supported 2 GB
160GB (5400RPM) SATA Hard Drive
10.1-inch Diagonal WSVGA LED Anti-glare Widescreen Display (1024 x 600)
Genuine Windows 7 Starter
Up to 3.75 Hours of Battery Life

Rating: 4 out of 5 – Read Reviews>>

Overall rating and customer reviews

The Internet is at the center of modern life keeping you connected and informed through email, IMs, RSS feeds, social networking sites and Search. Keeping up often requires time shifting with companion devices like netbooks. Powered by energy-efficient Intel Atom processors, the HP Mini 110 is optimized for Web access and can handle standard productivity apps - but is light enough to carry everywhere at just 2.33 lbs. Its LED anti-glare display reduces reflection that can distract from the visual experience, especially when used outside. The 92% of full-size keyboard enables much more efficient and comfortable use than texting (or typing on smartphone keyboards) for most. Windows 7 makes locating and connecting to hotspots easier and faster than ever. The HP Mini 110 is the perfect device for staying productive, informed and in touch.

HP Mini 5102 To Be Available From $399

Michael — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:32:50 +0000

The new HP Mini 5102 business class netbook is currently available on HP website with a starting price of $749. This is probably too expensive for most people who’s looking for a netbook. The good news is, HP is going to release 3 new variation of HP Mini 5102 next week, that will cost $399, $525, and $649 respectively.

According to Brad from Liliputing, the three new variation will comes with the following specs:

$399 model – 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor, 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display. 1G of RAM, 160GB, 00RPM hard drive, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth, a 4 cell, 29Whr battery and Windows 7 Starter Edition.

$525 model – you’re upgraded to 2GB of RAM and a choice of Windows 7 Professional or Windows XP Professional.

$649 model – a 6 cell, 66Whr battery, 2GB of RAM, Windows 7 or XP Pro, and a Gobi mobile broadband module.

HP Mini 5102 Reviewed

Michael — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 10:18:55 +0000

HP Mini 5102 is the updated version of HP 5101. The differences between HP Mini 5102 with its predecessor is that it now comes with the new Intel Atom N450 Pine View processor, a touchscreen display, and an integrated handle.

Laptop Magazine and CNet has posted detailed reviews on this netbook and found it to be much the same as the Mini 5101, which is to say it’s an excellent netbook with excellent battery life, comfortable keyboard, and incredibly sturdy build quality.

HP Mini 210 RAM Upgrade

Michael — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:18:00 +0000

The HP Mini 210 is one of the new netbook model from HP that comes with the Intel Pine Trail platform. It has a really unique design where the bottom of the netbook is covered by a single sheet which is different from traditional notebook that usually has access panels held in by screws. So in order to upgrade the RAM or hard drive of this netbook, you will need to remove the entire bottom plate.. and this can be done easily. Here’s a video by nDevil that demonstrates how to do this:

HP New 210 Series Pine Trail Netbook Now Available

Michael — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:11:03 +0000

HP’s new 210 series of Pine Trail netbooks are now available on HP’s official web store.

There are 3 new models listed:

1. HP Mini 210 HD Edition series (Starting price: $329.99)

Genuine Windows XP Home with Service Pack 3
Intel(R) Atom(TM) Processor N450 (1.66GHz, 512KB) with Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator 3150
1GB DDR2 System Memory (1 Dimm)
HP QuickWeb

2. HP Mini 210 series (Starting price: $279.99)

Genuine Windows XP Home with Service Pack 3
Intel(R) Atom(TM) Processor N450 (1.66GHz, 512KB) with Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator 3150
1GB DDR2 System Memory (1 Dimm)

3. Compaq Mini CQ10 series (Starting price: $259.99)

Genuine Windows XP Home with Service Pack 3
Intel(R) Atom(TM) N270 (1.60GHz, 512KB L2, 533Mhz FSB) with Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator 950
1GB DDR2 System Memory (1 Dimm)
160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive