New Laptop HP Mini 5101 First Look

HP just unveiled its top-of-the-line netbook, the HP Mini 5101 companion PC. This latest Mini features a rugged anodized aluminum display enclosure with a black, brushed metal finish and a magnesium alloy chassis. We recently spent some hands-on time with the newest addition to HP's family of Mini PCs. Continue reading to find out our first impressions and to get a closer look at this impressive little laptop.

Build and Design

The design of the Mini 5101 is an obvious departure from the rest of HP's Mini line, and at first glance the new Mini looks more like a pint-sized HP ProBook than a typical netbook. Starting at just 2.6 pounds, the durable little HP Mini 5101 features a 10.1-inch diagonal LED display available in either WSVGA or high-definition resolutions. Customers can also choose either the four-cell battery for lighter weight or six-cell battery for longer battery life. When configured with the optional six-cell battery, HP claims the Mini 5101 delivers up to eight hours of battery life.

As previously mentioned, the Mini 5101 features a rugged anodized aluminum display enclosure with a black, brushed metal finish and a magnesium alloy chassis. The metal construction really gives the Mini 5101 the feeling of being a premium ultraportable notebook rather than a typical netbook. HP even offers a matching external optical drive for those road warriors who can't live without CDs and DVDs.

Speaking of durable build quality, the HP Mini 5101 also features HP 3D DriveGuard, which offers a three-axis digital accelerometer chip that sends a signal to shut down the hard drive upon sudden movement or shock. The HP Panel Protection System also includes a scratch-resistant acrylic LCD cover and magnesium hinge bracket for added durability.

Continuing with the HP ProBook design elements, the HP Mini 5101 has a newly designed, spill-resistant keyboard that is 95 percent of a full-size QWERTY keyboard. The keys are nice and large with significant spacing in between each key to prevent typos. The individual keys have "HP DuraKeys" coating which HP claims makes the keyboard 50 times more resistant to visible wear than keyboards without it. In addition, the mouse buttons are located in the traditional space below the touchpad, making for a familiar user experience. Thank goodness! Someone at HP must have noticed the fact that EVERY review of the previous HP Mini netbooks complained about the location of the touchpad buttons. The touchpad was actually quite nice in the pre-production unit I tested.

Performance and Features

We didn't have an opportunity to benchmark the pre-production unit of the Mini 5101, but it's safe to assume that the performance of the Mini 5101 will be in line with other netbooks equipped with the Intel Atom processor and Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics. That being said, one advantage to the HP Mini 5101 is that HP will include a fast-performing 7,200 RPM hard drive standard with the unit. Alternatively, an optional Solid State Drive (SSD) is available in either 80GB or 128GB capacities.

An optional, integrated Gobi-powered HP Mobile Broadband module allows users to access the Internet around the world ... assuming you have network coverage. Other wireless technologies include integrated Wi-Fi and optional Bluetooth 2.0. An integrated 2-megapixel webcam allows for still-image capture, web-conferencing or video-enhanced instant messaging.

HP QuickSync software, planned to be available as a web download in September, allows quick synchronization of the HP Mini with notebooks or desktops so users can avoid maintaining multiple documents, media files and email. Information also can sync to portable storage devices.

One exceptionally nice little feature on the new Mini 5101 is the use of a tool-free RAM cover. Basically, all you have to do to access the RAM is remove the battery and slide a little switch over to release the cover for the RAM module. Very nice.

New accessories designed for use with the HP Mini include a USB 2.0 port replicator that adds a variety of audio, networking and USB ports when you're working at your desk. Other accessories available for the HP Mini include a USB 2.0 docking station, external optical drive and USB-powered external speakers. The docking station is pretty neat because you can rotate the top of the dock to have some of the ports pointed forward and the rest pointed backward. Likewise, you can also mount the dock vertically or horizontally on your desk. Finally, a lightweight messenger bag designed specifically for the HP Mini or a neoprene slip case offer added protection for road warriors while on the go.

Pricing and Availability:
The HP Mini 5101 starts at $449 and is expected to be available in late July.

Source: http://www.notebookreview.com/