HP Mini 5101 10.1-inch Netbook Laptop PC

Aug 25 2009 - HP's Mini 5101 is the successor to the very popular 2140 netbook. This netbook sports an all black look and a switch to a mixed aluminum and magnesium alloy chassis with a soft rubberized coating that gives it an extremely durable feel. HP continues their superb keyboard layout with a new isolated key layout that is still very comfortable to use. It would have been nice to see them continue to include an ExpressCard slot like the older 2140 but it isn't too missed. The Mini 5101 continues their trend as the best business netbook maker.

Aug 25 2009 - The HP Mini 2140 was a superb netbook for the business traveler that offered some unique features. HP has released its successor with the Mini 5101 and made some notable changes including a black exterior. The exterior is a mix of aluminum and magnesium alloy that is then coated with a soft rubber texture feel. This gives it an extremely durable exterior that is unrivaled in the netbook market. The system also has a built-in motion sensors to help prevent any damage to the drive in the event of a drop.

Connectivity is still a key feature for the HP Mini 5101. It supports all of the current forms of Wi-Fi networking including the 802.11n draft standards. It also comes equipped with a gigabit Ethernet adapter more useful for corporate networks than the fast Ethernet found on most netbooks. Bluetooth is also useful for tethering to a cell phone or peripherals when needed. Users can also order custom models from HP with a cellular module built into the unit.

Battery life for the Mini 5101 with the 6-cell battery was quite good. With video playback testing, the netbook was able to run just short of six hours. Not the longest out there but more than enough for most business travelers.

Performance of the Mini 5101 has been improved slightly through some minor updates including the Intel Atom N280 processor and a faster 7200rpm hard drive. It is still restricted to the 1GB of memory for the XP licensing that holds the system back somewhat.

One notable change to the Mini 5101 is the keyboard and trackpad. Rather than the design of the 2140, HP moved to an isolate keyboard style. This makes the 95% size keyboard very easy to use and type on and is one of the better on the market. The trackpad also has an improved button layout that is more traditional and easier to use.