Just when we thought HP had moved on, what with the
Mini 1000 getting all the love these days, HP has returned to its original
Mini-Note 2100 series of netbooks with the 2140. Supposedly aimed at businesses, the new netbook loses that sluggish VIA C7-M of its predecessors and replaces it with -- you guessed it -- a 1.6GHz Atom processor. There's also a 80GB or 160GB hard drive onboard and a 10-inch screen available in 1366 x 768 and 1024 x 567 resolutions, plus that lovable ExpressCard / 54 slot hasn't gone anywhere, but the machine remains otherwise mostly unchanged. Prices start at $499 for the base model, and OS choices include XP Home / Pro, SuSe Linux, FreeDOS and Windows Vista Home Basic / Premium. The laptop is certainly a nice step up over the Mini 1000, but we sure could use a bit more power under the hood. You know, for
business.
[Thanks, Jarrett]
Read - HP updates Mini 2x netbooks with Atom, 10in LCD
Read - HP Mini 2140 official site
posted January 5th 2009 11:49PM
Yes, I clicked the link and got that page - wondered for a second whether the page had been hijacked. . .
Not sure I understand the excitement about the 2140 - the specs are so similar to every netbook out there that I realize the excitement is about the screen resolution and the battery. Both areas I'm glad to see improved, but still. . . oh, and the slot is good. But it's still essentially a nice iteration of what's already out there, not a game-changer. Expensive, too!
Good to see the segment evolve though. It's a vain hope, but I agree with Luffy that a trackpoint would be the best netbook mouse option (or better than trackpad and side buttons, at any rate).
Currently using a Dell Mini 9 with Ubuntu that has been very good - like the total solid state construction (no fan, no HDD) and have not felt cramped with the SSD space. I think the desire for more HDD space and resultant complexity stems from a blurring of vision about what these little machines are ideal for. If you make a netbook more like a notebook you compromise some of its virtues. But as I said, it's good to see evolution. Maybe in another year I can replace my Mini 9 with something much better than either the current Mini 9 or the 2140 but just as portable.
Interesting effort, but not a must-buy for me yet.
The new HP2140 is not exaclty like any other netbook out there...
It has a few items that are not present in a "single netbook"...
1) MANY options of operating systems
2) 80GB Solid state option
3) 160GB 7200 rpm option
4) High screen resolution
5) ExpressCard/54 (yup, 54 and not 34... I am not aware of any other netbook with this one)
6) 92% Keyboard... one of the best in the industry (netbook class).
I am not listing the VGA built-in since it is a mini-1000 limitation and it is present in many notebooks...
My point is, the mini 2140 is unique in offering the best set of features combined.
Definitely a must buy for me, but I respect your oppinion.
Well, if this thingie will have the same HUUUUGE AC adapter as 2133, I will still wait for a more tiny netbook. I wonder why HP could not make a smaller AC adapter for netbook. Currently I might need 2 bags, one for this toy and the other for the adapter. It's more than sad :(
Add Windows 7 on that sucker later this year and I'm sold. I've been running it on my C2D ULV 1.2Ghz system and it flies.
I went on HPs site to customize this thing and they only have pre built models. None of which offer the better screen or the 80 gb SSD. when I emailed HP they said that this model is not a Configurable unit......