HP Mini 2140 reviewed, very loved

No sooner does HP announce the Mini 2140 than we get reviews from two lucky outlets who seemed to have fallen in love with the netbook. While it retains the sturdy case, ExpressCard / 54 slot, and not-quite-full-sized keyboard that reviewers loved with its predecessor, it also has the awkward, narrow touchpad and side-mounted vertical buttons. Performance is said to be on par with other Intel Atom N270 machines, and while high marks go to the larger screen, Computer Shopper says the 1024 x 576 resolution gave some smaller letters a bluish "halo" effect when compared to the Eee PC 1002HA's 1024 x 600 screens. Also, the $30 optional six-cell battery sounds like a must-have, as that added bump gave Laptop Magazine over 7 hours of web-browsing time. Both sites are heralding this as one of the best netbooks on the market -- is that enough to get your attention?

Read - Consumer Shopper review
Read - Laptop Magazine review

[Connor @ Jan 6th 2009 10:44PM]

1024 x 576 resolution? That's odd...

[banned @ Jan 6th 2009 10:51PM]

oled? hopefully?

[zomg0t @ Jan 6th 2009 11:02PM]

I don't think 16:9 is an odd display ratio...

[Chris @ Jan 6th 2009 11:04PM]

1024 / 576 = 1.77777778
16 / 9 = 1.77777778

[Dave @ Jan 6th 2009 11:06PM]

I'll take the 1024x600 resolution on my little Lenovo S10 netbook over this HP. I've got nothing against HP either as my laptop is an HP. I guess I'm just really in love with my Lenovo S10 (just like the girl in the Sprint Samsung Instinct commercial). Friends call my S10 my newborn. One calls it my preemie. I've already gone and spoiled her with a 2GB stick of RAM. For her birthday I'm going to surprise her with a 6-cell battery. I'll stop bragging now. I guess I'm just a proud papa.

[someone @ Jan 6th 2009 11:16PM]

but do we need 16:9 on a netbook?

[Major4Play @ Jan 7th 2009 12:46PM]

Why do people dislike resolutions ?

"I'll take the 1024x600 resolution on my little Lenovo S10 netbook over this HP"

I'm sure those 24 pixels make you life complete !

Computer Shopper says the 1024 x 576 resolution gave some smaller letters a bluish "halo" effect when compared to the Eee PC 1002HA's 1024 x 600 screens

Yes because it's a different screen with a different backlight and colour range, BLUE HALOED ICONS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RESOLUTION

[jay.viz @ Jan 7th 2009 3:04PM]

@Major4Play

That's 24 lines or 24,576 pixels.

When the resolution isn't especially high to begin with, a little extra helps.

[jack @ Jan 6th 2009 10:44PM]

that's sweet.

[macpatterson1 @ Jan 6th 2009 10:50PM]

ive played with a hp 2133, and the only thing that kept me from buying it was the processer, with an atom, I can safely say that this netbook will kick some ass

[BryanSD @ Jan 7th 2009 12:29AM]

My thoughts exactly regarding the Atom processor. Unfortunately...I already bought the Mini 12 with Ubuntu. Not complaining about the Mini 12...but the Mini 2140 on Atom with optional 1366 x 768 display (expected in Mid March) should really rock.

I can't believe Apple is still sitting out on the netbook trend...

[ChillyWilly @ Jan 7th 2009 11:46AM]

As a recent owner of the 2133 (1.2ghz, 1gb RAM, 120gb hdd, WinXP Pro), I have to say that I love this netbook and use it a lot. My pet peeves are that it's slow at times and battery life (w/ the included 3-cell battery) is somewhat dismal.

I wonder if the 6-cell battery for $30 will work with the previous models? That could help battery life a lot.

Unless Apple comes out with a netbook this year, I'm sure I'll be an owner of the 2140. The form factor, the case and the keyboard make it one of the best netbooks around.

[Alber1690 @ Jan 6th 2009 10:51PM]

While I was taking notes in class with the ol' paper and pen, all I could think about was this HP Mini. Me wants one of them ;)

[LloydChiro @ Jan 7th 2009 9:41AM]

Sometimes, though, there's no substitute for a paper and pen. Many times, you learn things better if you draw them out several times. It's a more active way to involve your brain in the learning process.

[bigrat @ Jan 6th 2009 10:57PM]

Ya know... I like my eee 1000. Yeah, the tiny right shift key bugs the crap outta me, but that's pretty much the only thing wrong. Everything else with it is super. This HP seems alright but not something that makes me doubt my eee 1000 purchase back in October.

[L @ Jan 7th 2009 4:34AM]

I also love my 1000H, but the 1366x768 version of the 2140 is mighty tempting...basically solves all my Eee complaints (so-so keyboard, low-res screen, cheap-feeling plastic). I guess I'll wait a year or so till I'll upgrade though - if the 2140 and the Vaio P are any indication for 3rd gen netbooks, I can't wait for the 5th gen or so ;)

[Byrdman @ Jan 6th 2009 10:57PM]

so i guess that this is pretty much just like the mini 1000 just with a metal body and express card slot

[dagamer34 @ Jan 6th 2009 10:58PM]

I'm still waiting for these netbooks to mature before grabbing one. Hopefully the nVidia Geforce 9400M will get them to the performance needed to decode 1080p video making for a cheap, mobile HTPC.

[darklighter @ Jan 7th 2009 12:47AM]

Why do you want to decode 1080p video on a screen that's not even 720p?

[Benson @ Jan 15th 2009 6:40PM]

Well, as a HTPC, maybe to display to a TV at times?

And also if the content you want to display is in 1080p, whether it helps you or not...

[digitallysick @ Jan 6th 2009 11:00PM]

I love the keyboard layout on it, even though i am not a fan of side buttons, i use a portable mouse so thats not really an issue

But i dont know about the screen res seems really odd

[Ed T @ Jan 7th 2009 3:01PM]

I own an Aspire One and believe me, the side buttons and narrow trackpad are a pain in the ass to use. This dumb trackpad & button layout only make sense for species without thumbs.

[justanotherperson @ Jan 6th 2009 11:01PM]

me wants.

[Giga @ Jan 6th 2009 11:08PM]

Once that res upgrade is out, I think I might have to get one.

[CJ @ Jan 6th 2009 11:09PM]

This is seriously the best netbook out now, it's totall crap that I just got the mini1000 for Xmas lol but ima return it and get this one insted ^-^

[Wii60 @ Jan 6th 2009 11:32PM]

It's a great design. I had a Jornada 820 back in the day, similar concept from HP. They're great at this.

However, while I think I could learn to live with the weird touchpad/button configuration, the screen is a friggin' mirror. That's why I think I'm sticking with the MSI Wind, but I really hope they make a business-class one in the future.

[stevenguillory @ Jan 7th 2009 12:21AM]

Not so fast...My wife's Samsung NC10 maybe just as good, and the HP DV2 that was just announced is kick azz IMO...

[BigReg @ Jan 7th 2009 12:23AM]

Yes, for the next 72 hours, this one is absolutely the best.

[Virtuous @ Jan 6th 2009 11:12PM]

I prefer the 768 vertical resolution of the 2133.

[Shinigami @ Jan 6th 2009 11:13PM]

"one of the best netbooks on the market" is good but I want touchscreen/tablet/hybrid with a small price tag.

[FreeFloMonkeyMeat @ Jan 6th 2009 11:16PM]

The side-mounted buttons on this and the previous Mini don't deserve such a bad rap.

They're actually quite easy to press, unlike those from a certain other brand of top-selling netbook *cough*

[ducky @ Jan 6th 2009 11:19PM]

"Over 7 hours of browsing time" on what? 3G modem or Wi-Fi?

[LloydChiro @ Jan 7th 2009 9:43AM]

Plugged into the phone jack in the wall.

[htd @ Jan 6th 2009 11:29PM]

they didnt get a higher resolution version? isnt there one?

[BOGRASH @ Jan 6th 2009 11:30PM]

> However, HP will also offer a higher definition 1366 x 768 display option starting in mid March.

Wow - how many times are HP going to screw up the launch of this machine?

[Knives_Out @ Jan 6th 2009 11:30PM]

ugh. I HATE 16:9

[JP23 @ Jan 6th 2009 11:38PM]

Wonder how much more time you would get with a SSD HD out of the extended battery pack.

[Kris Hall @ Jan 6th 2009 11:42PM]

NICE.....but i'm still in love with my mini 1000

[pika2000 @ Jan 6th 2009 11:50PM]

meh, too many of the same. Waiting for dual core and windows 7 equipped netbooks.

[pheer6224 @ Jan 6th 2009 11:50PM]

Still doesn't beat my NC10. I've squeezed out & hours 45 minutes out of it and the specs are identical.

[stevenguillory @ Jan 7th 2009 12:25AM]

I was digging the HP until I saw that huge azz battery. I prefer the one on the NC10...

[CJ @ Jan 7th 2009 4:45AM]

On the LAPTOP Battery Test (continuous Web surfing over Wi-Fi), the system lasted a very impressive 7 hours and 19 minutes. This runtime blows away the mini-notebook average of 3:48, and it beats out even the Samsung NC10, the longest-lasting mini-notebook to date, by 45 minutes.

[WILLIAM @ Jan 7th 2009 12:25AM]

SONY JUST GOT AN ASS KICKING ALL OVER THE NET :)

[superhobo @ Jan 7th 2009 1:06AM]

NC10>all

[Gomab 2k4 @ Jan 7th 2009 1:15AM]

Not to mention the NC10 3 year warranty...

[CJ @ Jan 7th 2009 1:20AM]

Meh samsung nc10 is good but it looks stupid IMO and the 2140 has identicle if not better specs and it looks nicer so 2140 > nc10

[Mark @ Jan 7th 2009 2:13AM]

You're a dumbass. The Mini-Note 2140 will be more expensive, has a stupid small screen and the battery sticks out waaay over there.

[stevenguillory @ Jan 7th 2009 2:23AM]

You wont be worrying about how pretty it is when the warranty runs out while the NC10 will still be under warranty.

[Gomab 2k4 @ Jan 7th 2009 2:20AM]

Is there a big difference in the rpm speeds of 5,400 and 7,200?

[Ian @ Jan 7th 2009 2:23AM]

How does this thing have a small screen? You'll also get an optional 1366 x 768 pixel screen. With that screen resolution, this thing is pretty much the perfect small laptop, ignoring the much pricier Sony TT.