HP Mini 5101 – the ultimate business netbook?

HP has unleashed its latest netbook, the HP Mini 5101. This model is the successor to the Mini 2140 which is currently being phased out and it looks like a very worth update. As with the Mini 2140, the Mini 5101 netbook is targeted to business users.

The Mini 5101 moves away from the plastics that adorn most netbooks and instead uses anodized aluminium that surrounds the display and a magnesium alloy chassis. The result is a design that some may describe as bland, but personally I’m quite fond of it. Maybe that’s because it is all black and reminds me quite a bit of the Lenovo Thinkpad.

The Hp Mini 5101 has a 10.1-inch display that comes either in 1024 x 600 or HD resolutions (1366 x 768). Thankfully it also has a matte display, which is more useful for business users who are often on the road. It is powered by a 1.66GHz N280 Atom CPU and 1GB RAM. It will be available with Windows XP Home, XP Pro, Vista Home Basic, Vista Business, or SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11. It comes with a fast 7,200RPM HDD, although if you need more speed then there is also options for a 80 or 128GB SSD. Optional 3G with a Gobi-powered HP Mobile Broadband module is also available.

The HP Mini 5101 improves on its other netbook business offering the Mini 1101 by offering a 95 percent chiclet keyboard. It’s also spill resistant so you don’t have to worry about spilling a Starbucks coffee whilst striking that important business deal. The keys also are coated with the HP Durakeys system which make them 50x more resistant to visible wear claims HP. It has also finally placed the mouse buttons below the touchpad (rather than the left and right) like most other netbooks.

Similarly, to ThinkPad notebooks, the Mini 5101 has a protective HDD system called HP 3D DriveGuard. Impressively, this system includes a three-axis digital accelerometer chip that will shut the HDD upon sudden shock.

Other features include Wi-Fi (including draft-N), a 2.0MP webcam and optional Bluetooth 2.0. There will be both 4-cell and 6-cell battery options. The former should last for 4.5 hours whilst the latter should be good for 8 hours according to HP. The Mini 5101 is reasonably lightweight, weighing 1.2kg (2.6klbs) in its lightest configuration. The HP Mini 5101 will cost from $449 and start shipping in late July.

Some sites went hands-on with the Mini 5101 yesterday. Engadget found the build quality to be the best at this price range, despite a little keyboard flex. Carol Hess-Nickels of HP also gave an overview of the netbook to GottaBeMobile (see the video below).

Liliputing found that upgradability is served by an access panel for RAM only, which flips open (as shown in the video below). It was also confirmed that the Mini 2140 will be phased out and reach EOL in four months time.

HP Mini 5101 Technical Specifications:

• Processors Intel Atom N280 (1.66GHz, 512 KB L2 cache, 533 MHz FSB)
• Chipset Mobile Intel 945GSE Express
• Memory Up to 2GB 533MHz DDR2 SDRAM (limit 1GB with Windows XP)
• Storage 160/250/320 GB 7200 rpm SATA with HP 3D DriveGuard (supported on Windows models only); 80 GB Solid State Drive
• Optical Drives Optional HP External USB 2.0 CD/DVD R/RW Drive
• Graphics Intel GMA 950
• Webcam and Microphone 2MP integrated webcam and stereo microphones
• Displays 10.1-inch diagonal LED-backlit WSVGA (1024 x 600)
  10.1-inch diagonal LED-backlit HD (1366 x 768)
• Wired Networking Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN
• Wireless Optional HP un2400 EV-DO/HSPA Mobile Broadband Module (requires mobile network operator service), optional Intel or Broadcom 802.11 a/b/g/draft-n, optional Bluetooth 2.0, HP Wireless Assistant
• Media Card Slot SD/SDHC card reader
• I/O Ports (3) USB 2.0 ports (1 powered), VGA, power connector, RJ-45/Ethernet, stereo microphone in jack, stereo headphone/line out jack
• Operating System Genuine Windows XP Home
  SUSE Linux Enterprise 11
  FreeDOS
• Battery 4-cell (29 WHr) or 6-cell (55 WHr) Lithium-Ion battery, 65W Smart AC Adapter
• Dimensions 0.91 (at front) x 10.3 x 7.09 inches (HxWxD)
• Starting Weight Starting at 2.64 lbs / 1.2 kg (with hard drive, weight will vary by configuration)
• Security HP Disk Sanitizer, Kensington lock slot