When it comes to recession-friendly Netbook hardware, you perhaps wouldn’t connect the popular, budget-based Web devices with the business sector – but that's an association HP is seemingly keen to make with its new, swanky-looking HP Mini 5101.
Business leanings, you say? No, not really. Image: HP.
A lightweight and ultra-mobile computing platform boasting an anodised aluminium display closure and a black, brushed finish, the Mini 5101 comes with a 10.1-inch LED display (in WSVGA or HD flavours) and a finger-friendly 95 percent full-size keyboard with raised, spill resistant keys… It’s all distinctly Netbook so far, no?
Weighing in at a mere 2.6 pounds (just over a kilo), the undeniably cute Mini 5101 is described as “an ideal companion PC for the on-the-go professional,” and is powered by Intel’s low-power Atom processor and a conventional 7,200 RPM hard disk drive or an optional solid-state drive storage of 80GBs or 128GBs. Um, still sounds like a standard Netbook.
Other features and function crammed into the Mini 5101 include a 2.0 mega pixel Web camera, integrated Wi-Fi certified WLAN connectivity, optional Bluetooth 2.0, and an optional integrated Gobi-powered HP Mobile Broadband module for high-speed access to the Net, corporate intranet, e-mail and more. Yeah, but where is its supposed business focus?
“The HP Mini 5101 is truly a work of art, a sophisticated companion PC crafted for the trend-savvy mobile professional who needs functionality, durability and style,” explained Ted Clark, senior vice president and general manager of HP’s Notebook Global Business Unit and Personal Systems Group.
Perhaps the Mini 5101 qualifies as an ultra-portable system perfect for the “mobile professional” because of its optional six-cell battery, which HP claims will deliver an eye-opening eight hours of single-charge operation. Somehow we doubt it.
Bottom line… Mobile professionals, students, general tech consumers… the aesthetically attractive Mini 5101 is a pretty standard Netbook, pure and simple, and it doesn’t really exude any specific qualities one way or another to see it classified as anything else.
The HP Mini 5101 will hit retail in the latter part of July alongside a starting price of $449 USD, which is on the upper edge of the Netbook scale.
The Tech Herald: Review: HP Mini 1151NR
The Tech Herald: HP introduces new Netbook Mini trio
Want regular updates from The Tech Herald? Follow us on Twitter .
Interested in a more interactive TTH? Join our Facebook Group .
Comment on this Story