Latest HP Netbook Grows Up, Stays Mini
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You could just click the link to read my full review of the new Mini 2140; but before jumping to that, you might want to stick around for a quick history lesson. When HP released the 2133, in April 2008, it was the first netbook that didn't look like a toy. That alone got my attention, but the lackluster VIA C7-M processor made it run Windows Vista Business Edition--that's right--unbearably slowly. Fast-forward to today's announcement and HP has obviously learned from its first foray into the mini laptop market.
Here's the 2-second takeaway on the Mini 2140: It's a vast improvement over the 2133, as you'd expect. But what's interesting is how little the design changed (aside from incorporating a much superior CPU) in achieving the advance. The 2140 is hardy enough to withstand being shoved into a book bag. It looks as though it means business. The downside is that it also costs a little more.
Though we don't yet have the hard lab numbers needed to calculate a overall PCW rating for the Mini 2140, HP has assembled a compelling package that could go toe-to-toe with the Asus N10Jc. But like Asus's heavyweight netbook, the Mini 2140 carries a price tag that approaches what you'd expect to find on a good all-purpose laptop like the Sony VGN-NR485 ($800) or a cheap ultraportable such as Acer's sub-$1000 TravelMate 6293. As 2009 unfolds, the line between notebooks and netbooks is likelier to grow even fuzzier, thanks to new CPUs and slicker designs.
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