HP Mini 2140 Review

Thanks for the review.
In case anyone's interested, it looks like HP has started taking orders for the various 2140 models.

 

haha, with the 3-cell battery on the base model, they claim 5 hours battery life. Is that in sleep mode?

 

Lol @ sleep mode that is probably with the screen at Half brightness

 

Saw this on another forum some time ago: http://www.liliputing.com/tag/hp-2150-mini-note

Basically same device with built-in 3G or similar, just not available yet.

 

So the upgraded screen resolution is not currently available? I see on HP's site that 1366 X 768 is an option but when I try to configure a system it will not let me select that.

 

Nope. Can't have the 1366X768 with XP according to Microsoft's rules. You would have to get Vista or some flavor of Linux. The high-res isn't supposed to be available until April or May, probably when Windows 7 will be available to OEMs.

 

That's a shame. HP lists this feature on their site but I see not mention of the months-long delay for it to be available.

Guess I'll take a closer look at the Sony P.

 

We've got a Dell D400 (win xp, ms office 2003, Pentium M 1.7 GHz, 1.25 GB Ram, 40 gig 4200rpm HD) that's getting a bit old and if we keep it it's going to need a new battery soon. The 2140 looks like a possible replacement candidate with 2 gb of ram and 7200 rpm hd. Screen would be a bit smaller but we'd drop about 2 pounds. The Sony is cute but just looks too small and tight to say nothing about easier to loose.

Would we notice any increases in response time with the 2140 vs the old Dell? Mostly used for email and word processing on the road plus some weather radar and remote control access of remote weather station via GoToMyPc.

We welcome any thoughts or suggestions. Just don't know how the Atom processor stacks up and if we should be looking at a mini notebook again vs a netbook.

Thanks

Andrew

 

Are you asking because you want the 2140 as a primary PC or as a secondary PC?

As a primary PC switching from the Dell D400 to any netbook would be more of a sidegrade than an upgrade, and if you noticed a really significant performance boost I'd attribute it more to your imagination getting excited over a new gizmo than to an actual improvement in the hardware.

If you're talking about the Sony P then that wouldn't make for a good primary PC either....but if that's in your budget range I'd suggest looking into a 12-13" notebook with full specs. Something like the Gateway UC, Dell Inspirion 13, or Lenovo SL300.

 

Secondary for sure

 

Then go for the imaginary performance boost and enjoy your new gizmo.

 

I wasn't aware that Windows 7 will be released by this summer? I thought it would be released late this year, if not early next year.

As for 1366x768, that's definitely too high for a 10" screen used to view text. I would only get that on a 13".

 

I doubt it will be available by this summer though considering MS pushed back the Vista SP2 already, but again who knows with MS. They may up the release date for W7, because of all the people sending back info from using the Beta.

 

All this prattle about Atom's energy efficiency seems to be fiction if this review is anything to go by. That battery life for web browsing (2:21 with 3-cell, 4:15 with 6-cell) is really abysmal. It's about the same as the Mini 2133 got in its review.

 

I am guessing at the date that Windows 7 will be out to OEMs, since the long delay until April or May doesn't make sense since HP will be shipping low-resolution 2140s much sooner.

Also, the Win7 beta expiration is Aug 1, 2009 which means you would have to buy a copy before then right? If retail Windows 7 will be available in June or July, then OEM's will probably have them for installs in April or May. This is just my deduction based on the available information.

 

Microsoft's free upgrade scheme for Windows 7* does not start until July this year. Therefore Windows 7 will not be on sale until some time after that, I think. If the XP scheme is anything to go by, we're looking at about four months from the start of the free upgrade scheme to the launch of the OS. So October is likely. As you point out, betas and release candidates normally don't expire until the product is on the shelves, though. So something's up.

*Microsoft will provide OEMs with one free OEM Windows 7 licence and associated documentation/media per qualifying Windows Vista licence shipped during this period, to be passed on to end users as free upgrades. The idea is that it will make sure people don't "hold off" on buying PCs just because they want the new OS. This is much better than the voucher program they had going with XP->Vista which was a diabolical farce in many regions.

 

Yeah me too--but it's $575 extra! Any idea if it's going to come down in price any time this year? (I'd be willing to pay probably $200 for an SSD upgrade.)

 

I ordered my 2140 back on the 27th. It was a pre-configured model that was supposed to be shipped to me with a delivery date of the 30th. Unfortunately that date has come and gone and nobody at HP can seem to explain what is going on other than it's not shipping anytime soon. I guess they are waiting on parts at the China manufacturing facility so it looks like these guys are delayed indefinately. (Not that HP is telling anyone as their website still gives an almost immediate ship date)

Kind of irritating (if not slightly dishonest on their part) When it finally comes in I'll add my review here.

 

So has anyone had their's ship yet. HP was sending me updates every 2 or 3 days but I haven't received one of those for almost a week.

 

Some 2140's are expected to be shipped by end of February.

 

Guess I should post an update that mine arrived on Feb 15th. Loving it so far!

 

I think they changed that rule. Dell Mini 10 is available with 1366*768 with XP. Also Dell mini 12 is available with 1280*800 and XP.

N280 has been used for a while in Asus 1000HE and Acer one D150. It does not really offer any benefits over N270.

 

Nice Review