Hewlett-Packard’s Mini-Note, an $899 laptop pitched as competition for ASUS’ $499 eeePC, is a capable, fully-fledged computer suitable for mobile information workers, rather than an ultraportable PC alternative.
We make this assessment based on our impressions of the eeePC, which we felt was not a viable PC alternative for business, but is instead “… a new alternative to smart phones and handhelds for mobile workers, a role that seems sensible as its small size makes it a poor tool for information workers who spend hours at a time in front of a computer.”
The same cannot be said of the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC, to give the machine its full name, which is a far better alternative for information workers thanks to a keyboard said to be 92% of normal size and a trackpad that is far more usable than those on ASUS’ machine. Indeed, we never felt the need for an external mouse when using the Mini-Note, but this accessory is a must for the eeePC.
The fact that the machine ships with Windows Vista also makes it more likely to appear to businesses, given the opportunity it creates to deploy more familiar Windows applications. That option makes it far more likely business will contemplate acquiring a fleet of these devices, which could comfortably mobilise a workforce thanks to the pair of USB ports, Ethernet port and other options that make it a capable mainstream laptop lacking only an optical drive.
Yet the Mini-Note will also frustrate business users with its short battery life (A claimed 1.5 hours at full charge, a figure we found to be accurate) and bulky power brick. A power supply along the lines of the eeePC’s mobile phone-style charger would seem far more appropriate for ultra-portable machines and is the main reason we rule this machine out as a mobile device alternative. The presence of a hard disk also means longer start-up times and, even though Vista is generally better at waking from hibernation than its predecessors, you won’t be able to start computing in moments as you can with the eeePC.
There are also problems for information workers. The computer’s colour scheme is a real problem, as the black key labels on brushed aluminium keys makes it impossible to use the device in low light. The reason is that labels on the keys simply cannot be read unless the screen is tilted down to shed its light on the keyboard, at which point it becomes impossible to see the screen without contortions that are difficult behind a desk and almost certainly either impossible or unfeasible in an airplane seat.
Legibility of the 8.9 inch screen is another issue as in its 1280x768 mode (and 1024x768 too) it is very hard to read dialog boxes (your reviewer does not wear glasses) and icons in the system tray are so tiny they become hard to interpret. If you adjust screen resolution, Vista’s dialog boxes only just squeeze onto the screen.
Performance, at least, was impressive. The Via C7 processor and two gigabytes of RAM meant the machine hummed along nicely. WiFi connection was simple, with Windows detecting and linking to the network effortlessly, an experience we have not always found to be simple. Sound was surprisingly impressive, jumping out of a pair of speakers mounted either side of the screen. The Bluetooth module, however, was not as cooperative, failing to detect the presence of headphones.
Overall, we feel this computer is not really a competitor for the eeePC. Instead, we feel this machine deserves to be compared with other ultraportables like the MacBook Air and ThinkPad X300.
Both of these machines involve compromises. So does the Mini-Note. We can imagine some road warriors finding a personal preference the Mini-Note for its small size and low price. Its reliance on conventional components and software, however, make it a successor to the original Compaq Aero rather than a new breed of ultraportable that creates new possibilities.