The HP Mini 5102 is the latest business and education-focused netbook from Hewlett Packard. It has a higher starting price than most netbooks, at $399 and up. But it also comes with a number of features that you won’t find on most netbooks, including:

• All-metal chassis with anodized aluminum and light weight magnesium alloy
• 7200RPM hard drive (or high speed SSD)
• Accelerometer and HP Drive Guard software that shuts off the hard drive in the event of a fall to prevent damage
• Spill resistant keyboard
• HP DuraKey finish which helps the keys hold up against wear
• 2MP webcam
• Ability to open the RAM access panel without a screwdriver

The laptop also includes facial recognition software, quick start software, and an application for synchronizing data with your primary PC. And that’s just what you get in the cheapest model. The HP Mini 5102 also comes with a variety of configuration options, including an optional handle, touchscreen display, HD display, Broadcom Crystal HD video accelerator, and 3G modem. You can also choose from a variety of operating systems including FreeDOS, SUSE Linux, Windows XP Home or Professional, or Windows 7 Starter, Home Premium, or Professional.

OK, now that the basics are out of the way, here’s the skinny on the demo unit that HP just sent me to review. It has Windows 7 Professional, 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, and a capacitive touchscreen display. In the unboxing video below, you can see me fiddling unsuccessfully with the touchscreen — because I completely forgot that it’s a capacitive, multitouch display rather than a resistive screen. As such, it doesn’t recognize taps from my fingernail, but instead requires a poke with a fingertip.

I’ll be testing out the HP Mini 5102 over the next few days, and I plan to share more details. But for now, you can check out the unboxing video after the break.

I should probably point out that the touchscreen model I’m reviewing is not available as a “Smart Buy” option, which means you’ll have to pay a pretty hefty premium to get the touchscreen if you order the Mini 5102 from the HP web site. But it’s available for lower (and negotiable) prices for business and education customers placing bulk orders.

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As expected, HP is now offering customers the option of configuring the HP Mini 5102 business netbook with a 1.83GHz Intel Atom processor. The processor upgrade is only $25, but there’s a slight catch — it’s not available on any of HP’s “Smart Buy” configurations. And that means you’ll end up paying at least $543 to purchase the HP Mini 5102 with an Atom N470 processor if you go through the HP web site. You may be able to negotiate a better deal if you’re making a bulk purchase for your business or school.

The starting price for the “Smart Buy” configurations is $399. For that price, you get a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 CPU, 10.1″ 1024 x 600 pixel display, Windows 7 Starter, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, and a 4 cell battery as well as a 160GB 7200RPM hard drive.

via Netbooked

Chinese companies have been producing cheap knockoffs of big name laptops for years. But you know what most of them lack? Big name branding. Fortunately, at least one Chinese manufacturer realizes that the same thing is true for fake brand name laptops as fake brand name handbags: They’re more attractive if you don’t know they’re fake.

With that in mind, said company has slapped the HP name on a laptop that bears a more than passing resemblance to the HP Mini 5102. Except it’s not an HP Mini 5102. How do I know? Because the HP Mini 5102 has a 10.1 inch display, not an 11.6 inch screen.

Of course, that means the knockoff also has a larger keyboard, which might be a bonus for some people. The screen is a high resolution 1366 x 768 pixel display, and the computer packs some of the same features as the HP Mini 5102, including a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor, attractive red cover, and chiclet-style keyboard as well as 802.11b/g/n WiFi.

The knockoff also sells for just about $337 in China, although it probably won’t be available for that price in the US — or anywhere else, anytime soon.

On the down side, the real HP Mini 5102 has a 7200RPM hard drive, while the fake has a slower 160GB 5400RPM HDD.

via M.I.C. Gadget

HP is one of the first netbook makers promising to deliver netbooks with Intel’s recently unveiled (although long suspected) Atom N470 processor. The new CPU clocks in at 1.83GHz, which is a little faster than the 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 found in most of the netbooks released over the past few months.

Register Hardware reports that the HP Mini 5102 and 2102 will be among the first netbooks available with the Atom N470 option. Both of these models are handled by HP’s business division, and they tend to have higher price tags and more options than HP’s consumer oriented netbooks such as the Mini 210.

No word on when the N470 option will be available or how much it will cost to configure a netbook with the faster CPU.

Want an HP Mini 5102 with a high definition display, SUSE Linux, and a 128G SSD? You can now officially order that configuration through the HP website. You’d just best be prepared to pay $868.

In fact, you can now customize the HP Mini 5102 business-class netbook any way you want. Unfortunately, the lowest priced model (with SUSE Linux, a 160GB hard drive, and 1024 x 600 pixel display) will set you back $518, which is about $119 more than the price of the lowest Smart Buy configuration (as of next week).

A top-of-the-line configuration could easily run well over $1000.

Here are some of the configuration options available:

• OS: Choice of Windows 7 Starter, Win 7 Pro, Win XP Home, SUSE Linux 11, or FreeDOS
• Display: 1024 x 600 pixels, 1366 x 768 pixels, or 1024 x 600 pixel touchscreen (there is no HD touchscreen option)
• Graphics: Optional Broadcom HD Video Decoder card
• RAM: 1GB to 2GB
• Storage: 160GB/250GB/320GB 7200RPM HDD or 80GB/128GB SSD
• Wireless: Optional Bluetooth 2.1, choice of 802.11a/b/g/n or 802.11b/g/n
• 3G: Optional Gobi 2000 mobile broadband card with GPS
• Battery: 4 cell, 29Whr or 6 cell, 66Whr
• Colors: Red, blue or black lids

The optional handle attachment costs $30. I’ve mentioned it before, but it’s probably worth pointing out that the handle is not designed to be user-removable. If you order the netbook with the handle, it stays attached all the time.

Unfortunately it looks like you’re going to have to shell out some extra cash if you want the touchscreen or an HD display. Those options won’t be made available in any Smart Buy configurations that I’m aware of.

thanks tlove!

When HP introduced the new Mini 5102 business-oriented netbook, the company promised that the base model would sell for $399 and up. But it looks like you might have to wait a little while to pick one up at that price.

HP recently added the netbook to is small business web site, and the cheapest price for a pre-configured HP Mini 5102 is $749. That price includes a 1.66GHz Atom N450 CPU, 4 cell battery, 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display. 2GB of RAM, 160GB 7200RPM HDD, 2MP webcam, 802.11b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 2.1. Part of the reason for the high price is that this model comes with Windows XP Professional, which is available through Windows 7 Professional downgrade rights. There’s no cheapo Windows 7 Starter license here.

I’m still hopeful that HP will offer additional “smart buy” configurations of this laptop soon, which could include the promised $399 configuration. HP will also likely offer customization options soon, allowing users to select an optional touchscreen, handle, and other features. But when you customize any item on the HP small business web site, you can expect to pay a premium.

Update: Some folks are reporting that when they visit the HP web site, the cheapest model they see is priced at $599 rather than $749. That model isn’t showing up for me yet, but your results may vary.

Update the second: The $399 model should arrive February 1st.

thanks Rookhawk!

The HP Mini 5101 was one of the best netbooks I tested in 2009. It had an excellent keyboard, great battery life, and incredibly sturdy build quality. While it did cost a bit more than a typical netbook, the HP Mini 5101 was designed for business users who might have an easier time justifying the premium price tag. And it’s still pretty cheap when you compare it with an old school thin and light laptop.

The HP Mini 5102 is the updated version of the Mini 5101. As you can probably guess from the minor bump in the model number, the new version is a lot like the old one. It looks pretty much the same. But it replaces the Intel Atom N280 CPU with a new Atom N450 Pine Trail processor. There are also new optional components including a touchscreen display or an integrated handle.

CNET has posted a detailed reviews of the HP Mini 5102. Overall, they found it to be much the same as the Mini 5101, which is to say it’s an excellent mini-laptop. But aside from the new processor, there’s not really much setting the HP Mini 5102 apart from its predecessor. If you want to shell out the extra cash for an optional touchscreen or other premium features, then the Mini 5102 looks like the way to go. But if you’re just looking for a netbook with good build quality and a low price tag, you might be better off looking for a deal on a refurbished or overstock Mini 5101.

Oh yeah, CNet says the netbook lasted for 3 hours, 19 minutes on a video playback battery drain test. I can only assume CNET picked up the model with a 3 cell battery, since earlier this month Laptop Magazine reported that the netbook can run for up to 10 hours on a charge.

The HP Mini 5102 may have just been introduced to the world this morning, but those crazy kids at Laptop Magazine have already published a detailed review (something tells me they managed to get their hands on a demo unit before this morning). The verdict? HP has made one of the best netbooks around even better.

Basically the HP Mini 5102 is a minor update to the popular HP Mini 5101 business netbook. The new model includes new features such as optional color choices, an optional touch screen display, and optional handle. It comes standard with Intel’s new Pine Trail processor, and Laptop Magazine reports it runs for about 10 hours on a charge.

While the $424 starting price is about $100 more than you’ll pay for a cheap netbook from Acer, you get a lot for that money. The HP Mini 5102 has a sturdy metal casing, a fast 7200RPM hard drive or optional SSD, HP’s DriveGuard technology which shuts off the hard drive in the event of a fall, and HP’s DuraKey finish on the keyboard to prevent wear.

One of the only things that Laptop Magazine didn’t like was that the touchpad is rather small and the glossy touchpad finish creates friction. But the touchpad actually looks rather similar to the one on the HP Mini 5101, and I kind of liked that one when I reviewed that model a few months ago.

HP is launching its next generation business-class netbook based on the Intel Atom Pine Trail platform today. If the new model looks familiar, that’s because it’s basically a slightly updated version of the HP Mini 5101. Meet the HP Mini 5102.

Here’s a rundown of what makes the new model different from the 5101:

• 1.66 GHz Intel Atom N450 or 1.83GHz Atom N470 processor
• Optional capacitive touchscreen display
• Slightly higher capacity batteries with a choice of a 4 cell, 4.5 hour battery or a 6 cell, 10 hour battery
• Optional handle for use in educational settings
• Facial recognition software for logging in with the webcam
• Optional GPS
• Available in black, red, and blue colors

The touchscreen supports multitouch gestures such as pinching and zooming. These gestures are supported natively under Windows 7 Home Premium. HP is working with a software developer to enable support under other operating systems including Windows 7 Starter Edition and possibly SUSE Linux Enterprise 11 as well. Multitouch gestures will not be supported under Windows XP Home Edition, but HP will make all of these operating systems, plus FreeDOS available as options.

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