HP Mini 110 Hands-on Verdict: Most Improved Netbook

It’s not the best 10-inch netbook out there, but the new HP Mini 110 ($449.99) ($329 as configured) is definitely the company’s best netbook for consumers yet. HP has addressed our biggest complaints with the earlier Mini 1000 ($349.00) (no VGA port, small and slow The storage device that holds your OS, programs, and data.
Learn Morehard drive), while adding even more style to the mix with new color options. We still need to run our battery test, but based on our other test results and brief hands on time with this machine, it’s a serious contender. Be sure to check out the video and gallery.

Design

On the outside, the HP Mini 110 looks very similar to the Mini 1000. It’s still fairly compact, but this netbook is slightly heavier (2.6 pounds) and thicker (1.3 inches) than its predecessor. In addition to the Black Swirl lid design, HP will make White Swirl and Pink Chic finishes available at a later date.

We quickly noticed that the latest version sits a little higher in the back when placed on a desk, thanks to slightly taller rubber feet. We’re assuming this was done to dissipate heat, as the Mini 1000 ran warm.

When we opened the lid we also noticed that the finish didn’t have the same look and feel as the Mini 1000. HP opted for a different resin for the plastic deck surrounding the excellent 92 percent keyboard, which results in a slightly grittier feel but a somewhat cheaper look. The vertical touchpad buttons are still awkward, but they work fine.

Ports

The Mini 110 eschews the annoying VGA adapter port in favor of a full-size VGA port on the right, bringing this machine in line with most other netbooks. We also appreciate the new third USB port (there’s two on the right and one on the left). The memory card reader and Ethernet port are also on the right side.

Display and Audio

HP has nixed the edge-to-edge glass display in favor of a traditional bezel (we’re assuming to save on cost). On the plus side, many will appreciate that this 10-inch (1024 x 576) LCD is an anti-glare widescreen. Plus, HP will offer a high-def display option come July (expected to be $30).

The silver speaker bar on the original Mini 1000 has been replaced with a speaker panel that’s integrated into an area beneath the screen. When we streamed Slacker, we were impressed with the volume this tiny netbook pumped out.

Performance

Although our configuration of the Mini 110 has the same 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270 processor and 1GB of RAM as the Mini 1000, the 160GB hard drive is a vast improvement. Not only is it twice the size of its predecessor, it spins at a much faster 5,400 rpm, versus 4,200 rpm.

This translated to a faster boot time (45 vs. 64 seconds) and a better PCMark 05 score (1587 vs. 1370). We also saw a much higher score in The LAPTOP Transfer Test (copying a 4.97GB folder of mixed media). With the Mini 1000 it took a sluggish 9 minutes and 21 seconds, which is a rate of 9.1 MBps; the Mini 110 notched a rate of 14.6 MBps, just above the netbook average.

New Sync Software

HP ships the Mini 110 with Syncables software, which was designed to enable automatic synchronization of music, pictures, videos, and other files between this netbook and a primary PC. We will update our full review once we’ve had a chance to test this software.

1080P Video Playback Coming Soon

Broadcom is mostly known for its wireless cards, but the company will be providing a jolt to the Mini 110’s video playback capabilities come July. That’s when HP will offer a $30 optional Crystal HD Enhanced Video Accelerator, which will enable users to enjoy 1080p content when the netbook is connected to an external display.

That sounds interesting, but we think this feature would be more compelling if the Mini 100 had an HDMI port. And, unlike Nvidia’s ION graphics that will find a home inside the Lenovo S12 in August, this video accelerator won’t help you transcode video faster or play mainstream 3D games.

Battery Life and Wireless

The HP Mini 110 comes with a standard 3-cell battery that promises up to 3 hours of battery life. We say opt for the $40 six-cell battery, which will bring the starting price of $329 up to a still-reasonable $369. This is more important than the $50 mobile broadband option. The Mini 110’s 802.11b/g radio delivered fast throughput in our preliminary tests, notching 21.2 Mbps at 15 feet from our access point.

Early Verdict

Assuming the 6-cell battery on the Mini 110 lives up to the 6-hour runtime claim, the Mini 110 will be one of the hottest netbooks of the summer. We’re still not fans of the vertical touchpad buttons, but HP has made several welcome improvements without sacrificing portability. And the Mini 110 still has one of the best netbook keyboards around.