HP Mini 110-1115SA Black Swirl 10.1-inch Netbook
Posted by Notcot on Mar 27, 2010 in Electronics |
Product Description
HP Mini 1101115SA Atom N270 16GHz Windows 7 Starter 101 WSVGA AG 1GB RAM 160GB HDD WiFi bg Bluetooth Webcam 1Yr Warranty Office Ready Black VK952EAABU Laptops Notebooks
Whilst this is, on paper, a good little laptop, it just feels too cheap and childlike to me (and by that I mean it feels like a child’s toy)! The one I bought, admittedly not from Amazon, is the 250gb version and came with quite a few extra ‘goodies’ but I just can’t get on with it. It comes pre-installed with Windows 7 Starter which as you may know is very restrictive in terms of customization! For example, you cannot change the desktop background – OK, so that’s no biggy but when you’re stuck with the MS logo, it gets rather boring and is not very ‘pretty’. Also, the screen on this one is not brilliant – it’s not glossy, which is a good thing, but the colours are not very good and the sound is terrible, though I appreciate that a netbook will not measure up to a full-sized laptop as they are not designed to do so – more to just take out and about with you for surfing and doing the odd email or three!
The keyboard is OK but oh, that trackpad is abysmal! It has the left and right click keys on, …… you’ve guessed it, the left and right of the track pad which you may think is a good idea but it’s not as it takes a contortionist to make selections – perhaps that’s just me though. There is a ‘scroll’ function on the track pad (next to the right click key) which is very responsive, perhaps too much so!
The one good thing about this ‘toy’ is that the battery life is meant to be excellent – up to 6 hours with the 6-cell battery, though the downside of this is that the battery pack sticks out, well down really, though that acts as good ‘elevation’ so that air can circulate around the netbook, thereby keeping it cool.
Luckily I bought this from an equally reputable company as Amazon that offers a 30-day money back, no quibble guarantee so this baby is being returned and I will have a hunt around Amazon to find an alternative. Any suggestions/recommendations gratefully received!!!
Best regards,
Toria
Rating: 2 / 5
We bought this for my dad for his 70th birthday. Once he got his email set up (minor senior teething problems!) he has found it easy to use and has embarked on booking holidays etc. The portability has made a huge difference to him as he no longer has to yell to my mum to come and see what he has found on line but instead can take the notebook to her. A most suitable, easy to use and set up netbook gift.
Rating: 4 / 5
No problems so far with HP mini, Windows 7 Starter is not as resrictive as I first thought. Downloaded Windows 7 upgrade advisor & it appears HP mini can run any version of Windows 7 with no problems which is a bonus. Bought a 4GB SDHC card to use as ready boost memory as built in RAM can not be increased. Images on web site don’t show that battery sticks out at the bottom of the Netbook, a bit annoyed at first but the gap created is useful for cooling purposes. Like very much the HP instant web feature, ready to go in about 8 seconds. Only problem is can’t find a way to slow the mouse down when using instant web as it is way too fast for my liking.
Rating: 4 / 5
I am extremely pleased with my new HP netbook. This was by far the cheapest Windows 7 netbook I could find, and the very reasonable price by no means forces a compromise on features and functionality.
Physically, this netbook is compact, comfortable to use, robust and attractive. I have previously owned Dell laptops, and I am extremely pleased with HP features, particularly HP Instant Web, which allows for instat startup with access to essential programs. The system is quick, surprisingly so by comparison to my full-sized lap-top’s dual core. Frivolously, the cover design is pleasing in a minimalistic manner!
I use my netbook for basic web-browsing and production of documents; I have also installed Power DVD (as there was no pre-installed DVD decoding software). Consequently, I am both productive and entertained on long journeys. The netbook has excellent battery life (I’ve had upwards of eight hours’ utility from mine, and this is on the HP recommended rather than the energy saving setting). The 3 USB ports and the Micro-SD socket are helpful features, ample for my needs on the go. The netbook is also extremely light and functions quietly.
In short, this netbook and I are inseparable, and I belive it represents excellent value for money. I had considered buying a Dell Mini, but free Amazon Delivery and the reduced price mean that this netbook was comparably a bargain.
Rating: 5 / 5
As with the previous 2 star reviewer, I also purchased this in the 250gb version from another retailer (when it was their todays special value) with all the extras, but unlike them I was very impressed with it. It is light weight, but sturdy. The button size is good (95%) and the response of it is fantastic. I spent a lot of time looking at cheaper models, and only went for this because of the good deal at the time, but am glad I did. I have recently added some software to a friends cheaper model (the one I was looking at originally) and the difference was quite obvious. It was smaller, less reponsive and slower.
All in all, I am very glad I purchased this, and would recommend it to anyone.
Rating: 5 / 5