HP Mini 2140 Review

Another netbook to be reviewed, looks like the barrage of new netbook releases has started again. This time around, we have the HP Mini 2140 – the upgrade to one of the first netbooks to hit the market – the HP Mini Note 2133. It sports a refreshed though similar design, the same superb build quality but is powered by the Intel Atom N270 now, just like all other netbooks, instead of the Via Nano chips HP used in the Mini Note 2133 and sports a bigger 10 inch display. In this review, we will check out whether HP has managed to correct all the mistakes it did with the Mini Note 2133 in the Mini 2140 and how it stacks up against other netbook offerings by Asus, MSI and Samsung.

HP Mini 2140 Specs:

• Dimensions: 10.3 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Weight: 3 pounds
• Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270
• RAM: 1 GB DDR2 RAM
• Hard Drive: 160 GB SATA HDD, 5400 RPM
• Display: 10.1 inch TFT LCD display, 1024 x 576 pixels
• Graphics: Intel GMA 950 Integrated, 64 MB VRAM
• Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.0
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home
• Ports: 2 USB ports, Ethernet, Headphone, Mic, VGA out, ExpressCard slot, SD Card reader

Design and Build Quality:

The HP Mini 2140 sports a simple design very similar to the original Mini Note 2133. It has a lid composed of brushed aluminium which looks very elegant and sturdy. The chassis is made of magnesium alloy which ensures zero flex in the keyboard and display areas and imparts sturdiness to the body. It is very durable and has the best build amongst most netbooks which are made of mainly plastic. It has dimensions of 10.3 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches – pretty slim and weighs around 3 pounds which is more than the category average. But the added weight is mostly due to the metal body. All in all, a nice simple design coupled with superb build quality.

Display and Speakers:

The HP Mini 2140 sports a 10.1 inch display which is LED backlit. It has a native resolution of 1024 x 576 pixels – which now seems to be the emerging trend in newer netbooks. If you have beem following us, the BenQ Joybook Lite U101 which we reviewed recently also had the same resolution. This resolution offers slightly less screen space than the older standard of 1024 x 600 pixels which should be a slight deterrent to web browsing and reading large documents as you will need to scroll more. The display quality is superb and the brightness is nice. The screen offers good contrast. The viewing angles are decently wide, especially the vertical ones. You can easily open two moderate sized windows for multitasking and improved productivity.

Just above the display, you find the VGA webcam (0.3 MP) and two speakers next to it. The video capture quality is decent but we would have preferred a 1.3 MP camera. The speakers offer good sound quality and loud volume. The speakers should suffice for casual songs and movies, but as always, we would recommend good quality 3.5 mm standard earbuds if you have an ear for good music.

Keyboard and Touchpad:

The HP Mini 2140 sports the same keyboard as the HP Mini Note 2133. While the HP Mini Note 2133 had flopped greatly, the only feature that it was remembered for was its superb keyboard, which is perhaps still the best keyboard available in netbooks. The HP Mini has the same keyboard, maybe even better. It is almost the size of a standard full sized keyboard and has zero flex – thanks to the metal chassis. The keys are of top quality and are covered with a protective coating. The keyboard has the best feel in all netbooks and is a pleasure to type on. They offer nice tactile feedback and a small clicking sound. The keyboard layout is standard – ideal for touch typing.

The touchpad is located below the keyboard and is again the same as the HP Mini 2133. We surely wish they would have kept the touchpad buttons below the touchpad rather than besides them. This touchpad button layout is awkward. The touchpad surface offers a nice grip and helps in navigation. The buttons also offer nice feedback. It also has a vertical scrollingbar by the right. The touchpad is shorter than the standard size and so requires more scrolling.

Performance:

The HP Mini 2140 sports the standard Intel Atom N270 processor clocked at 1.6 GHz instead of the Via Nano C7-M sported by its predecessor – the HP Mini Note 2133. It sports majorly the same configuration as every other netbook – Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics, 1 GB DDR2 RAM, 160 GB SATA HDD at 5400 RPM etc. This combo offers decent performance and is also very power efficient – a must for longer battery life in netbooks. It offers nice performance and can run the bundled Windows XP Home easily and also multitask multiple apps with no hiccups. The built in graphics are capable of some light gaming but are a strict no-no if you are looking to run newer high end games even at medium settings. The 160 GB SATA HDD at 5400 RPM has nice data transfer speeds. As all the netbooks sport the same hardware specs, the performance section of any netbook review has become totally redundant – performance is no longer a deciding factor as all of them offer more or less the same performance.

Battery and Other Features:

The HP Mini 2140 is powered by a very powerful 6 cell battery which lasts about 7 hrs 30 mins on a single charge with moderate usage and most of our battery saving tips in action- . Now that is commendable. It is the highest battery life clocked by any netbook so far. It dethrones the Samsung NC10 as the Endurance King in netbooks. Even the 3 cell battery clocks in a decent 4 hrs with moderate to low usage.

The HP Mini 2140 has a nice collection of expansion ports as well – it comes with 2 USB ports, Ethernet, Headphone, Mic, VGA out, ExpressCard slot as well as an SD Card reader. The built in Wi-Fi adapter has nice reception and offer good speeds.

Pros:

• Superb Keyboard
• Nice Build Quality
• Insanely Awesome Battery Life

Cons:

• Awkward touchpad buttons
• Common hardware specs as all other netbooks

Final Words:

The HP Mini 2140 is a worthy upgrade especially if you are looking for a superb battery and a great keyboard. Specs wise, it is just the same as most other netbooks, so if you already have a 2nd generation netbook, you need not consider upgrading. The HP Mini 2140 is priced quite competitively and is sure to become a best seller considering the value it offers.

Our Rating: 4 / 5.