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HP Mini 210 Netbook Review – 6/7

HP introduced what they call their “third-generation” netbook recently – the HP Mini 210 and they’ve opted for a significant change in style in addition to the Atom N450 processor. The Mini 210 is available in six different colors, 4 of which feature a cool imprinted design on their glossy lids and two of which have a nice, solid tone. The keyboard featured is an island style chiclet, similar to the one found on HP’s business model netbook – the 5102. Speaking of which, there will be a business model of the 210 as well, which will be the same machine with a different set of softwares.

The Mini 210 is available in 3-cell and 6-cell versions, as well as a special HD edition. Read on to find out more.

HP Mini 210 Netbook Review – Top Features

• Good keyboard-touchpad combination – The keyboard on the Mini 210 is inspired by the business-end 5102. The keys are island style, rubber matted and run nearly edge to edge making typing quite easy.The touchpad features integrated buttons, but they perform decently. Multi-touch support is also present.
• Impressive audio – The speakers on this netbook are above average. The volume is impressively loud and there is clarity across all ranges of notes.
• High definition and Broadcom options – Whereas the base version of the Mini 210 ($299) doesn’t feature either of the aforementioned, they are available at a not too premium price.

HP Mini 210 Netbook Review – Drawbacks and things to keep in mind

• Runs hot – A major cause of concern with this netbook is the heat generated by the underside of the chassis. It was significantly uncomfortable to keep on my lap after just 20 minutes of usage.
• Broadcom bugs – While you’re paying more, the viewability isn’t always optimum. Frame rates increase, but nowhere close to what ION powered netbooks would give you.

HP Mini 210 Netbook Review – Ratings

1. Price and Value for money – 0.75 Star. HP’s Mini 210 is priced below $300 for the base model, featuring an attractive chassis, a great keyboard and decent performance.
2. Speed and Performance – 0.75 Star. The Mini 210 sits squarely in the mid-range of performers, and loses out to newer the ASUS and Toshiba models in benchmark tests.
3. Screen – 0.75 Star. The screen has nice horizontal and vertical viewing angles. The colors are decent. The bezel is slightly thick though, and has a reflective surface.
4. Keyboard, Touchpad, Useability – 1.0 Star. Excellent keyboard with good tactile responsiveness. The touchpad is quite decent one as well.
5. Portability and Battery Life – 1.0 Star. The 3-cell version is quite nice, with the battery jutting out of the 6-cell model. You can go about 8 and a half hours without a charge.
6. Looks and Design – 0.75 Star. The Mini 210 has nicely rounded edges, and a patterned lid design. The chassis underbelly is stylishly plain, but functional at the same time.
7. Connectivity and Extensibility – 1.0 Star. Features a 5-in-1 card reader, WiFi support for all networks and bluetooth in addition to the staple ports.

This gives the HP Mini 210 an overall rating of 6 out of 7 Stars.

HP Mini 210 Netbook Review – Our Recommendation

The HP Mini 210 is a very nice offering from HP. It’s an upgrade to the 110, and they’ve incorporated elements from their business model – the 5102 to make for a pleasing and ergonomic design. The base model which is available at under $300 is good value and a 6-cell model comes in at $320. The more expensive HD-capable version is priced at $384 and has an edge over normal netbooks. However, we’d recommend spending $100 more and picking up the ASUS 1201N with nVidia ION graphics instead. If you’re on a budget however, or going for the lower model – the Mini 210 will do nicely.

The Mini 210 is available on amazon starting from $299 for the 3-cell version and $319.99 for the 6-cell model.

HP Mini 210 Netbook Review – What have buyers on amazon said?

Pros:

1. “ Great customer service, just like I expected.”
2. “Excellent battery life. On a full charge, surfing the internet continuously, I atually got 9 hrs of battery life.”
3. “The multitouch touchpad works better than the competition.”

Cons:

1. “ Slow bootup time.”
2. “The bloated battery ruins the svelte form factor of this netbook.”

HP Mini 210 Netbook Review – Technical Specifications

• OS: Windows 7 Starter
• CPU: 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 Processor
• Display & Graphics: 10.1 inch 1024 x 768 anti-glare widescreen display, Intel GMA 3150
• RAM: 1GB DDR2
• Storage: 160GB (5400RPM) SATA Hard Drive
• Connectivity: 5-in-one card reader, 802.11b/g Ethernet LAN (RJ-45), VGA, 3 x USB 2.0 Ports
• Battery: 6-cell Li-ion Battery (9 hour battery life)
• Weight: 2.7 lbs
• Colors:  Black, Red, Blue, Silver
• Price: $319.99 (3-cell version – $299)

Filed under: HP Mini Netbook Review