HP Mini 5102: This Netbook Means Business

HP Mini 5102: Great Build, but Still Atom

Given we’re looking at a netbook that’s now past its prime, we’re still generally impressed with what the Mini 5102 offers. The build quality is far better than anything we’ve seen from a netbook to date, with the best keyboard in a 10” netbook we've ever used. It also comes with a matte screen that’s much easier to use outdoors, though contrast ratio is still poor. However, for $100 more than the competition this is essentially the same old Atom performance.

Granted, there are some other noteworthy extras. 802.11n networking, Gigabit Ethernet, and Bluetooth come standard in the ~$400 model available at various online sites, so connectivity is better than the vast majority of netbooks. The HP QuickSync software is also a potentially useful addition; if you don’t mind leaving your laptop plugged in and powered up when it’s not in use, you can have all the latest documents, images, email, etc. ready to go when you leave the office. For a quick lunch meeting, it might be a substitute for a smartphone that allows you to do a bit more typing and web browsing.

Determining what netbook is best for you is still a matter of compromise. If you want stellar battery life at a moderate price, ASUS’ Eee PC line wins, but the build quality of the 5102 is similarly head and shoulders above the competition. It’s unfortunate that we’re not reviewing the newer Mini 5103, because we’d like to see what DDR3 memory and the N475—or the dual-core N550—bring to the table. Given the similar pricing, even the base model 5103 is going to be the better choice these days, and we expect to see the 5102 inventory disappear over the coming weeks. If you start looking at more expensive netbooks, you can also add NVIDIA’s NG-ION platform to the mix.

In terms of multimedia capabilities, one thing we’re confident with stating is that NG-ION is much better than Broadcom’s Crystal HD decoder. Besides handling Flash video without problems the last time we tested, ION also gets you an HDMI port and typically a 768p display as well. NG-ION netbooks like the ASUS 1201PN also come priced similarly to the 5102/5103, but then the 1201PN is a 12” chassis—with 2GB RAM and a 250GB HDD standard. Anyway, while it’s possible the Crystal HD works better in other netbooks, unless the price is a lot lower than $425 we’d be inclined to go with the 1201PN.

Considering HP has already been on the ION bandwagon with the Mini 311, what would be awesome to see is something with the Mini 5102/5103 chassis (make it 12.1” if you have to), only put in NG-ION and a 66Wh battery and ship it with 2GB RAM and Windows Home Premium. If they can make that and keep the price of the laptop around $500, we’d have an awesome little multimedia device. For now, the Mini 5102 is a nice looking and well built take on Pine Trail and worth a look if you value build quality and durability over features and performance, or if you’re looking for a companion device with a business aesthetic. It’s more expensive than the competition, but the extra money does buy you the most solid netbook and the best 10.1” keyboard we’ve yet laid hands on.