HP Mini 2140 Mini Netbook 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.

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

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.

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.