HP Mini 2140 (Netbook)

Mini PCs are all the rage these days. Their compact, light-weight design make them a popular option for those of us who prefer to stay mobile. The HP Mini 2140 Netbook computer was introduced in Las Vegas in January of 2009 to rave reviews and has been a top seller ever since. It was designed as an upgrade of the HP 2133 Mini-Note and includes a larger screen (10 inches) and an Intel Atom processor that allows for much longer battery life. The 2140’s six-cell battery can keep you up and running for over seven hours.

Like its predecessor, the HP 2140 is built with an all aluminum casing, making it light-weight and providing a sleek look. The keyboard measures in at 92% the size of a standard QWERTY keyboard, which can be slightly awkward at first, but once you get the feel for it, using the smaller keyboard becomes second nature. Same goes for the mouse pad configuration. The right and left click features are on the side of the mouse pad, as opposed to underneath the pad, as is standard on full-sized laptops. It will probably take a few hours for your fingers and brain to adjust, but once you’re in the groove, you’ll hardly notice the difference.

The HP 2140 comes with a 0.3-mega pixel camera built-in above the screen making video calling easier than with most laptops that require plugging in a separate web-cam. This Mini also comes with 2 USB ports, and ExpressCard slot, microphone and headphone jacks and an SD Card reader. The HP 2140 comes equipped with 1GB of RAM (upgradeable to 2GB) and a 160GB hard drive. Coupled with the 1.6-Ghz Intel Atom N270 CPU, this is more than enough computer for most of us.

HP is marketing the Mini 2140 towards mobile professionals and students alike. HP does offer a more advanced version of the Mini - the HP Mini 5101 - that provides for even more durability and longer battery life, but the Mini 2140 will more than likely provide for your needs and save you a few bucks over the pricier 5101. The HP Mini 2140 is readily available at most computer and electronics stores, but don’t forget to check the out deals on new, refurbished and slightly used models on eBay.