HP Mini 1115NR Review

HP Mini 1115NR Netbook is one of many subsidized netbooks on the market (available through Verizon).  It’s designed with convenience and portability in mind. If you are a fan of HP products, you are going to be familiar with what you get with 1115 NR. The device weighs only 2.25 and only 1″ thin, making it a super portable laptop solution for those who are constantly on the go.

You get the standard N270 CPU with this netbook. You also get Windows XP, which is the case with most netbooks. The keyboard is nearly full size (92%), so you should have too much trouble adapting to this machine. The screen size is 8.9″ which is a bit small for my taste, but what a lot of people have come to love. You also get 16 GB solid state drive on your laptop which should give you just enough space to take your files with you.

1115 NR also comes with a built-in web-cam. So whether you are at home or in an airport, you can participate in video conferences without too much trouble. You also get wireless G connection on Mini 1115NR which is fast enough to get work done on the go.

Overall, this is a solid netbook and a good choice if you are into HP products. The battery could be better. And I could’ve used wireless N support on this machine. But this is a green netbook and very sleek. I recommend this device to anyone who’s looking for a super portable laptop. It’s cheap too!

HP Mini 1115NR  Accessories You Should Consider:

• Case Logic LNEO-10 Ultra-portable Neoprene Notebook Sleeve
• HP NF869AA Mini Notebook Sleeve
• Crucial 2GB 667 Mhz CT25664AC667 DDR2 200-Pin SODIMM Laptop Memory
• HP Care Pack – 2 Year – 9×5 – Maintenance Extended Warranty

MSI Wind U100-432US Netbook

MSI is known for making some of the best netbooks on the market. MSI netbooks are not only portable but are powerful as well. MSI Wind U100-432US is no exception. The Wind actually stands for something — Wi-Fi Network Device. MSI Wind U100-432US is a 10 inch netbook that is highly portable and perfect for business professionals on the go. The 10-inch LCD screen has a 1024 x 600-pixel resolution, which is decent for a netbook. And the screen quality is superb, especially with the LED backlit technology used on this device.

You get the standard netbook features that you get with the most popular netbooks. You get ATOM N270 CPU, 1 GB Ram, and 160 hard drive on this netbook. You also get wireless N capability, a web cam, and bluetooth. As far as connectivity features are concerned, you get a lot of options with this netbook:

• 4-in-1 SD/MMC/MS/MSpro Card Reader
• 3 USB 2.0 Ports
• 1 Mic-In Port
• 1 Headphone Port
• 2 Internal Speakers
• SoundBlaster Audio

Insert Mold Roller (IMR) technology used on this netbook is very interesting as it keeps your netbook looking new and without fingerprint marks for as long as possible. MSI Wind U100-432US also comes with text magnification technology that helps you read all kinds of documents without hurting your eyes.

You also get a 6 cell battery that lets you use your netbook for 6 hours between each charge. MSI Wind U100-432US weighs only 2.6 lbs. That means you can get more done on the road without having to carry a large weighty laptop with you around.

Verdict: A-. Overall, U100-432US is a portable netbook that is designed for small business owners. It comes with wireless N capability and a decent set of features for a netbook. It’s energy efficient too.  MSI Wind U100-432US Netbook is going to cost you about $300, making this netbook an affordable option for most folks. Having a faster CPU would have pushed this netbook over the top, but N270 is a decent enough CPU to let you get your work done without too much trouble.

*check our latest netbook ratings to find out where U100-432US stands.

ASUS Eee PC 904HA – Review

Asus is known for having some of the best netbooks available on the market. ASUS Eee PC 904HA is one of those netbooks. It is designed for business professionals and those who are constantly on the go. The device is tiny and yet powerful enough to allow you to get the job done. ASUS is known for putting extra attention in quality, and this netbook is certainly a high quality item. So let’s see what 904HA has to offer:

• Screen: you get a 8.9 inch screen that is not too big but doesn’t require you to put extra burden on your eyes to see things on your laptop.
• CPU: Atom N270 has become the standard CPU on top netbooks these days. N280 is coming to new netbooks but you still get a lot of value with this CPU.
• Battery: Asus’ hybrid energy is legendary for allowing folks to use their batteries for hours. It’s just an efficient engine that gets you more out of your battery. In this case, you get about 5.5 hours of work time with your netbook.
• Keyboard: I found the keyword to be not too hard to get used to. When you switch from an 18 inch laptop to a 9 inch one, you are always going to have to adjust, but this one was very easy to get used to.
• Wireless: I wish this item supported wireless N connection. You do get the standard wireless G support, which is fast enough to get work done.
• Hard Drive: you get a 160 GB hard drive with your Eee PC. Your drive comes with 2 equal 80 GB partitions. That’s probably the best way if you want to use one drive to back up your important data and the other for your OS activities.
• Weight: 904HA weighs about 3 pounds. It’s easy to take it over your trips.
• Web Cam: the Web Cam on this device comes with 1.3 MP resolution. It is great for having video chats while you are on the go.
• Eee Storage: this is my favorite feature. You get 10GB Eee Storage with easy accessibility anywhere online. If you have valuable files that you want to backup, this is a life-saver.

Verdict: A. Overall, if you are looking for a laptop that allows you to save money and at the same time is portable enough to let you take it anywhere with you on your trips, Asus Eee PC 904HA is a good one to consider. You get performance and energy efficiency in one package plus all the features you would need to make video and connect with others on the Internet.

To compare Asus 904HA with other netbooks on the market, please log on to our netbook ratings page.

HP 2140 Mini-Note Review

HP has been in the computer business for years now. Throughout these years, it has built a global brand with innovative laptop lines under Compaq and HP brand. HP’s latest target? The netbook market. HP 2140 Mini Note is a netbook that is designed to bring the HP design to the netbook world. Like most netbook these days, the device comes with an Atom N270 CPU (clocked at 1.6 Ghz). You also get 2 GB of Ram and a 160 GB HDD which should be plenty enough for most folks on the go.

Unlike most netbooks, HP 2140 comes with Windows Vista. In addition, you get a wireless N adapter that allows you to enjoy faster wireless speeds. And who wouldn’t like the web cam and the adequate 10.1″ screen.

HP 2140 Mini-Note weighs only 2.6 lbs, which is pretty portable. The design is sleek, and you can easily take this netbook with you on your travels. The keyboard is one of the best I have seen. Hp Drive Guide 3d technology is truly a life saver if you happen to drop your netbook.

I still would like to see a better screen resolution on this device. The battery lasted for about 3 hours for me, which is to be expected from a 3-cell battery. But the 6-cell batteries are not that portable, so you’ve got a dilemma on your hand.

Verdict: B+. HP Mini-Note is a decent solution for folks who are looking for a fully-functional laptop. The screen is big enough to get the job done without hurting your eyes. The design is impressive and doesn’t look cheap at all. And the keyboard is out of this world. Overall, if you are looking for an all-in-one portable solution, HP Mini Note is worth considering.

MSI Wind U120-024US Netbook

MSI Wind U120-024US Netbook is a powerful mobile laptop that is designed to attract business travelers and college students alike. Netbooks are designed to be portable yet powerful enough to allow their users to consume data on the Internet. MSI Wind comes with plenty of features to allow you to do just that.

The Wind, an acronym for “Wi-Fi Network Device,” comes with an energy-efficient and yet powerful Intel Atom 1.6GHz Processor to provide longer operation hours and superior mobile performance. MSI Wind is 7 inches wide by 10.23 inches long, and weighing just 2.6 pounds. That’s lighter than some of those college books. The Wind features an ergonomically designed keyboard that is only 20% smaller than a full sized notebook keyboard. One of the big issues that folks have with smaller devices is the fact that they find their keywords harder to use. With the Wind, you can type without having to worry too much press 4 keys at once.

The Wind comes equipped with a 10″ back-lit LED screen that provides superior color quality and brightness makes it possible to read documents and watch videos without hurting to eyes. In addition, the 1024 x 600 screen resolution can fully display web pages, which makes it ideal for Internet browsing. I like the fact that MSI Wind comes with a wireless N adapter, and the 1.3 MP web-cam makes it easy to do video chat. The facial recognition software is a plus here.

The connectivity feature sets are adequate for most users:

• Wireless N Adapter
• Ethernet LAN
• 4-in-1 Card Reader – SD, MultiMedia Card, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro
• 3 x USB 2.0
• Headphone out
• Microphone-in
• VGA, RJ-45

With the Wind notebook weighting 2.6 pounds you can practically take it anywhere. And the battery lasts you for about 5.5 hours. That’s more than enough to get some serious work done before needing your charger. MSI Wind costs only $350 and is an affordable solutions for those who live a mobile life. I would like to see more battery life but other than that MSI is a great choice for netbook fans.

Verdict: A-/B+

Lenovo Ideapad S10 10.2-Inch Netbook

Lenovo Ideapad S10 10.2-Inch Netbook is a mobile laptops designed for people on the go who do not want to sacrifice performance for portability. You get the best of two worlds with S10. You get what you would expect to get with a top notebook. Decent CPU power, plenty of space to store your ideas, and a device that weighs than some college books. The price is is about $380, which makes this affordable to most college students and small businesses. Let’s see what S10 has to offer in detail:

Lenovo S10 Features

• Weight: S10 is super portable. It weighs only 2.4, and it’s only 1.04 inch thick. Easier to carry around than some books.
• Screen: the 10.2 inch size LED back light screen provides you with enough screen real estate to get your work done, and light makes it easier to read documents.
• CPU: it will be a matter of time before we see 2.0GHz netbooks, but at 1.66GHz S10 is close enough.
• Battery: the 3 Cell Lithium-Ion battery will get you about 3 hours of us under normal condition. The battery make last longer depending on what you use S10 for.
• Size (LWH): 7.2 inches, 9.85 inches, 1.08 inches

Lenovo S10 is a good netbook for folks who are looking for performance but don’t want to break their budget. I would like to see more battery life. Top netbooks last for 7-9 hours of use, so getting 3 hours out of S10 is not ideal. The connectivity features also leave something to be desired. Wireless G is the bare minimum needed to get Internet work done properly these days, and it would’ve been better if S10 came with a wireless N adapter.

Verdict: B.