Comments on: HP Mini 2140 netbook video review

By: Pax

Pax — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:17:44 +0000

I bought this nice looking HP MINI 2140 notebook but whenever I try to install some drivers especially printers and GSM modems, it asks for a higher screen resolution. Unfortunately, the screen resolution of this notebook cannot be adjusted. How can I adjust this resolution??? Please HEEEEEEELP……

By: John

John — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:17:26 +0000

Has anyone but an extended-life battery? I was wondering if it’s worth. Something like this one:

http://www.replacementpower.com/store/main.aspx?p=itemdetail&item=HSTNN-IB64

By: Inda Hood

Inda Hood — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:26:31 +0000

it’s shiney.

By: stevehoge

stevehoge — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 06:43:05 +0000

I 2nd the hackint0sh upgrade request – with the same Intel N270 CPU, 945GSE chipset and 950 graphics it seems like this hardware should have base-level compatibility with MSIWindosx86, though getting networking operational with Broadcom Wifi, Marvell ethernet might be tricky.

By: Alex Whiteside

Alex Whiteside — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 15:59:13 +0000

I’m afraid HP is doing everything it can to doom the machine outside of its native turf. In the US, a fairly high-end spec of Mini 1000 and a fairly low-end Mini 2140 cost almost exactly the same amount of money, right about the usual Netbook $400-500. In fact, HP have brought down the price of the Mini 2140 Smarbuy units by $50, making it cheaper than the Mini 1000. That’s pretty savvy.

However in the UK, the Mini 2140 actually costs about 50% more than the equivalent Mini 700. Given that the Mini 700 was already at the high end of the Netbook price spectrum here, that’s pretty disasterous. The only thing which costs anywhere near as much is the Samsung NC20 which is a while different class.

By: Sohandy

Sohandy — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 02:17:03 +0000

Great review. I have been watching HP’s lineup and will probably wait for the higher res screen. I have been using a Q1-ultra for the last year and like the small foot print. I want to replace it with one of this mini’s.

Here is my question. I do a lot of my work in the halls of the court houses. Chairs are plentiful, but few tables. I switched to a tablet to adjust to this work pattern, because it was too hard to balance a 15″ laptop on the lap (and too hot!). How would one of these units handle without a desk to operate on? I would be banging out emails and brief notes, working in word or excel. No novels, just productive work flow.

Thank you.

By: Alex Whiteside

Alex Whiteside — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 23:48:29 +0000

gmazin: As far as I can tell, they all use the N270. Certainly it’s the only CPU HP ever mention in the spec.

By: Oliver

Oliver — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 06:44:37 +0000

Are you going to give MacOS X a try on the 2140? I know a lot of people would be thrilled :)

By: James Kendrick

James Kendrick — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:43:22 +0000

It’s darn fast too. :)

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:49:19 +0000

So what I want to know: is it snappy?

;)

By: Charlie Stross

Charlie Stross — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:52:09 +0000

Question: what INPUT voltage range does the power brick handle?

I’m visiting the US next month and considering picking one up — if it will handle 230 volts, which is the standard mains current where I live. Most laptops these days suck 100-250v, but I’d like to avoid nasty surprises.

(I had a 2133 last year, but found the screen was too small and dim for middle-aged eyes, never mind the poor battery life and sluggish CPU — so I sold it for an Eee 1000. The Eee keyboard just isn’t the same, though. And while I’d like the high-res screen, I can live with 1024×576.)

By: allancj

allancj — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:39:09 +0000

I think of the Samsung NC-10 as being the most obvious competitor to this. Anyone care to compare them?

By: Pam T.

Pam T. — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:43:04 +0000

@mtoc – I don’t agree with you. I have the 2133 with the same extended battery design and find it very usable. It actually makes a nicely tilted typing angle (for a touch typist) and doesn’t take up significant room in my bags. I don’t think I would like an extended battery increasing the length of my machine and putting more bulk on all of the bottom (such as with a slice battery) doesn’t make it look any better either.

Not that I would say no to a 6 hour battery, but I can’t say for sure if that’s the battery design or the computer’s innards that are at fault.

Nice review, James. As usual.

By: DavidT.

DavidT. — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:27:56 +0000

James you are bling bling’n with the watch and the bracelet lol.

By: Mtoc

Mtoc — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:01:57 +0000

HP needs to stop being cheap & put some funds into R&D to design a better extended battery. i would gladly pay extra for 1. either make it protrude from the back or design it with flat cells & lay it across the bottom.

as of right now it looks like they are just using rechargeable AA’s in the battery casing.

By: Luscious

Luscious — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 02:27:59 +0000

Nice review James. No Zune theme this time???

$499 is a good starting price given the great features and offers decent specs. I also think the $629 model is definitely better than $819 for the comparable 2133 model I looked at last year.

Would I buy or upgrade? No. I’m holding out for a Pineview refresh coming in June, look forward to the higher res 10″ screen and would prefer the newer Win7 OS instead of the old XP. Even with these improvements, a 32nm Medfield upgrade released sometime next year may still be worth the wait and offer a true boost in performance and battery time.

I’m really glad to see HP have committed to the business netbook segment, as the mini note is, in my opinion, the best netbook of 2008 and 2009. Great job HP!