Netbook: HP Mini 5101 FM955UT 10.1-Inch Black Netbook

HP Mini 5101 FM955UT 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - Up to 4.5 Hours of Battery Life Review

I am an avid Amazon shopper and will rarely go elsewhere for major purchases but I had no choice because when this model came out, Amazon simply did not have it. I'm very impressed with this Netbook from HP even though like all Netbooks it can be a bit of a headache playing back video files, but mainly it's the players such as the iTunes and QTime Player that is the headache and these players choke on their own file formats due to DRM and loads of fat in their file formats. I loaded the DivX player and this had resolved the choppy playback on MPEG files for even my older Netbook. Also, VLC media player is an option too, Windows Media player requires a MPEG2 decoder but still plays AVI, WMV files quite nicely. HULU plays well, and I believe Vimeo is the best player for online content. Netflix plays well with even the slowest of Netbooks. I am hoping for a Broadcom HD Graphics Accelerator option just like in the other HP's latest offerings of Netbooks. The big pluses have to be the much better keyboard design and the mousepad is exactly how all HP Netbooks be configured. The 5101 is not perfect but it is the best looking Netbook, 7200 RPM drive is standard with more choices of GB capacity, 2 MP camera which makes it one of the best in terms of video quality, and the option to upgrade to 2GB which is a nice deal. I love the durakeys, though the case can be a fingerprint magnet and is rugged as heck you'd still want to put this baby in a protective covering. I am so happy HP continued with ruggedized shells, as it is much better than plastic and it looks very nice; very professional. 3 USB ports are perfect and puts it on par with with laptops in terms of USB ports. I'm not missing the Express Slot because there simply is not enough hardware out there to make this slot usable for most people. The Smart Media slot is sufficient. The layout is nice, and there seems to be more layout space and open space for future improvements. Yes, there are two versions of this machine that have Energy Star ratings at budget level (one with the 4 cell and one with the 6 cell battery); that is the only difference or you can configure your system at HP small and medium business site and could run up to 0.00 plus for a top notch machine. I chose the 6 cell battery and I'm pretty happy with it, and in the future will upgrade to a HD version once a Graphics Accelerator that helps the Intel embedded GMA with processing HD video files. Buy the HP 5101 and you will get addicted to it.

HP Mini 5101 FM955UT 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - Up to 4.5 Hours of Battery Life Feature

Highly portable business-oriented netbook with 10.1-inch LED backlit screen
The 95 percent full-size keyboard, plus a touchpad, offer full-sized notebook familiarity
160 GB hard drive with shock-resistant HP 3D DriveGuard
1 GB RAM (2 GB max), 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connectivity, Secure Digital memory card reader
Pre-installed with Windows XP

HP Mini 5101 FM955UT 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - Up to 4.5 Hours of Battery Life Overview

The HP Mini 5101 FM955UT Netbook offers commanding performance in an ultra-lightweight PC loaded with an Intel Atom N280 1.66GHz processor, 1GB of DDR2 memory, a 160GB 7200RPM hard drive, and the Genuine Windows XP Home operating system. Weighing in at only 2.64-pounds, the HP Mini 5101 FM955UT Netbook boasts a 10.1-inch LED-backlit display with 1024 x 600 resolution, an integrated 2.0 Megapixel webcam, integrated stereo microphone, 802.11a/b/g/n wireless technology, Bluetooth 2.0, high-definition audio, and integrated stereo speakers. Other outstanding features include three (3) USB 2.0 ports, a Secure Digital Card reader, and integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 graphics.

HP Mini 5101 FM955UT 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - Up to 4.5 Hours of Battery Life Specifications

Minimize the size and maximize your mobility with the stylish HP Mini 5101 (model FM955UT), HP's premier full-function business companion PC. With a 10.1-inch diagonal LED-backlit display, a 2.64-pound carry weight, and brushed aluminum finish, the HP Mini 5101 is anything but bland. And the durable all-metal case, with a magnesium base, helps protect your notebook from the rigors of work on the go.

The highly portable, business-oriented HP Mini 5101.

The HP Mini's generous, keyboard produces the typing experience the way email and IM were intended. The 95 percent full-size keyboard, plus a touchpad, offer full-sized notebook familiarity in contrast to smaller keyboards of some competing companion PCs.

It's powered by Intel's 1.6 GHz Atom N280 processor, which uses an innovative design structure and hafnium-infused circuitry that helps reduce electrical current leakage in transistors--providing longer battery life when you're on the go. A roomy 160 GB hard drive (7200 RPM) provides ample storage for all your documents and presentations. Other features include 1 GB of RAM (2 GB maximum), 2-megapixel webcam, Secure Digital memory card reader, Gigabit Ethernet, Draft-N Wi-Fi networking, and up to 4.5 hours of battery life.

It comes preinstalled with the Microsoft Windows XP Home operating system, which offers more experienced users an enhanced and innovative experience that incorporates Windows Live features like Windows Live Messenger for instant messaging and Windows Live Mail for consolidated email accounts on your desktop.

Key Features

10.1-inch LED backlit widescreen display (1024 x 600-pixel resolution) provides richer colors and clearer definition.
1.66 GHz Intel Atom N280 processor combines performance and efficiency to explore the Internet and stay connected while mobile. The Atom N280 processor also includes a power-optimized front side bus of 533 MHz for faster data transfer on demanding mobile applications and a 512 KB L2 cache (which temporarily stores data). (Learn more)
160 GB hard drive with 7200 RPM speed featuring HP 3D DriveGuard--a shock-resistant, hard-mount solution that reduces the transmission of shock to the hard drive by as much as 50 percent. This means that the hard drive is mounted firmly to the notebook frame so the notebook absorbs more of the impact from drops, bumps and bangs. This approach works like a car seatbelt that keeps you strapped firmly in place during an accident, while the car frame absorbs the brunt of the impact.
1 GB of DDR2 RAM
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
2-megapixel webcam
Draft-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g/n) for greater speed and range
Gigabit Ethernet
Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity enables you to communicate and synchronize with Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as PDAs and cell phones.
Software: Microsoft Office Ready, Corel Home Office, HP Disk Sanitizer
Microsoft Windows XP Home operating system
Up to 4.5 hours of battery life with 4-cell battery
Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.09 x 0.91 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: 4.7 pounds
Energy Efficiency ENERGY STAR qualified; EPEAT Gold
Warranty: one-year standard parts and labor warranty, pick-up or carry-in, and toll-free 7 x 24 hardware technical phone support. On-site service and warranty upgrades are also available.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
With its integrated Draft-N Wi-Fi networking capabilities, this laptop provides up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range using 802.11n-compatible routers as you would with 802.11g networks. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found at Wi-Fi hotspots and in older home routers) as well as 802.11a networks (which has a higher throughput, but more limited range--great for closed office environments). This notebook also provides ultra-fast Gigabit (10/100/1000) Ethernet networking.

3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
Analog video output: 1 VGA
1 Secure Digital memory card reader
1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
1 RJ-11 for modem
1 RJ-45 for Ethernet

What's in the box
This package contains the HP Mini 5101 (model FM955UT), 4-cell rechargeable battery, AC adapter, power cord, printed user manual