The HP Mini 110c takes many of its design cues from the earlier Compaq Mini 700 but packs in Windows 7 and even manages to come in an array of fine colours but at an even more budget price. It’s still a 10.1-inch netbook though, but with a 1024 x 600-pixel resolution. Find out how we got on with the HP Mini 110c in our hands-on review…
The chassis and plastic used on the HP Mini 110c isn’t as smooth or high-end as you’ll find on the more expensive Compaq Mini 700 but this netbook still feels pretty robust and firm in the hand.
The screen has a matt finish, instead of a high-gloss one, which is great when you’re using it out and about as you won’t get as many reflections popping up. However, the screen is a little on the dim side and not up to what we normally expect from HP netbooks.
The keyboard seems to have a great deal in common with the Compaq 700, having the same 92 per cent size. The keys feel great and highly comfortable to use. The trackpad is a good size too but this does mean the mouse buttons still sit either side of it, which can prove awkward.
Battery life was more than acceptable, as we managed to get a little under five hours from our review machine. This would make the HP Mini 110c great for use on the move with a Mobile Broadband option.
When it comes to specs, you’ll find everything is pretty much as you’d expect from a netbook, as the HP Mini 110c packs in an Intel Atom N270 processor, 1024MB of memory and 160GB hard drive. The good news is that Windows 7 is now the OS of choice. Sure, it’s only the Starter Edition but we found it loaded smoothly and apps run just as quickly as with Windows XP.
Verdict
We HP Mini 110c netbook. It may be a little basic in finish compared to earlier HP netbooks but as an aggressive price and with the addition of Windows 7, this netbook offers great usability as a great price.
Best features
Windows 7
Good keyboard
Decent battery life
Not so good
Dim screen
Awkward mouse buttons
Odd colours
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