Why do you plan to buy a mini-laptop?

- You need basic computing: email, browse Internet, simple document editing/creating.
- You want to be connected (to the Net)
- You need both above anytime and anywhere.

Which mini-laptop do you need?

A. Basic configuration: Intel Atom 1.6GHz N270 processor, 1GB memory, 160GB hard disk drive, 10.1-inch screen, 802.11g Wi-Fi, Windows XP.

B. Higher-end configuration: Intel Atom 1.66GHz N280 processor, 1GB memory, 160GB 7200rpm HDD, 10.1-inch screen, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Windows 7

C. Newer configuration:

• Model 1 (better graphics performance): Intel Atom 1.66GHz N280 processor, 1GB memory, 160 hard disk drive, 11.6-inch wide screen, nVidia ION LE graphics card, 802.11g/n Wi-Fi, Windows XP. (HP Mini 311)
• Model 2 (more speed and battery life): Intel Atom N280 processor, 10.1-inch display, 160GB hard disk drive, 2MB memory, 10.5 hours battery life.
• Model 3 (more RAM and hard disk capacities): Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz, 2GB memory, 320GB hard disk drive, HDMI port, Windows 7 (iiView A2)

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Install Windows 7 on Mini-Laptop

Do you want to install Windows 7 on your mini laptop? Fortunately, Microsoft has released a utility for the installation.

The utility, Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, can create a copy of .iso file to a USB flash drive or DVD. The tool can create a bootable USB flash drive or DVD. The .exe file is 947KB, and can be downloaded from Microsoft online store.

To install Windows 7, insert the flash drive into your mini-laptop and run setup.exe from the root of the drive. But before the installation, you need to configure your mini-laptop's BIOS, so that the flash drive is on first list of boot order.

If your mini-laptop currently runs Windows XP, then you should do "clean" installation. It means, you need to back up your applications and data. And after installing the Windows 7, restore the applications and data.

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Acer AS1410: Full-fledged Laptop But at Mini-Laptop’s Price and Size

Do you plan to buy a mini-laptop? Wait and consider a latest model: Acer AS1410. It is a full-fledged laptop but with both size and price of a mini-laptop. Acer delivers it in a sleek and stylish design. According to Acer, it has relatively long battery life: six hours.

• Notice its specs: Intel Celeron SU2300 1.2Ghz processor (with a 1MB L2 cache and an 800MHz FSB); 11.4-inch widescreen (16:9; 1366x768 resolution); 2GB DDR2 memory (upgradeable to 4GB); 160GB 5400rpm (up to 250GB) hard drive; Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD; HDMI out; 802.11a/b/g/n, 3 USB 2.0 ports; 6-cell battery 4400 mAh; Windows 7; one-inch-thin and 3.08 pounds; card reader; webcam; two built-in stereo speakers.
• The trackpad supports multi-touch and the keyboard is full-sized. Three color options: Diamond Black, Sapphire Blue, and Ruby Red.
• Its price starting at only $400.
• Amazon.com is displaying the model but with slightly different specs: Acer Aspire AS1410-8913 11.6-Inch Notebook. It started available on October 20th.

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Mini-Laptop: Hewlett-Packard Mini 311

HP Mini 311 is the first mini-laptop using nVidia ION LE graphics card. Mini 311 is for you who can only afford a netbook but want to play and edit high definition videos. HDMI-Out is supported natively because of the nVidia graphics card. You can plug a larger display with 1,920x1,080 resolutions. There are also VGA Out, three USB ports, nVidia's Ethernet, and 5-in-1 card reader.

- Graphics performance: On 3DMark06 (which measures graphics performance), the score is 1,386, more than 1,280 points above mini-laptop average. Mini 311 runs 720p and 1080i (24fps) movie clips well, but not 1080p (24fps) clips - there is noticeable lag. Most high end games are uplayable on the Mini 311. High-end 3D games are still best played on full-fledged laptops.

- System performance: On PCMark05, tested by LaptopMag.com, which measure overall system performance, the score was 1,917. That is almost 500 points above of the current mini-laptops average of 1,423. Boot time was 1 minute 44 seconds, it is very slow (for mini-laptop, 55 seconds is the average).

- Screen: 11.6-inch widescreen, 1,366x768 pixel

- Keyboard size 92% (of full-sized keyboard), and the touchpad is unsually wide (3.3x1.5 inches) and responsive, while the mouse buttons made these loud clicking noises.

- Connectivity: 802.11n Wi-Fi (most mini-laptop have just 802.11g) and embedded mobile broadband (will cost you extra $125).

- Battery life: 5 hours 29 minutes (MobileMark 2007 test).

- Specs: Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz processor, 160GB/5,400 rpm HDD, 1GB RAM (upgradable to 3GB), Windows XP Home.

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Acer Offers Android Mini-Laptop

Acer announced its new mini-laptop that runs Google’s Android operating system. Actually the new mini-laptop also runs Microsoft Windows. According to Acer, users will be able to switch between the two operating systems.

The mini-laptop has been available. You can order it at Amazon.com, listed at $349.9.

The Aspire One with Android powered by Intel Atom N280 microprocessor, 1GB of DDR2 DRAM and a 160GB hard disk drive. It has a 10.1-inch screen and 6-cell battery. The mini-laptop can be booted in either Android or Windows XP Home. The Android OS takes 18 second to boot-up and shuts down in 3 second.

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Mini-Laptop: HP Mini 5101

• TARGET. The HP Mini 5101 is aimed at businesses and high-demand users.
• SPECS. The Mini 5101 is powered by Intel Atom N280 1.66GHz processor with 1GB of RAM and runs Windows XP. The hard disk has capacity of 160GB, while it is typical for mini-laptops, but it spins at a faster 7,200 rpm. There are a standard VGA out (the Mini 1000 didn't have one), a radio on/off switch, an SD card reader, HP display option, and three USB slots. The 2-mega pixel webcam offers excellent images.
• DESIGN. Compared to budget Mini 110, the Mini 5101 features HP's 3D Drive guard - an on-board accelerometer that protects the hard drive when falling or shocking. DESIGN. Its design is much like a higher-end ultra portable: the metal chassis and aluminum lid are downright solid. Measuring 10.3x7.1x0.9 inches, the 5101 is more boxy and brawny than its predecessors: the 2133 and 2140. The keyboard is large and spacious. The track pad is smaller but workable. The keys, palm rests, track pad buttons, and underside of the chassis get a soft-touch rubber coating which fell good on your hands (called SoftTouch). But the metal covering LCD lid picks up fingerprints. At 2.8 pounds, the 5101is about average when it comes to mini-laptop weight.
• DISPLAY. The 10.2-inch display has 1024x600 pixel resolution - typical for a mini-laptop. It has good viewing angles both vertically and horizontally.
• PERFORMANCE. On PCMark05, the 5101 scored 1,626. It is better than average of 1,383. The 5101's graphics performance also above the average, notching 782 in 3DMark03, and 127 in 3DMark06.
• BATTERY LIFE. Its six-cell battery lasted 7 hours and 52 minutes.
  

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