HP Mini 5101 FM978UT

Discontinued

Reviewed

October 2009

Pros

Faster wireless speed than other netbooks
Advanced features you can customize
Sturdy build
Comfortable keyboard

Cons

Expensive
Battery life can't match Toshiba's mini NB205-N310
Omits ExpressCard slot

Where to Buy

for $500.00

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Great construction quality and a tough metal housing help the 10.1-inch HP Mini 5101 netbook withstand the rigors of travel better than most other netbooks, experts say. Several versions of this netbook are available, but reviewers prefer the FM978UT, which includes a six-cell battery that can keep on going for up to eight hours between charges. A version with a less robust three-cell battery -- the FM955UT (*Est. $400 and up) -- is also available. Features are typical for top netbooks -- including an Intel Atom N280 processor, 160 GB hard drive and 1 GB of RAM -- but the Mini 5101's Wireless-N radio delivers faster throughput than Wireless-G rivals, including the Toshiba mini NB205-N310 (Discontinued), though the Toshiba laptop offers better battery life and a slightly nicer keyboard and touchpad. For an added cost, you can upgrade the HP Mini 5101 to 2 GB of memory, a hard drive up to 320 GB, a 128 GB solid-state drive and built-in wireless broadband -- even a high-def screen -- though doing so can also push the total cost past $600.

Laptop Magazine, PCMag.com and CNET conduct complete tests of the HP Mini 5101 and rate it alongside other netbooks. Wi-FiPlanet.com doesn't rank netbooks against each other, but its tests are just as good. The report at About.com compares features, but does not appear to be testing based. User feedback on the HP Mini 5101 is limited, but Amazon.com does list a few owner reviews.

Where To Buy

Quantum Technology Certified Spec 2GB DDR2 PC2-6400 800MHz RAM Memory SODIMM Module for HP/Compaq Mini 5101 FM978UT
(4 reviews)

Our Sources

1. Laptop Magazine Details/Subscribe

The HP Mini 5101 is named an Editors' Choice award-winner. Its touchpad is smaller and less smooth than the one on the top-rated Toshiba mini NB205, and its battery life isn't quite as long, tester Michael Prospero finds -- but the Mini 5101's wireless throughput is much faster. That, plus its rugged design, makes it a good buy for business travelers despite its higher price tag, he says.

Review: HP Mini 5101 (FM978UT), Michael A. Prospero, July 23, 2009

2. PCMag.com Details/Subscribe

The HP Mini 5101 earns a 4-star rating (out of 5) and PCMag.com's GreenTech seal of approval. Its big, fast hard drive options, Wireless-N compatibility and available built-in 3G wireless make it "the most compelling netbook for business users," tester Cisco Cheng says. An initial review sample had a noisy hard drive, but a subsequent unit showed no signs of the problem.

Review: HP Mini 5101, Cisco Cheng, Updated Aug. 17, 2009

3. CNET

The HP Mini 5101 earns an "excellent" rating of 4 stars (out of 5). CNET's Dan Ackerman likes its sturdy build and comfortable keyboard and touchpad, but he's irritated that HP dropped the ExpressCard slot that was present in earlier models.

Review: HP Mini 5101, Dan Ackerman, July 29, 2009

4. Wi-FiPlanet.com

Wi-FiPlanet.com tests the HP Mini 5101's Wireless-N capability against a Dell desktop and gets faster data transfer with the desktop. However, as a mobile device, the Mini 5101's performance is "impressive."

Review: Review: Hewlett-Packard Mini 5101 Netbook, Gerry Blackwell, Sept. 21, 2009

5. About.com

About.com's Mark Kyrnin names the HP Mini 5101 the best netbook for business travelers. Performance testing is not noted, but comments and conclusions are in line with what we've seen elsewhere. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Review: HP Mini 5101 10.1-inch Netbook Laptop PC, Mark Kyrnin, Aug. 25, 2009

6. Amazon.com

This new model had accumulated only seven owner reviews at Amazon.com when we checked. Also, we found only reviews for the short-battery version. Still, the HP Mini 5101 earns an average of 4.5 stars (out of 5).

Review: HP Mini 5101 FM955UT, Contributors to Amazon.com

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HP Mini 5101 FM978UT Review

HP Mini 5101 FM978UT