The HP Mini 5103 continues to corner the corporate user

HP have been synonymous with releasing netbooks for business and mobile workers ever since the first HP Mini 2133. Since then successive netbooks have followed suit offering great build quality and strong specifications. How then do the 3 HP Mini 510x netbooks compare?

The HP Mini 5101 was released in 2009 as a business-focused netbook with exceptional build quality, strong chassis, good keyboard and screen with excellent wireless connectivity. The versions that had Windows Vista as an operating system offered poor performance and battery life was average. What also let the 5101 down was the price tag at over £400 for a very portable machine but with a low powered Atom processor.

Next came the HP Mini 5102, released in early 2010 and incorporating what we all know to be the one true netbook specification, an Intel Atom N450 processor with integrated GMA 3150 graphics and 1Gb RAM. Lots of configuration options were available to create an excellent netbook although at significant expense. Whilst looking very similar to the 5101, operating systems such as the SUSE Linux Enterprise could be tried instead of the usual Windows XP plus the battery life improved due to the efficiency of the N450 processor.

Now the HP Mini 5103 has been released to further HP’s grasp on the corporate user who wants build quality and doesn’t mind the price too much. This time the 5103 has the slightly newer N455 processor, allowing it to use DDR3 memory instead of the slower DDR2 memory. Other than that performance is practically the same. The 250Gb hard drive is a 7,200rpm model, which should be quicker than many other netbooks.

Battery life continues to improve with PC Advisor managing to get well over 7 hours from their review model. The 5103 has many options, as with previous HP netbooks, but you can pick one up for a little over £400. Still pricey but still one of the best made netbooks available.

The HP 5101 and 5102 currently occupy positions 29 and 30 in our netbook rankings whilst the 5103 will feature in this overall netbook league table shortly.

Which one of these HP Mini netbooks do you prefer? Have a look at the full comparison below.

Related posts:

1. HP Mini 5101 vs HP Mini 5102 vs Toshiba NB305
2. HP Mini 311c vs HP Mini 110c vs HP Mini 210
3. HP 2140 Mini vs HP 2133 Mini Comparison

The HP Mini 5102 is an update to the successful and well received HP Mini 5101

The business netbook comparison – we’ve put 3 business favourites up against each other, namely the HP Mini 5101, its new sibling the HP Mini 5102 and the road warriors favourite, the Toshiba NB305.

Mobile workers and business users like their netbooks to be well made, solid, reliable and have a long battery life. The HP 5101 received good reviews when it was released in the summer of 2009 and is currently sitting at number 19 in our netbook rankings. Whilst reviewers liked its durable build and excellent keyboard they felt it was perhaps on the expensive side.

The HP Mini 5102 has just been released and was reviewed earlier this year. Again, good reviews but perhaps the 5102 is a small refresh rather than an overhaul of the 5101.

The Toshiba NB305 is already readily available to buy in the UK and has become a firm favourite after Toshiba gained netbook ground with the earlier NB200 model. The huge battery life and all round quality from the NB305 mean that mobile workers are happy to take it with them.

But which one of these 10 inch business netbooks do you prefer? Have a look at the full comparison below.

Related posts:

1. HP Mini 5101 vs HP Mini 5102 vs HP Mini 5103
2. Toshiba NB200 vs Toshiba NB300 vs Toshiba NB305
3. Toshiba NB305 Quick Review Roundup