Thread

HP 2133 Mini-Note

68kMLA Hardware 11 posts May 18, 2008 to May 19, 2008

#1 Sun, 18 May 2008 - 18:21 68kMLA

Just got it on Friday after a 3-week wait, and I spent a good part of Friday and Saturday figuring out how to install Kubuntu on it. Mine's the $499 model that's second from the bottom of the line, with a 1.2 ghz Via C7 processor, 120 gb hard drive and (originally) SuSE Enterprise 10.

Totally dwarfed by my iMac:

http://idisk.mac.com/fourseason7444-Public/mini-note.jpg

Stacked atop my 17" HP notebook for comparison:

http://idisk.mac.com/fourseason7444-Public/mini-note-pavilion.jpg

At first glance, the factory SuSE Linux install looks pretty good until you realize that they didn't bother fine-tuning it for the Mini-Note, and didn't even provide support for the wifi! Setup of Kubuntu took longer than usual because it was the first time I installed via network, and first time setting up niswrapper to work with Windows wifi drivers, and first time setting up an 802.11G connection with WPA2 encryption under Linux. Everything's working now though! Except maybe the webcam, which I haven't fussed with yet.

#2 Sun, 18 May 2008 - 18:28 68kMLA

Wow, looks nice. How's the battery life?

#3 Mon, 19 May 2008 - 04:17 68kMLA

Wow, thats like comparing LaserDisc to Compact Disk.

#4 Mon, 19 May 2008 - 05:05 68kMLA

Wow, looks nice. How's the battery life?

I haven't timed it, but the fuel gauge tells me it's good for about 2-1/2 hours with the small battery pack.

#5 Mon, 19 May 2008 - 05:38 68kMLA

2 1/2? An iBook gets 4

#6 Mon, 19 May 2008 - 14:13 68kMLA

2 1/2? An iBook gets 4

iBook's also bigger and heavier.

#7 Mon, 19 May 2008 - 14:27 68kMLA

2 1/2? An iBook gets 4

Click to expand...

iBook's also bigger and heavier.

But not too big and too heavy.

I have been completely unable to find a laptop or subnotebook of any brand that will give me as long battery life as my three year 12" G4. It's disgraceful.

#8 Mon, 19 May 2008 - 19:34 68kMLA

It's reasonable that when a machine has a tiny battery, it'll have tiny battery life.

Did you get the giant battery that sticks out the back/bottom of the machine an inch or two, or is it the battery that's just about the size of 5-6 AAAs?

Other than that, it looks like a great little machine. When they first came out I gave getting one a bit of thought, it's about as much power (in a higher end one) as my ThinkPad R61i, in a much smaller package.

#9 Mon, 19 May 2008 - 19:45 68kMLA

But not too big and too heavy.

That's a matter of opinion.

Macbook:

27.5x325x227 HxWxD

2.27kg

HP Mini-Note

27x255x165 HxWxD

1.27kg

I have been completely unable to find a laptop or subnotebook of any brand that will give me as long battery life as my three year 12" G4. It's disgraceful.

Without even looking very hard...

Panasonic claims up to 9 hours:

http://www.panasonic.com/business/toughbook/business-rugged-computers.asp

Sony claims up to 8.5 hours:

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644507782&parentCategoryId=16154

Sure, they're expensive, but (shrug).

#10 Mon, 19 May 2008 - 19:48 68kMLA

It's reasonable that when a machine has a tiny battery, it'll have tiny battery life.
Did you get the giant battery that sticks out the back/bottom of the machine an inch or two, or is it the battery that's just about the size of 5-6 AAAs?

Other than that, it looks like a great little machine. When they first came out I gave getting one a bit of thought, it's about as much power (in a higher end one) as my ThinkPad R61i, in a much smaller package.

I got the small battery, and I'm kind of glad I did.

As a main machine, it'd be tough because although the screen has plenty of resolution, it's TINY.

#11 Mon, 19 May 2008 - 20:04 68kMLA

Panasonic claims up to 9 hours:
Sony claims up to 8.5 hours:

Sure, they're expensive, but (shrug).

Well, neither of those are available here.

The Panasonic looks nice, though.