HP has added to its bevy of netbooks with a business-oriented mini PC using Intel's Atom N280 processor. The “HP Mini 5101” includes a “95 percent” keyboard, available 1366 x 768-pixel display, hard- or solid-state disk (SSD) storage, and optional mobile broadband module, the company says.

Reportedly intended to replace the Mini 2140 — a business-oriented netbook HP introduced as recently as January — the Mini 5101 again sports a "DuraKeys" coating intended to protect its keyboard from wear, plus a case crafted of aluminum and magnesium. However, the device now has a "chiclet-style" keyboard, said to be 95 percent of full-size (instead of the 2140's "92 percent").

HP touts the fact that the Mini 5101's mouse buttons "are located in the traditional space below the touchpad, making for a familiar user experience." This, no doubt, is a tacit admission that the side-mounted buttons featured on the Mini 2140 were unpopular with customers.

HP's business-oriented Mini 5101 comes only in black
(Click to enlarge)

Like the Mini 2140, the Mini 5101 features a 10.1-inch display that's available with either a standard resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, or an "HD" option with 1366 x 768 pixels. The device also includes 802.11a/b/g/n wireless, but differs from its short-lived predecessor by failing to include an ExpressCard expansion slot.

In compensation, says HP, the netbook will be available with an integrated cellular modem employing Qualcomm's Gobi chipset. This chipset allows users to connect to HSPA (high-speed packet access) networks, generally found in Europe, and EVDO (evolution data optimized) networks, generally found in the U.S, according to Qualcomm.

Compared to other netbooks, the Mini 5101 also includes relatively hefty storage options. According to HP, the device is available with 160GB, 250GB, or 320GB hard disk drives, all spinning at a nippy 7200rpm. Meantime, 80GB or 120GB SSDs are also said to be available, though they're not likely to be cheap. In addition, says HP, the Mini 5101's webcam is a two megapixel device, unlike the 0.3 or 1.3 megapixel webcams on most other netbooks.

Other specifications listed by HP are par for the course, including ingredients such as a 1.6GHz Atom N280 processor, a gigabit Ethernet port, an SD/MMC expansion slot, three USB 2.0 ports, audio I/O, and a VGA port. According to HP, the Mini 5101 can be purchased with either a four-cell or six-cell battery, the latter claimed to offer run times of up to eight hours. Both batteries can be charged to within 90 percent of capacity in just 90 minutes, the company adds. Also, the Mini 5101's memory may be expanded without the use of tools, as shown in the video at the end of our story.

The Mini 5101 is available with SUSE Linux Enterprise 11, which HP uses on its more business oriented netbooks instead of its homegrown, Ubuntu-based "Mi" distro. This appears to be Novell's standard SUSE Linux as opposed to the new Moblin v2 version, currently in beta, which appears to be destined for MSI Wind and Acer Aspire One netbooks. The Mini 5101 also supports Windows XP Home, XP Pro, Vista Home Basic, and Vista Business.

HP Mini 5101
(Click to enlarge)

Features and specifications listed by HP for the Mini 5101 include:

• Processor — Intel Atom N280 clocked at 1.6GHz
• Memory — Up to 2GB of RAM
• Display — 10.1-inch LED-backilt screen, offered in 1024 x 576 or 1366 x 768 resolutions
• Webcam — 2 megapixel
• Storage — 160GB, 250GB, or 320GB hard disk drives (7200rpm), or 80GB or 120GB SSDs
• Networking:
  • LAN — Gigabit Ethernet
  • WLAN — 802.11a/b/g/n
  • PAN — Bluetooth 2.0 (optional)
• Other I/O:
  • 3 x USB
  • VGA
  • Audio — mic in, headphone/line out
• Expansion:
  • 1 x SD/MMC
• Battery — Four-cell (29Wh) or six-cell (55Wh)
• Dimensions — 10.3 x 7.09 x 0.91 inches (262 x 180 x 23.2mm)
• Weight — 2.64 pounds with hard drive and four-cell battery

Upgrading RAM on the Mini 5101
Source: Liliputing (click to play)

Availability

According to HP, the Mini 5101 will be available late next month, for prices starting at approximately $450. More information may be found here.

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This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.