HP Mini 110-3030NR 10.1-Inch Netbook (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this netbook to lug around Europe on an upcoming trip. Why carry around my beastly 8 lb dinosaur (that's on its last legs anyway) when I can carry something much lighter? This is my first netbook, so my experience with other netbooks is somewhat limited. That said, I'm not a complete stranger to them either, so take that for what it's worth.
First thoughts: wow, this HP setup stuff is annoying. I could be up and running manually in probably half the time. I guess it's useful for n00bs. At least it's one and done.
Second thoughts: Wow, there's a lot of crapware on this thing. That includes anything with "HP" in its name and plenty of other stuff as well.
Third thoughts were much more positive. After removing all the above crapware and getting this puppy configured to my liking, I was enjoying a really slick machine.
So netbooks are for browsing the web and watching some Youtube videos and such, right? Well, it does just fine at those tasks. I REALLY like the keyboard. That's really the one feature that nailed it for me. I've typed on other netbooks, and found them to be universally abhorrent. Not so with this little guy! Aside from hitting = instead of backspace, I can type almost full speed. It seems to be lacking PageUp and PageDown, and they're sorely missed. I tend to prefer to scroll with buttons rather than the touchpad, but if you're unlike me, you probably won't care.
I also appreciate that they put the useful functions (play, pause, volume, etc) as the primary function of the Function keys. I don't often need F1-F12, and I'm guessing you don't either. They're still available by holding the Function key (you know, the blueish one).
Windows 7 Starter is something of a cruel joke, but it's standard for this market segment, so not especially noteworthy.
The QuickWeb or whatever it's called is VERY fast. Within 5 seconds of a cold boot, you've got a usable machine. I don't use the mode much, because I don't do much IM or Skype these days. I prefer having access to a more full-featured (i.e. AdBlock) browser as well. I'm sure the function has its uses however. For one, it makes for great bragging rights. I impressed a few friends with it...and then booted into Windows when it came time to actually USE the thing.
WiFi reception is strong. I discovered a bunch of new WiFi networks near my house. 'Nuff said. I've connected to a few different networks in various locations with no problems. I was unable to connect to my cousin's network, however. She probably gave me the wrong password.
With the included 6 cell unit, battery life has been superb, after admittedly somewhat limited use. I got at least 9 hours out of my first charge. I generally have the brightness turned all the way down, and I turn off WiFi when not in use. The power settings are more or less at their defaults. Can't find any room to complain here. People that view a lot of video will probably experience faster drain. I don't spend a lot of time on that stuff (at least not on a 10.1" screen...not when I have a 22" monitor available for consuming video).
The display is nice enough. I'm not very demanding for this sort of thing when it comes to netbooks. Resolution is low, so I definitely recommend tweaking your web browser to reclaim some wasted vertical screen real estate. I managed to find some Firefox plugins that let me merge some toolbars and shrink them vertically. Then I found one to hide the names of my links on my Bookmarks toolbar. Very slick, and I probably regained a good half inch of vertical space. However many pixels that is. I've not had any problems with glare, but then again, my usage has been indoors or in the car (not while driving!)
Sound. Again, I have low standards here. It's loud enough to hear easily. My friend has a full-size laptop (a Toshiba) that is very nice, but really crappy when it comes to volume. You can crank it up to barely a whisper. Thankfully, that's not a problem with this HP. I already mentioned this, but the dedicated volume buttons are worth revisiting.
The fit and finish is quite excellent. The bottom of the unit is smooth and unblemished. No vents or anything to block or require cleaning. The unit is kind of annoying to open due to the lack of something good to grip. Regardless of that minor fault, it's a good looking unit that's just waiting for your fingerprints. A matte finish would be a nice option, but what is this, the early 2000's?
So, what's missing? HDMI, for one. Multitouch. Hard drive is smallish. If you can wait for configuration, you can order one of these from HP with a 250 GB hard drive for a reasonable upcharge. I didn't have enough time to wait, so I went stock.
At the end of the day, this product is highly recommended. I'd honestly put the review closer to 4.5 stars, but that's just not an option. I don't want to round up to 5, cause then it would seem like the usual review hyperbole.
Here're the quick facts for those that don't like prose:
Pros:
keyboard size/layout/feel(!)(seriously, it's great)
useful function keys
price
battery life (flush-fitting 6 cell battery FTW!)
overall fit and finish
QuickWeb is neat and possibly useful
Cons:
no HDMI (minor gripe...it's definitely an entry-level unit)
no multitouch (see above)
kind of annoying to open (nothing to grip)
loads of crapware
smallish 160 GB hard drive

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Enjoy ultra portable internet surfing and entertainment. Small, slim and stylish in black, the HP Mini 110-3030NR lets you surf the web and stay connected wherever you go. Amp up the fun with this netbook by playing videos and music and showing off your photos. E-mail, chat and instantly access your files from anywhere with exclusive, integrated software.At less than one inch thin and starting at just 2.99 pounds, this ultra-compact netbook won\'t weigh you down. With a 10.1" diagonal display and nearly full-size keyboard, the HP Mini 110-3030NR doesn\'t skimp on features—it comes complete with built-in wireless LAN, a 5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for easy file transfer and a webcam with integrated digital microphone.HP QuickWeb gives you fast access to your favorite sites, e-mail, IM and more. Stream video from other PCs easily and fast with HP MediaStream and use HP QuickSync to synchronize files with your home PC and connect to the same wireless network with ease.

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