HP introduces new Mini 5101 business netbook

Seeking to cement its lead in the business-oriented netbook space, Hewlett-Packard Co. today announced an updated Mini netbook.

Starting at $449, the Mini 5101 will come with a brighter backlit-LED screen, a larger, spill-resistant keyboard and a better-resolution 2-megapixel Webcam.

The Mini 5101 will also have a slightly faster Intel Atom processor, a new security feature and a higher-quality metal case than the current Mini 2140, according to Carol Hess-Nickels, director of marketing for business netbooks at HP.

The Mini 5101 will use Intel's Atom N280, which runs at 1.66 GHz, instead of the 1.6 GHz N270 in the Mini 2140, released less than six months ago.

The 5101 will retain the Mini 2140's spiffy anodized aluminum case, but add a magnesium metal bottom, said Hess-Nickels.

The flat, open key layout will have a MacBook-like look-and-feel, and will be slightly larger, at 95% of full-laptop-keyboard-size, than the 2140's 92% size.

Generally considered the third-leading netbook vendor behind Acer Inc. and Asus Inc., HP is among a few vendors to explicitly target business buyers with its netbooks.

The Mini 5101 will be HP's fourth business netbook in less than a year and a half. It released the Mini 2133 in early 2008, and followed that up with the much-improved Mini 2140.

HP announced a lower-end business Mini netbook in May, the Mini 1101.

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