When HP introduced the new Mini 5102 business-oriented netbook, the company promised that the base model would sell for $399 and up. But it looks like you might have to wait a little while to pick one up at that price.

HP recently added the netbook to is small business web site, and the cheapest price for a pre-configured HP Mini 5102 is $749. That price includes a 1.66GHz Atom N450 CPU, 4 cell battery, 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display. 2GB of RAM, 160GB 7200RPM HDD, 2MP webcam, 802.11b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 2.1. Part of the reason for the high price is that this model comes with Windows XP Professional, which is available through Windows 7 Professional downgrade rights. There’s no cheapo Windows 7 Starter license here.

I’m still hopeful that HP will offer additional “smart buy” configurations of this laptop soon, which could include the promised $399 configuration. HP will also likely offer customization options soon, allowing users to select an optional touchscreen, handle, and other features. But when you customize any item on the HP small business web site, you can expect to pay a premium.

Update: Some folks are reporting that when they visit the HP web site, the cheapest model they see is priced at $599 rather than $749. That model isn’t showing up for me yet, but your results may vary.

Update the second: The $399 model should arrive February 1st.

thanks Rookhawk!

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13 replies on “HP Mini 5102 now available… for $749 and up”

  1. I was torn on what to use for my next portable writing machine and after a ton of research had decided on this netbook + keeping my aging iMac. Oh well. Last night I used the money this would have cost and got a good price on a barely used Macbook. I’ll get a cheap netbook for travel later. Possibly an HP 5101. (Nearly won a model on ebay at a real good price but Nigerian scammers screwed it all up.)

    What a joke HP. I mean, it’s a good little machine but the price is ridiculous and I’m not going to wait 6 months for the price drop.

  2. Here are some additional 5102 updates that occurred today at HP. They now offer the 5102 for the low, low price of $599. This model is totally stripped down and compares to the $279-$329 HP 210HD model. HP continues to add additional preconfigured options written by someone with zero marketing background. Let me explain:

    Why would you pay a premium for a netbook?:
    Battery life. (6 cell)
    1366×768 HD screen
    SSD drive for more durability
    Built in HD accelerator card
    3G SIM card slot built in
    2gb of Ram (or 4gb) out of the box
    Premium OS instead of linux/xp/win7starter

    Yet, for $600-$700 you are getting none of those features whatsoever. HP has neutered their competitive advantage by providing an overpriced unit that fails to achieve the goals it set to accomplish at a reasonable pricepoint.

    Today I received my “new” quote for the 5102, a system I was sincerely hoping to use for audit/compliance work where we use it in datacenters and complete reports on long flights home. The new quote has 802n+bluetooth, 6 cell battery (and a 4 cell which you can’t say no to in their warped build process), 2gb RAM, 160gb hard drive, 1366×768 HD screen (no touch), HD accelerator card, NO 3G slot, carry handle, win7pro.

    How much for this middle of the road netbook you ask? $828 plus taxes.

    Did anyone forsee HP peddling the 5102 at this pricepoint when they said “starting at $400 on January 6th while claiming HD video and win7 starter would be standard?”

    I was thinking (as most were) that $800 would get you a touchscreen, 2gb, 80gb SSD, 6-cell, win7 product but that is simply not the case.

    Perhaps a reader can suggest a solution for my firm that will yield 8 hour battery life, HD resolution screen, win7 and bluetooth in a netbook offering? Surely someone has to have such a device available?

    1. I’d look at the Dell Mini 10. It’s not available with an HD screen yet, but
      it will be within the next few weeks. It gets about 9 hours of battery life,
      has a Bluetooth option, and comes with Win 7 Starter.

  3. With that said you could buy half-a-dozen OTHER netbooks with the same specs are a tricked out HP 210 HD for less too. I don’t like the way HP sells that 210 HD either. There are no real choices except color…so it is really on their site just so they can trick you into buying printers, cables, USB thumb drives, shoulder-bags, Wi-Fi, etc

    I suppose the HP 5102 looks nicer then anything else HP has, and its for business so “you” aren’t buying it your company is…but still it seems like a bad deal for cosmetics.

  4. Rookhawk…well put!

    I actually had this targeted as my next netbook because of the build quality and touchscreen option. I recently got rid of a T91mt because of its lack of processor power. But since then, I have had a hard time going without a touchscreen. Once you get used to it, it is a fantastic addition to the form factor. I was hopeful to get into a base unit with the touch screen for $600 but it does sound like that’s going to happen (at least in the near future). Are they even offering the touchscreen option yet? I heard another 2 months away!

  5. This just shows how much HP wants to kill netbooks by confusing people. Heck, Dell, Lenovo, HP, and many other want netbooks to die so we can’t just blame HP. They hate the netbook margins, yet they don’t want to sell more computers to make more money or sell apps to make more money. They believe there is only one way to make money — hardware! They don’t want to change, they just want to shift people away form $400 computers.

    We can only hope Acer, Asus, and MSi step in yet again to kick the stool out from under western manufactures so they hang themselves again.

  6. Thanks for the update, Brad. The readers may be interested to know that the one fairly decent upgrade price offered in the 5102 fiasco is a 80gb SSD for an additional $220 over the standard 160gb drive. There is also a coupon code for 12% off custom configured 5102 machines on HP small biz website.

    So to get a 5102 with the following:

    1300×768 HD screen
    Carry handle
    black finish
    1gb ram
    Win 7 starter
    80gb SSD
    802.11 b/g/n
    bluetooth
    4 cell battery
    HD accelerator card
    standard warranty

    You’d pay: $908 -12% = $799. Add the 6 volt battery that lends battery life to the unit = $1038 – 12% = $913.

    Of course readers are wondering why you wouldn’t go with 2gb of ram at this point? That requires a win 7 professional upgrade to be eligible. That puts you in the $1300 pricetag combined. Add the 128 gb SSD and you’re at $1500. Please note that you haven’t added the SIM card slot for wireless 3g networking (it’s over $100 and is incompatible with HD display/accelerator) and you’d then be in the $1600 range. Why stop there? Why not add on the capacitive touch screen display and spend in the $1700 price range for a netbook from HP?

    Being more realistic about all of this, you are going to spend $900 for the HP 5102 that has inferior specifications to a custom order HP Mini 210HD that has a retail of <$449 fully equipped.

  8. $749…which doesn’t even include the 6 cell battery, are you kidding me HP? Though this is under their business section, the HP 5102 had quite a lot of home users speculating…not any more.

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