Comments on: HP Mini 5102 to hit the magical $399 price point next week

By: Lilly

Lilly — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 22:31:00 +0000

hey, i just bought this pc its amazing and it has a 6 celluls batterie i used it and its awesome

By: HP To Lower Price Of Mini 5102 Netbook To $399 | Netbook Computers

HP To Lower Price Of Mini 5102 Netbook To $399 | Netbook Computers — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:55:29 +0000

[...] to Liliputing the Mini 5102 is going to get a price cut down to $399 starting in early February. At that price [...]

By: Rich

Rich — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:27:09 +0000

I just noticed that HP pulled the 5102 completely off their website. Maybe the new prices will kick in tomorrow?

I'm also disappointed in the new Smart Buy options mentioned here. Wish they would make the HD screen standard. I was playing around with the configurator the other day and the total came out to over $650. Way too much to spend on a netbook.

I might have to settle for one of the Smart Buy options. I prefer the design of the 5102 over the 210/2102.

By: Rich

Rich — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:27:09 +0000

By: HP Mini 5102 to get cheaper : Netbook Reviews and News: GadgetMix

HP Mini 5102 to get cheaper : Netbook Reviews and News: GadgetMix — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:13:41 +0000

[...] [via liliputing] [...]

By: crabolsky

crabolsky — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:20:49 +0000

One main element missing here (at least for me), is the absence of a touch screen “smart buy” option. Since it was one of the main features that set it apart from the 5101 and other netbooks, why aren't they at least giving it as an option now?

By: Anon

Anon — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:11:58 +0000

Business Level? You need at least 1366 x 768 resolution as 1024 x 768 is needed to use a projector in business meetings with PowerPoint of OpenOffice.org Impress. AND editing or showing these presentations at 1024 x 600 JUST IS NOT A GOOD PLAN.

HP needs to settle on 1366 x 768 as the minimum for business use.

By: HP’s 5102 fancy netbook to become more affordable

HP’s 5102 fancy netbook to become more affordable — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:37:51 +0000

[...] Source: Liliputing [...]

By: Brad Linder

Brad Linder — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:02:30 +0000

Nope. I'm not aware of any netbook that does.

By: Brad Linder

Brad Linder — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:02:14 +0000

Yes, the 7200rpm HDD does come standard. It may be possible to order the laptop with a 5400rpm HDD because HP does offer a number of configuration options if you're willing to pay. But there's not a single smart buy option that doesn't come with the faster hard drive. This was also true for the HP Mini 5101.

As for the config you want for $600, that's just not going to happen. The 80GB SSD alone will run you a couple hundred dollars. This isn't the same kind of cheap flash memory used in early netbooks. It's a real SSD with much faster-than-HDD read/write speeds (although I don't have the exact specs in front of me).

As far as the HD screen, while it's definitely popular with readers of this site, I was told by HP that there just isn't enough demand for it to make it one of the smart buy options.

A big part of the problem is that the Mini 5102 is sold through the business channel, which doesn't work the same way as the company's retail channel. For a retail netbook like the HP Mini 210, you can go to the website and choose from all of the customization options and place your order at the lowest available price. Through the business channel you either order one of a handful of smart buy configurations which are set up the way you like or you pay a premium for a custom job.

Trust me, I pressed HP on this when I got the chance, letting them know that there's a lot of interest in the business netbooks like the 5102, but that people get turned off when they have to pay $150 extra for the HD screen which should be just a $35 upgrade. But the unsatisfactory answer is simply that the business and retail channels do things differently.

By: juan

juan — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:57:15 +0000

does it have backlight keyboard?

By: Rookhawk

Rookhawk — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:21:31 +0000

A couple of updates and corrections. The 5102 does not come with the 7200 RPM 160gb drive standard (you get a 5400), but it is an option. What completely baffles me is why HP keeps making up smartbuy skus for the 5102 that is contrary to why someone would even buy a 5102. You don't leap to a 5102 because you want cheap!

HD screen, Accelerator Card (or 3g), Win 7 Pro, the carry handle, 80gb SSD, 6 cell battery, 2gb ram, bluetooth. Pretty straightforward really. We want that set up for about $600.

But did HP make such a smartbuy? Nope. That config is over $1000 today. The smartbuys are all neutered versions and all have the non-HD screen. HP is selling 5101s for less than $400 right now that have the same intrinsic properties as the $700 5102, albeit with the n270 chipset. What made HP think we'd want to pay double for a product with the same specs, formfactor and guts as another one of their products? Where is the competitive advantage? The upsell? The value add? HP, are you listening to these threads?

By: lccurtis1

lccurtis1 — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:15:42 +0000

Well I believe with the N450 processor this should get at least 6 hours with the 4 cell battery which is not that bad. So I can see me picking this one great buy in my opinion.

By: Marc

Marc — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:10:39 +0000

$399 sounds reasonable, but then you read the specs – only 4 cell battery? No, thanks, this is useless.
And then no HD display? Why would I pay $649 for a lousy 1024×600? Bad, HP, bad.

By: josrh

josrh — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:05:23 +0000

I'm imagining some nerds (myself included) doing group buys in the style of Steam discounts: orders of ten units with HD/touchscreen/handle/SSD to reap a discount, followed by shipping them to each other because HP sucks at serving enthusiasts.

Based on how quickly custom options jacked up the price on the 5101, this is the only way consumers will get what they want from this :'(