<p>The screen shows some differences in brightness when you move your head up and down, but this is a common thing on a larger display. I have noticed some brighter areas near the bottom (around 2cm high), and a bit darker lower left corner (only 5mm or so). But I notice it only if I search for it – so I guess backlighting is ok.</p>
<p>An interesting thing is the ambient sensor that can be turned on or off if desired. It makes the screen dimmer in the dark and brighter in light conditions thus helping the eyes to adjust. There are no dead pixels and that makes me very happy!</p>
<p>I also have noticed that the colours, brightness and contrast are much closer to some professional 23” desktop screens (namely one 23” Sony I have) that are colour calibrated and this is an additional plus. I have seen better screens than this one, but the overall score is very good at 4.5 / 5. This notebook has a screen that looks better from a distance. If you don’t mind stretched arms (you can use an external keyboard) – I would recommend being at least 70 cm away.</p>
<p>This notebook was bought directly from HPshopping.ca. I got this when HP had their 10-15% online savings deal, so I saved over $120, plus HP were offering a mail-in-rebate for an additional $100 off. My online receipt said my nx7300 would come with Win XP Pro, but when I received the laptop it actually came with Vista Business.</p>
<p>Build & Design</p>
<p>The HP NX series laptops all have very similar designs. The lid is a dark gray with the staple HP logo in the middle, the rest of the laptop is black. I personally like the look; it’s simple, modern-looking, and professional. Black never goes out of style, just ask Steve Jobs.I chose the 1280 x 800 Brightview display (glossy). Don’t buy this laptop and expect too much from the screen, because you might be disappointed. But if you have realistic expectations about what a budget laptop can get you, you’ll be satisfied. Viewing angles are satisfactory but colors warp when you’re viewing off angle by just a bit.</p>
<p>The speakers are actually pretty good, to my ears at least. Sound is very subjective. What sounds good to one person might not sound good to another. What I can tell you for sure is that there is no crackling or hissing even at medium-high volume, music sounds clear and overall I would rate the speakers as above average.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-inspiron-n7010-battery.html"><strong>Dell Inspiron N7010 Battery</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-inspiron-1721-battery.html"><strong>Dell Inspiron 1721 Battery</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-vostro-1500-battery.html"><strong>Dell Vostro 1500 Battery</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-vostro-1700-battery.html"><strong>Dell Vostro 1700 Battery</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-precision-m4300-battery.html"><strong>Dell Precision M4300 Battery</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-vostro-1310-battery.html"><strong>Dell Vostro 1310 Battery</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-latitude-e5500-battery.html"><strong>Dell Latitude E5500 Battery</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-latitude-e5510-battery.html"><strong>Dell Latitude E5510 Battery</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-xps-15-battery.html"><strong>DELL XPS 15 Battery</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-xps-17-battery.html"><strong>DELL XPS 17 Battery</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-inspiron-1525-battery.html"><strong>Dell Inspiron 1525 Battery</strong></a> </li>
</ul>
<p>The notebook was purchased directly from HP in Malaysia. HP’s online store here offers the nc6400 as a configure to order model, albeit for only 2 versions — the Intel integrated graphics model (EH522AV) and the 64MB dedicated graphics model (EH520AV). Instead, I wanted the model with 128MB discrete graphics (EH522AV) because it only cost $80 more, so I had to place my order through the phone.</p>
<p>The first rep I called said the model has been discontinued. Knowing this as a standard reply for when they can’t find it on their system, I tried calling the next day and got a different rep who was really knowledgeable, hence was able to place the order for me. The CTO models are basically what HP calls Base Units, which are “barebones” notebooks where customers have to select a processor, RAM, Hard Drive, display, BT and WIFI to build a complete product. This particular model is an RCTO, which stands for Regional Configure to Order. This can imply several things, i.e. the notebook may be assembled in a regional plant closest to the location of purchase, customised to a region-specific configuration and may carry a regional warranty.</p>
<p>The notebook took 6-working days from order confirmation to delivery at my doorstep. This proved extremely quick but I’m not surprised as it is made in Singapore, where HP has a production facility.This notebook feels very solid and sturdy. There are no noticeable creaks when pressure is applied to the assembly and it appears very well-constructed, unlike my previous Toshiba which has tremendous keyboard flex and creaks when you pick it up. The metal hinges which are enclosed by plastic also felt very strong.</p>
<p>Battery</p>
<p>I managed to get a little over 3 hours out of the standard 6-cell battery in Windows with light to moderate tasks such as browsing, e-mailing, word processing, running a Java IDE and instant messaging. On Linux, performing similar tasks and using optimal power saving configuration, I am able to get approximately 2.5 hours of battery life.</p>
<p>This notebook comes with an Intel 3945 abg wireless card. It has pretty good range and has no problems maintaining a stable connection within reasonable distance of the router.</p>
<p>A minor annoyance here is that the WIFI and the Bluetooth module are mapped to the same wireless switch, so activating the WIFI via the switch also activates the Bluetooth. This can be overwritten using the HP’s Wireless Assistant utility.</p>
<p>As I mentioned above, the keyboard is almost full size. It is 92% of a full sized keyboard, which is quite impressive for such a small form factor. It is much more comfortable to type on compared to the keyboards found on most 10-inch netbooks. However, the touchpad can be awkward since the placement of the right and left touchpad buttons are on the right and left sides rather than beneath the touchpad. As you can see from the pictures in this review the Mini 2140 also has neat power and Wi-Fi switches that light up and change from blue when on to orange when off.</p>
<p>Compared to the screens on other netbooks with 10-inch screens, the screen on the HP Mini 2140 is a bit of a mixed blessing. On one hand, the screen is nice and large with bright colors and good contrast. The screen doesn’t offer wide viewing angles so people sitting around you won’t have the best view of your screen. However, the biggest annoyance with the screen is the meager resolution of 1024 x 576 in the base configuration. This is actually lower resolution than the 8.9-inch screen used on last year’s Mini-note 2133 which featured a 1280 x 768 resolution. The lower resolution on the Mini 2140 makes it easier to read small text, but the tradeoff is you can’t fit as much text on the screen at one time. This means you have to scroll up and down more when viewing websites and some software menus might not fit on the screen as they should (since many software designers assume a modern computer screen has at least 600 pixels worth of vertical resolution.</p>
<p>Beyond the limited resolution the only additional issue that caused concern with the screen on the Mini 2140 was the use of an additional protective layer of glossy plastic over the screen. While this extra layer of plastic helps protect the display, the unfortunate side effect is significant reflection. We’re not talking about a typical glossy screen you might have seen on notebooks prior to 2008. We’re talking about a screen with a completely separate glossy layer applied over (and in front of) the actual display surface.</p>
<p>The reflections on the screen aren’t noticeable at all in a dark room, but most people don’t use their notebooks in the dark unless they’re just watching movies. If you aren’t sensitive to reflections then the screen is beautiful when viewed from straight ahead.As mentioned previously, most people find using the touchpad on the Mini 2140 a little awkward. The right and left click buttons are what catch you off guard. The buttons are located on the sides of the touchpad and it’s easy to forget where they are located if you’re used to a regular touchpad. I would have liked the palm rest area to be a little bigger so the buttons could have been relocated below the touchpad like on standard notebooks and most netbooks. The button above the touchpad is a convenient feature that turns the touchpad off and makes it inactive when you are typing or using an external mouse.Overall, the port selection is amazing for a notebook this size. However, we would have like to see one of the USB ports replaced with a combo USB/eSATA port. HP uses combo USB/eSATA ports on almost all of their larger notebooks and the combo port allows you to use either USB devices or eSATA devices such as high-speed external storage drives. Considering how easy it would have been to make one of the USB ports a combo port, we’re a little surprised HP didn’t do that.</p>
<p>One additional thing worth mentioning regarding ports is that HP doesn’t offer built-in 3G WWAN (mobile broadband from a provider such as AT&T or Verizon) with the Mini 2140. If you want to stay connected to the internet via WWAN you have to use an adapter card in the ExpressCard slot or one of the USB ports. It’s sad to see that HP doesn’t offer the option considering that smaller netbooks like the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 offer built-in WWAN.The ultra low voltage VIA processor in last year’s HP Mini-note 2133 generated far more heat than we typically expect from ultra low voltage processors. Temperatures on the new Mini 2140 are thankfully much, much more comfortable thanks to the use of the Intel Atom processor. Temperature readings taken from the outside of the aluminum and plastic chassis rarely spiked above 95 degrees Fahrenheit … compared to well above 110 degrees Fahrenheit in the previous generation.</p>
<p>The cooling fan was usually running at low speed during our tests and rarely increased to full speed. Most of the time the fan can’t be heard even in a perfectly quiet office environment … unless you put your ear next to the fan exhaust.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-inspiron-1546-battery.html"><strong>Dell Inspiron 1546 Battery</strong></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-xps-m1730-battery.html"><strong>Dell XPS M1730 Battery</strong></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-xps-m1530-battery.html"><strong>Dell XPS M1530 Battery</strong></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-latitude-d510-battery.html"><strong>Dell Latitude D510 Battery</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-latitude-d530-battery.html"><strong>Dell Latitude D530 Battery</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-latitude-d610-battery.html"><strong>Dell Latitude D610 Battery</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-inspiron-6000-battery.html"><strong>Dell Inspiron 6000 Battery</strong></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-inspiron-9400-battery.html"><strong>Dell Inspiron 9400 Battery</strong></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-xps-m1710-battery.html"><strong>Dell XPS M1710 Battery</strong></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-precision-m6300-battery.html"><strong>Dell Precision M6300 Battery</strong></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-xps-m1330-battery.html"><strong>Dell XPS M1330 Battery</strong></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbattery.co.uk/dell-vostro-1000-battery.html"><strong>Dell Vostro 1000 Battery</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p>Below are images indicating the temperature readings (listed in degrees Fahrenheit) taken inside our office where the ambient temperature was 74 degrees Fahrenheit:</p>
<p>Battery</p>
<p>Overall, the HP Mini 2140 did a reasonable job in terms of power management. With the Mini 2140 connected to a Wi-Fi network and browsing the web with the display at about 80 percent brightness, we obtained 2 hours and 21 minutes of battery life with the standard 3-cell battery. Using the same settings we obtained 4 hours and 15 minutes of battery life with the 6-cell extended life battery.</p>
<p>Bottom line, the Mini 2140 makes an excellent mobile business companion with the extended life battery. The only possible negative to using the extended life battery is that the larger 6-cell battery sticks out from the bottom of the notebook adding both size and weight. However, this also has the advantage of providing a more ergonomic angle to the keyboard for typing.</p>