HP Mini 100e

Student-focused mini laptops are what started the netbook category back in 2007. The dream of low-cost, durable machines for kids in the U.S. as well as emerging markets isn't dead, and HP's newest offering embodies both goals. The sub-$300 HP Mini 100e won't be available to consumers in the U.S., only to school systems, but for those lucky students it offers decent performance and long battery life for a good price. Is it a better choice than other student-focused offerings or inexpensive mass-market models?

Design

This 10.9 x 9.9 x 1.6-inch, 3.4-pound unit is thicker and heavier than the average netbook, though sleek and slim isn't necessarily a virtue in the student-focused netbook arena. The overall design employs rounded curves and a durable, white matte plastic chassis. The lid is plain except for a small, tasteful HP logo and a small LED light near the top that activates when the system is connected to the Internet; this feature helps teachers monitor network usage. Even though it is thick, the 100e doesn't feel bulky or look clunky. HP achieves an attractive and elegant (if plain) aura.

What's more important is how well it can stand up to rigorous use and abuse by kids who perhaps haven't yet learned how to take care of expensive electronics. To that end, HP has included some features to mitigate damage, such as a spill-resistant keyboard and a large carrying handle to lower the risk of dropping it. Other options include a hard drive accelerometer, which will park the needle if it senses a sudden tumble.

Though the netbook does exude sturdiness, we prefer the overall design of the extra-kid proof CTL 2go Convertible Classmate PC NL2. The CTL 2go netbook includes rubberized coating on the outside, reinforced edges, a scratch-resistant display, and an anti-microbial coating on the keyboard and touchpad.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The island-style keys are a good size and should be comfortable for both students and their parents. HP kept the keyboard as similar as possible to traditional netbooks, including key placement along the edges. The Shift, ALT, CTRL, and Fn keys are all in their normal positions, so kids learning to type won't have to make any strange adjustments when they move to full-size keyboards. We appreciated the small LEDs embedded in the Caps Lock, F11/Volume Mute, and F12/Wi-Fi keys that indicate when they're active.

Our only issue with the keys is that they sometimes required more deliberate taps than touch typists are used to. Every now and then a letter or two was dropped while typing at our normal rate. However, this would likely be beneficial to students learning to type, as it would encourage accuracy before speed.

The roomy 2.5 x 1.5-inch touchpad employs raised dots reminiscent of ASUS Eee PC Seashell models to help with tracking. But the surface on the 100e is softer, so while the effect is the same, the tactile sensation isn't as harsh as on the Eee PC. The two discrete mouse buttons along the bottom could be bigger but are about the right size for small fingers, and they offered snappy return.

Heat

One benefit of the Atom processor inside the 100e is that it keeps temperatures down. To test this, we played a Hulu clip at full screen for 15 minutes, then measured three key areas of the netbook. The touchpad reached only 75 degrees Fahrenheit, the space between the G and H keys measured 84 degrees F, and the middle of the underside stayed a relatively cool 89 degrees. Each of these is at or below the acceptable temperature zone, so parents won't have to worry about letting kids use these netbooks on their laps for long periods.

Display and Audio

The Mini 100e's 10.1-inch, 1024 x 600 matte display has extremely wide horizontal and vertical viewing angles, so a small group of students should be able to share a screen without encountering distortion or obfuscation. The netbook handled a 720p trailer for "The Discoverers" without dropping frames. Not only are colors nice and deep, but the netbook handled languid motion and transitions from light to dark well.

The audio quality isn't powerful, but given the small speakers on the front edge of the system, this is no surprise. While watching an episode of "The Closer" on TNT.tv (where the audio tends to be softer, just as with Hulu) we had to turn the volume up to 100 percent and still had a hard time hearing softer scenes over the air conditioner on low in the background.

Ports and Webcam

Most of the ports found on the 100e are typical for any netbook--VGA, Ethernet, memory card, headphone, and mic--with two notable differences. First, there are only two USB 2.0 ports, while most systems have three. It leaves room for what many would consider an anachronistic addition: a modem port. HP included this port for students who may not have Internet or high-speed broadband access at home. This way, they can still connect via a dial-up ISP, or dial in to the school's servers to download assignments. The 100e also includes a lock slot so they can be kept secure in the classroom environment.

The integrated VGA webcam produced decent images, but they tended to be dark in rooms with bright fluorescent lights overhead. It captures colors fairly well when the backlight doesn't overwhelm, and we had to move pretty quickly to start seeing blurriness in video. However, we wish that the 100e employed a swivel for the webcam similar to the CTL 2go PC NL2 so that students had a wider range of shots available to them.