Pictures: HP Mini 110 by Studio Tord Boontje
Tom on December 20, 2009
To help the netbook industry end 2009 with a bang, HP has teamed up with yet another niche design team to create a distinctive and individual run of 10-inch Mini 110 models. This time around, it’s by Studio Tord Boontje – a designer with Dutch-French influence.
And while it’s not as feminine as the blazing-pink Vivienne Tang version, the Mini 110 features an intricate design stemming from natural and animal structures. The Mini 110 incorporates HP’s unique 3D Imprint technology which achieves a novel ‘holographic’ effect on the lid of the “Mini Tord”, as I’ve called it, as you tilt it into different lights, revealing different patterns along the way.
The 10.1-inch glossy display on the Mini 110 is shared by the Studio Tord Boontje edition. It’s not too bright, or too sharp, but users of this relatively inexpensive choice shouldn’t worry. The 110 is only as wide as its keyboard – which, in turn, is 92% the size of a regular keyboard.
The keyboard is the most comfortable of any netbook we’ve used. It’s sized very well to make use of limited space. However, users with large hands will find the finnicky touchpad (with left and right click buttons placed on the sides) difficult to use.
The Mini 110 Studio Tord Boontje edition is very light and highly portable. It’s a snap to pick up and travel around with, or stack on some textbooks if you plan to use it for school. HP bundle a felt case with the Studio Tord Boontje edition which is a nice freebie.
HP’s novel 3D Imprint lid-layering technology brings out the unique 3D pattern inspired by designer Tord Boontje. When closed, the tapered profile of the Mini 110 make it look slightly thicker than it is.
A closeup of the lid design shows the effect of the 3D Imprint lid-layering technology.
When opened, the white-on-black design of the Mini 110 Studio Tord Boontje edition cuts a smart and attractive profile.
The display’s angles of viewing are not wide, but when faced front-on, the viewing experience is average.
While the Mini 110 gets on with only a dual headphone / microphone port, the netbook carries 3 USB ports which is above-average and very useful for flash drive-toting users like this reviewer.
The keyboard is only slightly smaller than a regular notebook but it retains a feel of solidarity with only a small amount of flex. The touchpad which is quite wide but very short is irregularly designed. The left and right click buttons are found to their respective sides of the main pad. As you will note though, there was room to place them in their regular positions where they should have been.
Minimal third-party advertising is placed on the palm rests. This sticker advertises the Windows 7 Starter Edition operating system, which is fine for netbooks but power users will find the limitations of Windows 7 Starter ’startlingly’ obvious – like the ability only to run three applications at once, no graphics-out (despite the fact the MIni 110 is equipped with VGA-out) and no DVD playback. Users however can upgrade to a better edition of Windows 7 with Windows Anytime Upgrade.
The palm rests do not benefit from HP’s 3D imprint and instead carry a simple leaf pattern with a matte texture for longevity.
The keyboard is slightly glossy and may wear somewhat over time, but its white colour will not accentuate oil accumulation like the black keyboard of the regular HP Mini 110.
Another view of the lid affords a look at the intricate detail of the Studio Tord Boontje design.
The right hand profile of the notebook displays the thin design along with a decent selection of ports for a netbook of this size.
The left side profile completes the selection of ports. The lower half of the notebook is constructed from matte, textured white plastic which affords better grip when travelling with the notebook. A single heat-expulsion vent is located on the left side, and there is noticeable heat buildup on the bottom of the Mini 110 when engaging in heavier tasks like video playback.
[...] While their nomenclature is scarily alike, the Compaq 201 and its more expensive cousin the HP Mini 210 are not that similar in terms of design or specification. The Compaq 201 is a remodel of the previous HP Mini, the Mini 110 – a model we looked fondly upon. [...]
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