HP Mini 1104 Insists The Netbook Isn't Dead

The netbook isn't dead, HP reckons, but it is getting marginalized into business and education environments, with the new HP Mini 1104 targeting schools and suits rather than home users. A 10.1-inch 1024 x 600 machine running Intel's 1.6GHz dual-core Atom N2600 processor with GMA 3600 graphics and up to 2GB of RAM, the Mini 1104 promises durability and performance for those who may be frustrated by text-entry on a tablet.

So, you get a 93-percent full-sized keyboard and a multitouch trackpad, as well as a battery that's apparently good for up to nine hours of runtime. Connectivity includes three USB 2.0 ports, VGA and audio in/out, along with an ethernet port, and there's a microphone and stereo speakers along with the VGA-resolution webcam.

Wireless options include WiFi a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0+HS, and there's the choice to add HSPA+ mobile broadband with GPS too. Storage is courtesy of a 320GB 5,400rpm hard-drive, though HP is happy to sell you a USB DVD burner as well.

A spill-resistant keyboard and motion-detecting hard-drive round out the key specs, while software is either Windows 7 or FreeDOS. Pricing for the HP Mini 1104 is from $399.