GOOD TO KNOW:
- Small, slim and exceptionally lightweight
- Surprisingly powerful and capable for such a small device
- More connectivity options than most bigger notebooks
- Aimed squarely at the female market
This is one of those gadgets that is truly girls-only, and everything from the glossy, gold exterior to the features and functionality speak of being designed with the fairer sex in mind. The Butterfly Lovers-themed netbook is the lovechild of fashion designer, Vivienne Tam and was launched on the runway at New York Fashion Week, proving to the market that this piece of technology is more than just a computer – it's the latest fashion accessory that finds itself classified as a digital clutch.
Small, slim and compact, this netbook fits perfectly into my handbag and is comfortable to carry, being no heavier than a novel and little thicker than one too. It's the ultimate in chic mobility and weighs a mere 1,2kg and is less than an inch thin. It has a 93% near-full sized keyboard, with comfortably spaced keys that are embedded in the chiclet style – which makes for quick, easy touch-typing. The touchpad is a pleasure to use, with two click buttons on the bottom.
Don't let the small size of this netbook fool you – it works as hard as it can play, and with 5.5 hours of untethered battery life, this is the perfect companion to take to conferences, lectures and to be your work companion and personal assistant when on the road.
In terms of thinking power – you'll be pleased to know that this netbook isn't all beauty on the outside; it also has beautiful brains on the inside. It runs on an Intel Atom N450 processor that delivers surprisingly reliable performance and the operating system is the familiar yet pleasantly-updated Windows experience that is Windows 7 Home Premium. This netbook is more than capable, and has 2GB of system memory as well as a 250GB hard drive.
This little device is all about integrating and fitting into my lifestyle, perfectly. It will soon became an extension of my person, and the centre of my digital universe – with three USB ports (that's more than on a MacBook, in case you were wondering) and a VGA port for connecting a monitor or projector – making it simple to plug into my desktop when you're stationed at home or the office, or plugging into a projector when when about to give a presentation. There's also a 5-in-one memory card reader slot, which is not something usually even seen on bigger notebooks.
As a networking tool, social butteflies like me, won't be disappointed by the HP Mini 210. The HP QuickWeb application gives instant access to the Internet, allowing immediate entry to your email, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Skype tasks – made manageable through a central application, Seesmic Desktop. In terms of connectivity, there are also numerous options available, which is only fitting as this is a netbook, after all. Connect to any Wi-Fi network using Wireless LAN 802.11b/g or tether a mobile phone to create a connection using Bluetooth. There's also an Ethernet port to allow access to a wired network. I was really impressed with how simple it was to join existing Wi-Fi networks, and when I plugged in my mobile phone as a modem, set-up was hassle-free. Surprisingly enough, everything else I plugged into this HP simply worked.
Something else that really caught my fancy was the attention to detail. HP seems to be taking this digital personalisation trend very seriously – the entire operating system on this netbook has been finished with little thematic decorations and effects. Butterflies flit across the Start menu, and the wallpaper is a vivid rendition of the gorgeous butterflies on the exterior. The Windows 7 experience was pleasant enough – and Clean Windows Desktop software kept the clutter off the desktop and made the interface much easier to manage.
So if you're looking for the ultimate workmate/playmate and you're all about flair, fashion and having fun with your digital devices, you won't be disappointed with the Vivienne Tam Butterfly Lovers HP Mini 210 netbook – it's more than just pretty, it's pretty impressive.
Turn ons:
- Very compact, with excellent battery life – very mobile
- More USB ports than we're used too, which is very useful
- Also acts as a compact mirror, perfect for make-up checks
Turn offs:
- Internet Explorer is not a very pleasant experience, and I installed Firefox first chance I got
- Travel charger is very bulky in comparison to the netbook itself – it takes up the most space when packed
Rating: 4/5
SRP: R5500,00
