The Laptop Bundle College Students will Love

Posted on August 3, 2009
Filed Under Techno-file | By Irene Starygina

When I was in college, everyone was obsessed with Louis Vuitton knockoff purses and the 5 lb. MacBook. So I asked for the latter as my graduation present, thinking it would come in handy while commuting to work and relaxing at the neighboring Starbucks. Unfortunately, I quickly realized that it was still too large for my on-the-go lifestyle, and not sturdy or bright enough for watching movies and sharpening the Photoshop skills required for my new job. I know I’ll probably be crucified by Mac lovers, but for the cash I (my mom) dropped on it, I expected it to perform miracles.

HP Mini 110

mini

Needless to say, I was very excited when I received the ultra-light HP Mini 110 to review for back to school season. This portable notebook weighs less than 3 lbs. and at 10.3″ x 6.77″ easily fit into my purse. The HP Mini comes with Syncables software that allows you to seamlessly transfer files to any standard-size desktop or laptop. The Mini can be purchased separately, or as part of a bundle with the powerful HP dv6 laptop (reviewed later in this post).

The Mini is the perfect solution for someone who just never got totally comfortable browsing through social networks and typing long emails on their iPhone or BlackBerry. It’s smaller than a composition notebook and ideal for typing notes in class. This brings me to my favorite part of the Mini: the keyboard. It’s almost as big as a regular keyboard, coming in at 92% of the standard size. I actually found it much more comfortable than regular laptop and desktop keyboards, for two reasons:

1. The keys are much larger than those on standard-size computers, and I think that I’m actually typing faster as a result.
2. The Mini’s battery tilts the keyboard up about an inch and a half for added comfort.

According to our Chief Technical Officer:

“Other netbooks have issues with the keyboard; the Mini has a pretty good one.”

The downside? The HP Mini’s power is good for its size, but still not ideal for watching movies, playing games or creating presentations. Straight from one of the HP reps:

“The Mini notebooks are great for basic needs—taking notes, email, webcam, etc., but you can do a lot more on the dv6.”

Indeed, we watched a streaming video on the Mini (it doesn’t have a DVD slot), and the quality was good, but nowhere near what the dv6 had to offer. Still, with its rock-bottom price and tiny size, it’s a steal. I give the HP Mini a 9 out of 10 rating.


HP Mini 110 + HP dv6 = Power and Mobility

dv6

The Mini 110 was sent to us along with its “mommy,” the HP dv6, a full-size laptop with an amazingly sharp screen that’s ideal for your multimedia needs. The HP Mini 110 and the HP dv6 sync up as the HP Companion Bundle—you can do your basic typing and emailing on the Mini and then transfer your work to the dv6 for more complicated projects.

Now, the Mini can sync up to most other computers, but there are definite pros to the dv6. According to our Chief Technical Officer:

“It’s really good for indoor use, presentations and watching movies.”

The laptop itself is very aesthetically pleasing—it has a huge high-gloss screen and will make even the messiest dorm room look just a little better.

The downside of this laptop is that it’s heavy—especially for college girls. You can’t just throw the HP dv6 in your pocketbook and walk uphill at a brisk pace. I would definitely use the Mini’s keyboard for regular typing and the dv6 for all major projects. You also get a discount if you buy the two pieces together, so if you don’t already have a full-size computer, the dv6 is a great option to consider. My rating for the dv6 is an 8 out of 10.

Here’s my summary of the pros and cons of each machine, with a special in-depth review from the Unigo technical staff coming soon!

HP Mini
Pros:
Compact enough to fit into a small purse—weighs just under 3 lbs.
Ergonomic design—large keys and a tilt for comfortable typing.
No glare from the screen.
Good streaming video quality.
Syncs with most computers.
Cons:
No CD/DVD slot.
Not ideal for gaming or presentations.

HP Pavilion dv6
Pros:
Very sharp, clear image.
Amazing movie quality.
Lots of memory (FREE Upgrade to 4GB).
Cons:
Heavy—6.34 lbs.—not ideal for carrying around between classes.

***The dv6 also has a high-gloss screen, which is something to take into account if you have sensitive eyes.

Contest Alert: Get the HP Mini 110, the HP dv6, Syncanbles software and a Tumbuk2 backpack for FREE!

ThePrereq will be giving away all the goodies mentioned in this post from August 20th to August 24th, so mark your calendars! Contest rules and details will be announced a few days prior on ThePrereq and the Unigo Twitter.

Here is a list and contest dates of 24 other blogs participating in this HP Back to School: Better Together giveaway. The more you enter, the better your chances of winning these two awesome laptops!

Photos courtesy of www.shopping.hp.com

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One Response to “The Laptop Bundle College Students will Love”

  1. Laptop Giveaway Alert: Our HP Better Together Lottery Starts Now! : theprereq.com on August 19th, 2009 11:23 pm

    […] The Unigo team has been testing the machines for two weeks and loves them! Check out our review of the HP Better Together bundle here. […]

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