May 05 2009
My New Toy – HP Mini 1109TU
Monday morning was my first day out of job. After sending my kids to the school, I suddenly felt so depressed. I was like trapped at home, stuck with a very boring book (will write about it soon), and disconnected from the whole world! Yup, I never bought my own computer since I started work 12 years ago. I was lucky enough to have been given notebooks most of the time.
Then, at night, DH brought back this!
I was so excited. More excited when I found out that DH hasn’t opened it – hehehe, just like having the excitement of opening my wrapped present!
This is the HP Mini 1109TU. It is a very small notebook with basic feature just for you to stay connected, and with some entertainments. Look how compact it is, comparing it with the size of a Kilometrico pen:
It is about 75% size of an A4 paper. Weights not more than 1.2kg.
We chose this model because of a few great features other similar products don’t have. For example, the keypad’s size is very close to the normal notebook size. It claims that it is 97% of normal size. To me, they look just alike. Then, the speaker is built along the hinge, which gives a very clear quality – I just tested this with video conferencing with a friend in London. Ah, there is a built in camera too, for video chatting purpose.
As mentioned before, what I want is just something basic for me, and I think I got what I want, at a very reasonable price. The RRP is RM1,699 but I think you get some discounts at stores like those digital malls.
I read from some review that HP wanted to squeeze this large keypads and omitted some keys like the page-up/down and home/end keys. Well, it is not true. They are the hidden Fn keys, around the arrow keys. You just need to see carefully under bright light.
Ya, this is one thing I don’t really like about it – those hidden function keys (Fn) are really too well hidden. Unlike other keyboards where they are quite visible with blue colours, this one is very close to black colour. So it is really hard to notice or read what the keys for.
This model comes with 2 USB ports. Some complaints were cited on this, but it is not a major problem for me, coz I seldom use more than 2 — 1 for mouse, another for my external hard drive. That will do.
One real issue to me with this netbook is that, I don’t have an external CD/DVD drive. So if there is any problem that I need to reinstall the startup software, then I die loh! :p
BTW, battery life is not that great. Fully charged battery can last probably 2 hours for continuous usage. It is running on a 3-cell battery instead of 6-cell batteries like its many rivals, and those can last about 5 hours! A biggest drawback, IMHO.
Anyhow, to me it is still a good purchase overall, I’d say.
Next, I will need to buy a slip case for it, and probably a protective screen for the very shiny monitor. I hate the monitor – too much of reflections. I used to have a privacy screen, but cannot use it on this model due to the structure. Some shopping to do next week.
how sweet of DH. he paid ah :p
i hvprob with my hp540 screen too..macam mirror only..can see my own sleepy face most of the time. let me know..when u get hold of a good protective screen…ya? must be value for money wor.
and yes..i agree with you totally about those hidden keys..i can’t work without Home, Pg Up/down keys..in de end I got a conventional notebook instead.
wsl: Ya loh, like mirror, that’s a very close description of it! So far, only found those privacy screen on ebay, not very keen to buy online coz don’t know how it really looks like.
i found yr page in search engine coz i owned this models & u make me lough in this posting…