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HP Compaq Mini 700 - 10.2in Netbook Review

Author Andy Vandervell
Published 6th Mar 2009
Manufacturer HP
Supplier Micro Direct
Price £262.41 (Exc VAT)
as reviewed £301.77 (Inc VAT)
Latest Price Click here
Design Score 9 for Design
Features Score 7 for Features
Performance Score 7 for Performance
Value Score 7 for Value
Overall Score 7 for Overall
HP Compaq Mini 700 - 10.2in Netbook
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Having teased you earlier, it's probably about time we talk about the one thing many people will be interested in: the keyboard. On the whole it has returned entirely unscathed. Its keys, which are 92 per cent full-size, are large and aren't tapered, so there's a large and flat surface area for you to hit. This helps reduce errors immeasurably and the basic layout is without peer. With the keyboard stretching right to the edges of the machine, there's plenty of space for a large Enter key as well as a huge and unimpeded right-Shift key, while the cursor keys are effectively tucked away so cause no harm.


However, though the layout remains blissfully unchanged, the keys aren't so. This isn't a great cause for concern, though, since they remain crisp and positive, even if they lack the truly solid feel of those found on the 2133. If HP has cut costs a little, it has done so sparingly enough to not affect things too badly, making this probably the easiest netbook type on.

More shared design can be seen in the touchpad, though in this instance the likeness is less desirable since it means the touchpad buttons sit either side of the touchpad itself. This does take a little getting used to, as it did on the 2133, but there's a larger issue here because we found the buttons impeded typing - particularly when sitting at a desk with your palms resting on the machine. This means you're better off hovering above the keyboard and while this is largely preferable when using a small machine such as this, we'd sooner see HP design its way around the issue.


As for the touchpad itself it has a smooth, soft-touch finish that feels very luxurious; though it does have a propensity to pick up grease from your fingers, creating an ugly looking smear mark at its centre. It's hardly a deal breaker, but if you're sensitive to such eyesores then it's worth bearing in mind.

Most of the above complaints are pretty trivial, but of more gravitas is the screen and its glossy finish. Fine, the frameless design is very attractive and it certainly gives the Mini 700 something other netbooks don't have, but it's arguably even more reflective than most other glossy displays. So much so, in fact, that in bright light it acts as a highly effective mirror. Great for picking spinach out of your teeth; not so helpful when trying to work or watch a video.


Married to this is a slight wateriness to the screen that we can only attribute to the glossy covering. It's bright enough when turned up all the way, but colours are lacking and black levels are very washed out too. Ultimately, while it's not dramatically worse than any other netbook display, we'd sooner see an anti-glare finish that's more compatible with the machine's mobile nature.

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Latest 4 of 7 Comments

Have your say: Leave a comment below about this article.

comment Andy said on 6th March 2009

@<A88>: It's a good point, you can indeed turn the touchpad off using the button, but I don't see why one should have to do that when typing. If one had to switch i... more

comment Ed said on 6th March 2009

Conversely, I didn't find my hands were anywhere near the touchpad when I typed on this machine so I found it a non-issue. Likewise the screen seemed no worse than any other g... more

comment Tim said on 7th April 2009

I'm seriously tempted to get this Netbook, I've used it a couple of times and the thing I like most about it is the build quality and design. it is by about a million mil... more

comment Brodiesan said on 5th May 2009

Picked this up over the weekend and it's a marvel. I wouldn't say I have particularly fat fingers but I just couldn't adapt to writing on the NC10 (my first choice a... more

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