Compaq Mini 700 long term review
I have recently moved house and faced with the prospect of a few weeks without my broadband internet connection. Once the panic had subsided (the last time I moved I was with talk talk and they took 6 weeks to start my new service!) I saw an opportunity. It occurred to me that I would need an interim solution to my connectivity problem and that a netbook and mobile broadband deal might bridge the gap nicely.
The problem with most technology reviews is that the kit arrives, you take it out of the box and have a short time to make a judgement on the overall success or failure of the package.
I resolved to trawl my own advice and seek out the right netbook deal for me. Having checked the network coverage for my new address I looked back through my netbook reviews to find a suitable machine.
As I was planning to use my new acquisition as my only laptop for several weeks there were a few things I needed.
Screen size
A 10” screen is a must for me. I spend a lot of time researching and writing on my regular machine and the thought of going blind squinting at a 7” display doesn’t really appeal.
Keyboard
As mentioned above I spend a lot of time writing articles and reviews for various sites so a keyboard capable of typing on without endless typos was an absolute must.
Operating System
I am ashamed to admit that I am a Windows junkie so any machine that ships with Linux only is a no go for me personally. Lots of people have good things to say about Linux and I know that my fear is based largely on ignorance so I will take a look one of these days! (I do not intend to apply that logic to the mac though!)
Those are the must haves. Other things that I would prefer are built in HSDPA modem, 6 cell battery and a decent sized hard disk drive.
Looking back through netbookplanet reviews my list of “must haves” gave me a choice of the following:
The first two discounted are the the Samsung NC20 and Dell Mini 12 as they don’t truly belong in the netbook class.
The Asus Eee PC S101 is stunningly beautiful but I don’t really want solid state storage or to spend over £400!
I have yet to get my hands on an NC10 so not wishing to go in completely blind it’s a sad farewell from the competition.
At the time of writing I couldn’t find any UK stock of the HP Mini 2140 windows version so that was no good either.
The competition was finally narrowed down to the MSI Wind, HP Mini 1000 or Compaq Mini 700.
I dearly loved the MSI Wind U100 and with a 6 cell battery and 160Gb HDD for under £300 it was a strong front runner. My one reservation was whether or not the keyboard would be up to the job.
The HP Mini 1000 is a fine looking beast but in Vivienne Tam colours perhaps a touch over the top for my conservative tastes.
Finally the recently released Compaq mini 700 which is for all intents and purposes an HP Mini 1000 for a lot less money.
Having trawled the netbook and mobile broadband deals it was obvious that I would have to go a long way to beat the deal on offer from 3 mobile. I hastily ordered a 1Gb mobile broadband dongle on a 24 month contract with a Compaq Mini 700 thrown in for £20 per month.
The ordering process was simple and two days later a very small packet arrived which contained my broadband modem dongle. I called 3 customer support to enquire as to the whereabouts of my Compaq netbook and was told that they are dispatched 2 days apart.
On the third day of door watching a courier arrived with sky digibox sized parcel with my name on it and the adventure began.
If you think the box is small then wait until you open it. If you haven’t seen a netbook in the plastic before then you will be shocked initially as to how small they really are.
The Compaq Mini 700 is finished in a very attractive gloss black with a subtle checked pattern on the lid.
One of the down sides of a gloss black finish is that it shows every finger mark and the mini 700 comes thoughtfully supplied with a cleaning cloth which gets a lot of use.
Also in the box is the power supply brick which is a modest affair and extremely portable.
That’s it as far as goodies go. There is the usual quick start setup guide, Windows XP recovery CD and driver and application recovery disk.
Following the simple instructions I fitted the 3 cell battery supplied (a 6 cell pack is in the pipeline apparently), plugged in the power supply and fired it up.
When you open up the Compaq Mini the black plastic inside is matt and far less susceptible to sticky fingers.
The Mini 700 is supplied with Microsoft Works. The HP Mini 1000 ships with Microsoft office but only a 30 day trial version so a full license suite is welcome even if it is only Works.
Also pre installed in Adobe Acrobat reader, Powerpoint viewer and AIM.
My first task was to install the Mobile Broadband Dongle which was a piece of cake. Having previously inserted the SIM card into the modem all I had to do was insert the dongle into either USB port and let it self install. No driver disk is required as the modem carries all required software internally.
The first time you use the dongle on a machine the installation takes about 5 minutes.
You may have read that the Compaq Mini 700 comes equipped with a HSPDA modem so why do I need to use the dongle? There are two models of the Mini 700 and it is only the more expensive version which has the built in modem.
Once installed it is a simple case of clicking on the 3 desktop icon and then clicking connect.
The signal in my area rarely shows more than 5 of the available 10 bars on the signal meter but I have tested the connection speed on numerous occasions and it is always in the region of 1Mbps for downloads and around 0.1Mbps for uploads.
In practical terms this is very nearly as fast as the land line broadband I was using previously and I have had no connection issues in the first week of use.
Day to day use
I have been using the Compaq Mini 700 as my only machine for a week now. When reviewing netbooks I have only ever envisaged their use for internet browsing and other basic tasks. Initially I had a few problems getting to grips with the keyboard and unusual mouse pad arrangement but my fingers have quickly adapted to the smaller keyboard and I am pretty much up to my usual typing speed. I would still rather the mouse buttons were underneath the mouse pad but it is an acceptable compromise to gain extra keyboard size in my opinion.
I have used the Microsoft Works Suite provided to write articles and reviews which is fine for simple word processing tasks but I will want to upgrade to Office in the future.
Battery life has been acceptable for a 3 cell machine and I have regularly been achieving 3 hours use on a charge. There is no 6 cell pack available at the moment and when it does appear will take the form of a wedge which tips the netbook forward as well as making it heavier of course.
As you would expect from a low power Atom netbook the Compaq mini doesn’t get too hot and when the fan is in operation it is barely noticeable. The Built in speakers are stereo and although not very loud they are ok for watching a film. Personally I tend to use headphones anyway.
Conclusion
My overall impression of the Compaq Mini 700 after the first week of our relationship is a positive one. I have asked it to perform a task that it wasn’t designed for this week by acting as a general workhorse and it has excelled. I half expected to have relegated it to web browsing and film watching after a few days but I haven’t missed my regular laptop all that much. What it lacks in horsepower it more than makes up for in practicality.
Try to separate me from my Compaq Mini 700 at your peril!
As they are fundamentally the same machine all of the above applies equally to the HP Mini 1000 except of course the Mini 1000 is over £400 and the Compaq mini is little more than half that price.
As standard the Compaq mini 700 is supplied with Intel Atom 1.6Ghz N270 processor, 60Gb HDD, 1Gb RAM, 10.2” display, Bluetooth, Wifi, Ethernet, 2 USB ports and an SD card reader. Also included in the screen bezel is a 1.3 mega pixel webcam and microphone which produces acceptable results.
The documentation states that it supports only 1Gb RAM but it will actually recognise up to 2Gb in its single RAM slot. Upgrading the RAM is incredibly simple and takes less than a minute with no need for a screw driver. I have resisted the urge so far as there have been reports that the machine runs hotter with 2Gb ram and also battery life is reduced. I have had no problems so far running with the standard spec and if it ain’t broke I ain’t gonna try and fix it!
With regard to the mobile broadband aspect I have been very impressed by the 3 network coverage and the download speeds achieved. With hindsight I may have opted for a higher monthly download limit as I will probably hit the 1Gb mark after about 3 weeks but I have been very hard on it in the first week.
My first week has conclusively proved (if only to me!) that it is possible, even preferable to live your digital life through a netbook. Obviously if your computing requirements involve video editing or other power hungry pursuits then a netbook is no good for you. For the rest of us truly mobile computing is here.
Model Update – Compaq Mini 110c
The compaq mini has recently received an overhaul and is now known as the Compaq Mini 110c.
There really wasn’t a lot wrong with the original compaq mini but i really think that all the bases are now covered with the new machine.
2 USB ports have become 3 as well as the addition of a VGA out which was my only real gripe with the original.
The chassis is very slightly thicker than the 700 and the glossy screen is gone, replaced with a quality matt finish item which will cure any reflection issues outside.
Finally, when the compaq mini 700 was launched its 60Gb hard drive was generous but 160Gb is now par for the course and this is what the compaq mini 110 provides.
With prices from less than £200 our old favourite has become our new favourite!
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Hi,
That’s actually one of the most positive reviews of the Compaq Mini 700 I’ve seen. Most complain about the screen and battery life, but I gather that the latter is around 3 hours anyway and that there’s a 6 cell available.
How have you found the screen? Some – well, most! – reviews complain about the ‘watery’ quality of the screen and the reflections which make it virtually unusable out of doors. What has your experience been?
I currently have a Eee 1000H but I find it heavier than I like, the touchpad drives me mad, and I’m not terribly fussed on the keyboard layout. The 700 solves all of these quibbles but is this really at the price of a nice screen?!
Thanks.
I have no major issues with the screen. It is fair to say that you are never going to get the best of anything on a netbook as their whole ethos is about working to a budget. Maybe I was just lucky but I don’t find the screen to be watery. Obviously in direct sunlight it is very hard work but I use it a lot on the train with no major issues. The screen is quite reflective and therefore prone to some reflection issues but no more so than others I have used.
Battery life does vary depending on how hard you work it but in most cases I am achieving between two and a half to three hours.
The only major downsides to the compaq mini that I have found so far are firstly the 60Gb HD is a bit on the mean side and secondly that HP have been super slow in making the 6 cell battery available. It has a part number and is occasionally available in the US but I have yet to see one in the UK. Likewise for the expansion port adapter (thats a VGA out lead to you and me!) At least then I could use it for powerpoint presentations.
As I said at the beginning netbooks are all about compromises. Everyone has different priorities and needs from their machine so will prefer some to others. For me the compaq mini overcomes my major issue with most netbooks in that the keyboard is of a size and quality that can actually be used for typing! I can wait until the 6 cell battery arrives for more battery life and my overall impression after a month in its company is that I don’t ever want to be parted from it! The only time I go back to my proper laptop is when I need to take a presentation with me and use powerpoint. When HP finally get their act together and release the goodies in the UK then that problem will be solved.
Ultimately its an HP Mini 1000 in black under a different name. Plenty of people seem willing to pay over £400 for one of those so the whinges about the compaq confuse me slightly as it can now be had from tesco for £269. We got ours with a 3g deal from 3 to check out the whole package and I suppose I would have to take a good look at the MSI Wind as competition at this price point if buying outright.
Thanks; I’ve bitten the bullet and gotten the same 3 deal that you mention – the £20 a month one – and my laptop should be arriving on Tuesday. I can’t wait! I think it’s extremely good value for money for me since I was already paying a tenner a month for mobile broadband from 3, and this 2 year deal means that by the end of the contract the remaining £10 a month will have only just covered the price of buying the lappy outright.
I’ve had a chance to examine the 700 more closely in Curry’s and the 3 shop, and I’m impressed. Looking forward to seeing how well it runs in comparison to the 1000H.
Re battery, one thing I’d thought of was to simply buy a second battery at the standard capacity. That would probably give you as much life as a six cell but for a lot less money. The catch would be the extra weight; I’m not sure how much the standard battery weighs by itself. Do you know?
Lisa,
Buying a second battery is a cunning plan. It only weighs 175g and is nice and thin so would be easy to stash away.
I don’t think you will be disappointed with the Compaq Mini as it really is very capable. Be warned that if your delivery date is Tuesday then you can expect the dongle to arrive then and the netbook a couple of days later. I don’t know why, that’s just how it is!
Enjoy
You can expect the dongle and netbook to arrive on different dates since they’ll be shipped from different companies. 3 will have their own fulfillment network for the dongles and use a 3rd party for the laptops. It’s all to save you money!
I’m about to purchase one of these hopefully. Battery life tip I was told this week – take out the battery when running on mains (unless you’re charging, of course:D)
Lisa, how’s your network coverage? I understand that most networks (with the exception of O2 perhaps – iPhone…) don’t have as developed HSDPA networks – that’s jargon for the mobile broadband you’re using. I’m intrigued, since 3 actually offer some incredible low value deals – £17.50 a month for an Acer Aspire One?!
Ed,
I live in Surrey and regularly use both a 3 mobile and a vodafone broadband dongle. I have had no trouble with network coverage at all using the 3 mobile broadband whereas the vodafone signal is often a bit patchy. Overall I have been very impressed with the 3 network. The £17.50 Acer One deal is ridiculously good value and they are putting out these amazing deals just to poach market share in what is a fairly new but rapidly expanding sector.
Hi,
Can i use this netbook to connect to a DSL Landline Modem and surf internet?
Yes you can. You can either connect a wireless access point to your modem and access the internet via the built in wifi 802.11 b/g card or it also has an RJ45 ethernet port so you can connect via a cable if you wish.
I recently purchased a Compaq 700 for £245, from Comet, I use it with a Vodaphone Dongle (Pay as you Go), mainly while away in Wales, it only picks up GPRS there, but gets me online for email, messenger, and light browsing, which is all I need.
As far as the Netbook is concerned, I find it more than adequate for most of my tasks, including some photo manipulation, and producing slide shows (including video.
The only problem I have had is getting my pinnacle DTV stick to work, it works fine on my other Laptop, but the audio driver shows an error on Device Manager, which I have not found the solution to yet, and it does not find any stations on the search.
Battery life is acceptable, keyboard is fine, the screen is a little reflective if viewed with windows in view in daylight, excellent build quality. could do with more USB ports, as I use a mouse on one and Dongle on the other.
Marks out of 10 … 8
Hi, I’m thinking of buying one of these on the 3 15GB deal – £25/month.
Can you please tell me an easy way to install software, as it appears to not have a cd drive installed, or have I missed the obvious?
Thanks, Martin.
Hi,
It depends what software you plan to install but many applications are available as a download or you can install via a simple home network from the DVD ROM drive on another PC. Failing that copying the software files onto a USB stick is also an option or finally a USB DVD drive would provide the simplest solution if the network option scares you.
Thanks, this review and discussions have been helpful to me. I live in Switzerland and can get a Mini 730 EZ (with 80GB drive) for less than £200. I was hesitating but this sounds just the job for my needs.
Hi,
The Compaq mini 700 is just awesome. I use it with only MS Office, Firefox and an Anti-virus on, and it runs like a dream. True, the trackpad needs a little to be adjusted with, but I mostly use a normal mouse attached to the USB port, so that solves the issue.
I have grown so much used to it that my laptop mostly remains unused.
Thanks for the nice review, which allowed me to make the purchase.
Hi This is a very good review about the compac netbook. I was thinking of getting the Acer Aspire Pro, but I will definately go and look at the compac mini 700. Any idea who stocks them?
Grace
Thanks. The mini 700 has been upgraded and is now sold as the mini 110c. It comes with a matt finish screen which is more practical for outdoor use and an extra USB port which is always welcome. The link in the unit on this page is the cheapest I have found the compaq 110c. At under £220 this excellent value for money and comfortably holds its own against machines at the £300 mark. You can still find the 700 on sale but oddly it is more expensive than the updated version.