As a comparison, I wonder what your Windows Experience Index is… Here is mine:

Overall: 2.0
- Processor – 2.3
- Memory (RAM) – 4.5
- Graphics – 2.0
- Gaming Graphics – 3.0
- Primary Hard Disk – 5.9

Other observations:
* Even though I have successfully installed the webcam driver, and the device manager indicates it is operating correctly, I don’t have access to it like I did in WinXP Pro… I think I was able to see the device in “My Computer” and actually see it working… I guess I need to install Skype or some other application to verify that it works correctly…
* HP Support Assistant – This utility came with the HP disk provided with the free upgrade… I installed it…but it was never included with WinXP Pro… Not sure if I am keeping this installed or not…
* Volume/Brightness Control – A weird anomaly occurs now… When I am lowering the volume, the on screen display visually shows it going lower…but when I press the button to raise the volume, the first press of the button to raise the volume actually shows up as the volume lowering one notch visually… Weird… It also happens with the brightness control… Anytime you change the direction (from high to low and vice-versa) it exhibits this weirdness…

Overall, I am very happy with my HP Mini 5101 loaded with Windows 7 Professional… It’s reasonably peppy, and its portability is exceptional…I can tuck it under my arm with my morning paper and no one is the wiser that I even am carrying a computer!

While I don’t know all the Windows 7 features, I have to agree with you on the ability to snap windows to the right and left… I just don’t know how useful it is on a mini… I love it on my big 24″ widescreen on my desktop computer though!!!

Good to hear that Win7 is an improvement from XP… Since the 5101 is in HP’s business notebook product line, I am a little surprised yours did not come with WinXP-Pro though (mine did)…

I’ll let you know how the upgrade turns out… I am glad you have a link (above) to the HP site with all the drivers I’ll need!

I personally still find the 1024 x 600 resolution of my Mini 5101 a big annoyance at times, despite having used it for 4+ months now. The unfortunate part is the Mini 5101 plays a big role when I’m on the go and it’s almost the perfect netbook save for the low-res display option. I’m still contemplating whether to go look for a “HD display” part for my Mini and swap out the display myself, or save up (and if the price is right) for the upcoming Touchsmart tm2 tablet before I move to California this fall.

Yes, I think Windows 7 is a great step up over XP. Primary reason why I switched was because mine came loaded with XP Home, which can’t connect to some networks (especially corporate ones that use their own proxies and stuff). Of course, there are also other nice touches I haven’t been able to live without since Vista appeared, such as the tweaked File Explorer interface, built-in non-browser based Windows Update, Windows Aero “window auto snap” (it’s more useful than it sounds), sticky notes (for minor to-do’s that don’t need me to use Outlook) plus Windows 7′s jump lists, widgets, advanced power management, etc. The differences are not major and I’m sure XP is still tolerable after an initial adjustment period (depends how long ago your last XP experience was), but it’s the small little things in 7 that do make life easier/better for me.

Stability wise, my Mini 5101 has been very reliable with no crashes (it does run a little slow at times, but that’s just a hint for me to close some windows) and I’ve been pleased with performance (it can even run Paint Shop Pro X2 and Adobe Lightroom for any basic photo editing I need to do on the go, though not heavy functions like batch processing or HDR)

So since I had just purchased my 5101 and it was still in it’s “no questions asked” return policy timeframe, I decided to trade it up for the HD display…

My wife hates it because the text is so small… But I am personally finding it a LOT more useful… I compared it side-by-side, and the amount of text and images that can be seen on this HD display compared to the standard display is great… It was a big hassle going through the whole RMA process of returning the first one… But in the end, I want this unit to last me for 3-5 years, and I don’t want to b*tch and moan about how I should have upgraded when I had the chance to do so…

I am going to try to perform the Windows 7 upgrade via a USB stick drive… It’s currently loaded with WinXP Pro, which is a great place to be… Are you finding Win7Pro an improvement to WinXP Pro on the mini platform?

I have Win7 on a few of my desktop and full-sized notebooks, and really like it…

The 1024 x 600 display is fine for typing and documents, but less so for reading or doing more than 1 task at a given time.

(1) Have you found a subsequent need for a DVD/CD ROM? I guess what I am trying to figure out is whether this is really just a one time need or not… How many times have you had to borrow your friend’s drive since the load? I want to get a gauge on whether I should be looking for someone to borrow too…or just bite the bullet and buy one…

(2) I am a power user as well… I provide “tech support” to family, friends, co-workers… I build and upgrade my own PCs, etc… Of the two desktop computers on my office desk, one has a 24″ 1920×1200… The other is running dual monitors (a 24″ and a 20″ side by side)… I absolutely HATE low resolution screens, and it frustrates me to death…

Honestly, I am even thinking that the HD 1366×768 would be less than I want… But what I do know is that this is a netbook…and one has to make sacrifices… and since most netbooks are coming with the 1024×600, I was hoping and praying that the screen was “usable”, even by a super user who understands that sacrifices are necessary… What I am hearing you say is that it is as frustrating as I had anticipated…

Well, it’s hard to answer your second question, since it’s a subjective type of thing – some people like me tend to complain while others may find 1024 x 600 completely adequate. I myself have been pampered by higher resolution screens (even my old Mini 2133 had a higher resolution display) and this is the lowest resolution I’ve ever used. I haven’t got the hang of it, and perhaps I never will – being a power user, I usually have two windows open side-by-side (yes, even when using Mini’s) and the Mini 5101′s 1024 x 600 resolution isn’t the most usable thing around. I also have to do a bunch of scrolling when it comes to web pages and Office 2007 (I tend to hide the Office Ribbon as it gets in the way, making reading/writing real estate even smaller than ever). However, you could always use lower magnification or “zoom out” in your browser/documents to around 70-80% to “simulate” the effect of a higher resolution screen. I say simulate, because it’s not exactly the same as using a real high resolution screen (the real thing is always better). The Mini 5101′s matte display makes up somewhat for the compromise though, as I’m finding the Mini 5101 a lot more usable under a variety of lighting conditions (vs my ex-Mini, the 2133). The display is also very bright, and I can use the lowest brightness setting indoors while still being able to view what’s on it.

Hope this helps. Do let me know how you find your Mini 5101 once you receive it =)

(1) How did you perform the upgrade? Where you able to transfer the Windows 7 upgrade DVD to a USB stick and mount the USB stick as a bootable drive? Or did you have access to an external DVD ROM?

(2) This is not a Win7 question as much as it is a general mini question…how is the 1024×600 screen from a usability/experience perspective? I have one on order and did not go with the HD option…so I am going to be stuck with this same screen…

Thanks!