Yamaha Home Theater
Entered CNET Catalog: 09/04/2008
SKU: dncwxa1
Manufacturer: Dell, Inc.
Product summary
The good: More configurable than other Netbooks; good battery life; XP and Linux OS options.
The bad: Some awkward keyboard compromises; no SSD options larger than 16GB.
The bottom line: Dell's entry into the Netbook market means it's time to take these low-cost, low-power PCs seriously. The Inspiron Mini 9 is an excellent example of the form, if not radically different from the competition.
CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 09/05/2008
Editors' note: We have revised the rating of this product to reflect the changing competitive Netbook landscape.
We've known for some time that Dell was working on a Netbook-style laptop--the same kind of small, low-power, inexpensive system made popular by Asus and the Eee PC line. And even though there are not many surprises in the new Inspiron Mini 9, it's still an excellent example of the form, without any of the deal-breakers (older CPU, not enough storage space, hard-to-use touch pad) that have kept other Netbooks from being more universally useful.
While component-wise, the Mini 9 is similar to other recent Netbooks, such as the Acer Aspire One (which all use Intel's Atom CPU), in typical Dell fashion, there are more customization options than we've seen other Netbooks.
Our test unit arrived with 1GB of RAM, a 16GB solid-state hard drive, and Windows XP. That configuration costs $514 and comes very close to hitting the benchmarks we set out in our "Building the Perfect Netbook" feature, which asked for similar components, but maybe a slightly bigger SSD hard drive and an impulse-purchase $499 price tag.
You can get the Inspiron Mini 9 down to as low as $349 by opting for a smaller hard drive (4GB or 8GB), 512MB of RAM, an Ubuntu Linux OS, or knocking down the Webcam to a lower-resolution option. Or, add few bucks for the option internal Bluetooth antenna, which wasn't in our build (but is useful for tethering a cell phone for mobile broadband access). As an interesting note, the Mini 9 apparently includes an inactive internal mobile broadband antenna. According to Dell, it will be announcing the carrier and coverage details in the coming weeks.
| Price as reviewed / Starting price | $514/349 |
| Processor | Intel Atom 1.6GHz |
| Memory | 1024MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz |
| Hard drive | 16GB SSD |
| Chipset | Intel GMA950 |
| Graphics | Mobile Intel 945 Express Chipset (integrated) |
| Operating system | Windows XP Home Edition SP2 |
| Dimensions (width by depth) | 9.1x6.8 inches |
| Thickness | 1.25-1.1 inches |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 8.9 inches |
| System weight / Weight with AC adapter | 2.3/2.7 pounds |
| Category | Netbook |
In person, the Mini 9 is similar in design to Asus' 9-inch Eee PC. It's slightly thinner, at about 1.25 inches at the back, tapering slightly toward the front. Our system had a glossy black finish (which is very fingerprint prone), and white is also available. Interestingly, most of the leaked product shots we've seen up to now show a red model.
The challenge for any Netbook is to squeeze as much keyboard as possible into a very tiny space, and the Mini 9 does a good job with it. The Dell letter keys are larger than on the 9-inch Eee PC, but certain keys--Tab, Caps Lock, and so on--are reduced to small slivers. In addition, the entire function key row has been removed. F1 through F10 are now alternate keys of the A to L row. It's an interesting compromise to get the most surface area for everyday typing, but makes some tasks, such as jumping between Web page fields with the Tab key, somewhat awkward.
Opening the lid, the 8.9-inch 1,024x600-pixel screen shares space with a Webcam above and two small speaker grilles below. The display offers just enough space for displaying Web pages and Word documents, and we think the 9-inch size is the perfect fit for Netbooks, rather than the smaller 7-inch or larger 10-inch screens on other systems.
| Dell Inspiron Mini 9 | Average for category [Netbook] | |
| Video | VGA-out | VGA-out |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks | headphone/microphone jacks |
| Data | 3 USB 2.0, SD card reader | 2 USB 2.0, SD card reader |
| Expansion | None | None |
| Networking | Ethernet, 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, optional Bluetooth | modem, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Optical drive | None | None |
The Inspiron Mini 9 has three USB ports, headphone and mic jacks, a VGA out, SD card slot, and an Ethernet jack--a fairly standard set of connections in the Netbook world. Integrated Bluetooth is a $20 option, and Dell is expected to announce a mobile broadband plan soon. We'd love to see mobile broadband in more Netbooks, but it's typically prohibitively expensive as an option on a sub-$500 system.
With Intel's new 1.6GHz Atom N270 CPU, specifically designed for low-power Netbooks, you're not going to find the same level of performance you'd get from even an inexpensive Core 2 Duo laptop. Still, the Intel Atom processor performed about as expected, closely matching the Asus Eee PC 901 and MSI Wind in our iTunes performance test.
In anecdotal testing, we found the Mini 9 to be highly usable for Web surfing, e-mailing, and even playing music files (its speakers were surprisingly loud, if predictably thin-sounding). The combo of Intel's Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM, and Windows XP found in almost every current Netbook works well for basic tasks, as long as you keep expectations modest and don't mind occasional slowdown if you try and open too many browser windows at once.
The Mini 9 ran for 3 hours and 21 minutes on our video playback battery drain test, using the included 4-cell battery. That's second only to the 6-cell battery in the Asus Eee PC 901, and easily beats the Asus Aspire One and MSI Wind.
Dell includes an industry-standard one-year parts-and-labor warranty with the system, with mail-in service. Upgrading to a two-year plan will cost an extra $128. Support is accessible through a 24-7 toll-free phone line, an online knowledge base and driver downloads.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Find out more about how we test laptops.
Dell Inspiron Mini 9
Windows XP Home Edition SP3; 1.6GHz Intel Atom; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz; 64MB Mobile Intel 945 Express; STEC 16GB SSD.
Acer Aspire One
Linpus Linux Lite v1.0.2.E; 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270; 512MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz; Mobile Intel 945GME Express; 8GB solid-state drive.
Asus Eee PC 901
Windows XP Home Edition SP2; 1.6GHz Intel Atom; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 400MHz; 128MB Mobile Intel 945 Express; 12GB Phison solid-state drive.
MSI Wind U100-002LA
Windows XP Home Edition SP3; 1.6GHz Intel Atom; 1024MB DDR2 SDRAM 400MHz; 128MB Mobile Intel 945 Express; 80GB Western Digital 5,400rpm.
Sylvania G Netbook
Linux; 1.2GHz VIA C7-M; 1024MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz; VIA UniChrome Pro IGP; 30GB hard disk drive.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 User Rating: 
3/10
A nightmare every time I connect to the Internet.
Pros: Well, its pretty. And cheap.
Cons: Internet connection near impossible.
"touchpad" unresponsive
keys crowded and jammed
I really don't understand the favorable reviews of this device - I normally have god luck with just about everything, but this thing just doesn't work (and although I hate to sound like an advertisement for anybody, a friend set up an Apple laptop in my same network - he was up and running smoothly in under 3 minutes - whereas it took me 2.5 hours and 40 minutes with a technician to get even limited connectivity).
Aside from that, the track pad is unresponsive, lagging, and difficult to use. The keyboard is quite small, and the keys jammed together. I find it quite difficult to use.
I would never buy this device again, and it's going in the trash heap - I'm not willing to spend another few hours navigating the maze of Dell "help" in an effort to get my money back. Life's too short. Next time I'm coming up with the extra cash and springing for an Apple.
User Rating: 
7/10
Inexpensive, Linux based, easily upgraded
Pros: Works with Ubuntu 9 remix out of the box.
Reasonably fast.
Simple to add new drive / memory.
Cons: Key placement is horrible.
Quote key is below the comma key.
Right shift key is tiny and to the right of the up arrow.
It's difficult to write or program.
If you are sensitive about your keyboard, borrow one of these before buying
I love that I can use linux on this machine without needing to pay for XP. It runs ubuntu 9 remix flawlessly, allowing you to bypass the provided Dell interface.
I was initially put off by the keyboard, but I'm trying to get used to it.
I bought the 1gb/4gb memory/drive option, and immediately replaced the 4gb drive with a 32 gb sabertooth drive. The dell drives have excellent read times, but poor write times. I installed ubuntu 9 onto both drives, and the install onto the sabertooth drive took about 1/2 the time.
User Rating: 7/10
Great for travel
Pros: Solid feel and good performance, solid state drive gives good performance and no moving parts. Decent battery life
Cons: A slightly bigger screen would be great . keyboard a bit cramped for typing long documents. No F11key , this may sound silly but for switching your browser to full screen mode especially given the small screen size would be very usefull.
User Rating: 
9/10
Finally--a truly mobile PC which works
Pros: Boots quickly, shuts down faster, small, light, quiet, good Webcam, good battery life, clear display
Cons: The keyboard could be better. Dell took almost a month to ship after the order was placed.
What I have found is that what I use a computer for has increased and what I can use the Mini-9 for is well beyond my original expectations. For some reason, when I pop open my Mini-9 in a meeting people do not automatically assume I am doing something other than taking notes. When you open a larger notebook, people assume you are doing something which is outside the meeting. The Mini-9 is now handling about 75% of my computing which includes checking mail while watching mindless TV. The Mini-9 is small enough that there is room for both the PC and my cat in my lap. The battery life is good enough that I often don't bother taking the power adapter with me.
The small footprint and light weight means that I can carry the PC everywhere so that just about anyplace I sit down turns into an office. Even the airplane tray table is now large enough to get real work done. Moreover, much of my calling to colleagues is now done via Skype, something this PC handles well.
I have just about everything on my Mini-9 that I have on my desktop machine except I have been careful to stay away from anything that keeps trying to phone home. Some HP printer drivers, for instance, are a real pain in this regard. If I find a problem application, I deinstall it and find something better.
The keyboard could use some work. My old Zeos had a better design. But as I said at the start--I was prepared for a small keyboard. If I really need something better, I can plug in a full size keyboard. I can even plug in a larger monitor and a mouse.
The Mini-9 goes along with my afford-to-lose philosphy. I hate to own very expensive devices that will cost me a lot to replace. I work outdoors, in cable trenches, and in cold, wet vaults. So my cell phone is a good one, but one that I can replace for almost nothing. My PDA is a Zire 31 which will cost me $45 to replace if I smash it while crawling around. And now I have a $300 PC which is resistant to damage, but which will not cost me a significant chunk of money to replace should I accidentally step on it. I could have purchased a much more expensive, super-fantastic lightweight PC, but then I would have spent far too much time worrying about that very expensive purchase.
A mistake was buying it with an 8 GB drive. XP plus antivirus takes up most of that 8 GB even with most of the extra preinstalled software removed. But fortunately there is an SD card slot so all the applications reside on the card. My Documents is there as well. 16 GB SD cards can be purchased for $25. I am a little worried about the day that the updates for XP overwhelm the 8 GB drive, though. I am surprised that Dell even offers an 8 GB option with XP. I wish there were two SD card slots although there are three USB ports and an SD card adapter cost me less than $2 at my local computer store.
To be really useful, a machine has to boot quickly. Even with several applications installed, my Mini-9 boots in under a minute and a half. It shuts down in less than 30 seconds. And closing the cover puts it to sleep reliably.
For those worried about the cost of an outboard CD/DVD drive, I have found that they can be picked up at an attractive price. I own a small form factor CD RW/DVD drive I was given free. DVD RW drives are still a little expensive, but with SD cards and flash drives being given away by various stores and at trade shows, I have plenty of ways to save files and pass them on.
The biggest negative I can think of is that I have not made trips through airport security any easier because all the security staff want to look at it and talk about how well it works. When I had to go through courthouse security for jury duty recently, the same thing happened. Everybody else sailed through while I spent 15 minutes talking to the security staff. I have made a lot of new friends, though ... And I suspect I have sold at least a few of these machines.
User Rating: 
5/10
fifty-fifty
Pros: I like the design, it's small enough to take it with you any where, keyboard it's an Ok size, screen size big enough to do regular tasks (e.g type letters, internet browsing, pics, and movies on the go), and really light on weight.
Cons: They could utilized more the screen frame(make it bigger), only ONE SD.MS/MMC SLOT, the automatic zoom feature on the mouse pad is really annoying(it get on the way of your regular task)
It suck having to rip programs on a different computer and then transfer to the NETBOOK, and WAZZUP WITH THE BULKED POWER CORD PLUG?
User Rating: 7/10
Awesome value if you know what you are looking for
Pros: All drivers work with mac osx native allowing for a pretty good hackintosh
reasonable heat
3-4hrs battery life
SSD hard drives are now cheap so upgrading to something more reasonable is easy
nice monitor for size
Cons: Keyboard is akward
Causes issues to external devices when closed
Screws tend to strip easy (in my experiance)
Only 1 dimm slot
Little bit plastically
The only real qualm I have is the way the keyboard is set up, however, in all fairness they do only have so much room.
Updated on Apr 28, 2009I do agree with others though Dell's Customer Service does suck a big one, however, I typically void warranties within like 5 minutes anyway.
User Rating: 
4/10
Owned about 6 weeks - NOT IMPRESSED!!
Pros: I liked the RED color. It's appearance is awesome!
Cons: Keyboard positioning is different than other QWERTY keyboards.
SLOW and not enough space
NO hard drive. . .
User Rating: 
10/10
AMAZING!!!
Pros: this laptop is great - small compact design - sleek appearance - great performance - built tough and extremely affordable!!!
Cons: small hard drive
keyboard takes getting used to
User Rating: 10/10
Larger 32GB drive available
Pros: More storage
Cons: More money
User Rating: 9/10
Very useful to stay organized and everyday tasks
Pros: Small and lightweight. Runs at a good speed the screen is very clear, very quite, I can't recall ever hearing this computer make any noise. Speakers are pretty loud, plays videos well. For being small the keyboard layout is pretty good
Cons: The apostrophe key is on the same line as the spacebar, something that is still taking me a lot of time to get use to. SSD options I had when ordering were only 8 or 16, at least a 32 would be awesome. Few more colors at no extra charge please
This is definitely my new best friend. I was looking for a small, cheap system that would meet my needs not my wants as when i get systems to meet my wants I tend to just waste my money.
My needs were simple, a system for basic internet browsing, microsoft zune, and something to help keep me organized. I thought I would never watch videos online but since I got it I have watched shows I have missed online with no problem and little buffering.
this computer runs at a good speed, i only notice a bit of slowing when I open a few browsers at once or even when I open my microsoft calender but I have that so loaded with tasks and reminders starting from about 8am to 11pm almost every day.
My zune software runs great and no problems getting music with my zune pass. Only issue is it keeps saying it found new hardware when i connect my zune, it installs the drives then says the system needs to be restarted and once i restart it we go through this again but I am confident I will figure that out and I think it might be more with the zune program then computer, I dunno though.
My favorite with this is the microsoft works. I can't remember if I paid extra for this or not, I do not believe I did but I use this for shopping lists so I no longer forget items, use it for my daily tasks and calender so I go to work then have reminders for my homework telling me what to study each day. I think it helped make a difference in my Italian class. First test I go an 80, then got this system and used it to help organize my studying and 2nd test got a 91.
Also using it to keep track of budget and savings goals and I just love this system.
I wish it had a bigger hard drive option, I got the 8 instead of the 16 intending to get an external HD in about a month not realizing that it came loaded with around 5 or 6 GB or pre-loaded software, I added a few others like modzilla, zune, etc and only have about 30 songs on it and I got about 700MB free right now. Non mi piace! Oh it also came with outlook express. I feel in love with outlook at my old job so am glad to have it back and linked to my gmail account, even if it is just outlook express.
Overall a great system I am use to the keyboard but plan on getting a wireless or USB regular size keyboard for when I need to type long reports, etc. at home. Also a USB or wireless mouse and get a connector to get this on my spare 19 inch monitor, all for at home use.
The size is truly amazing, I catch myself heading off to school early to study and I am only taking an Italian class so don't really need the internet or computer but since this is so small and lightweight I don't have to think if I should take it or not, I just take it and it adds next to no weight to my backpack or takes up any space.
Battery life is good, I wish it had a 6 cell but 4 I guess works, so far I've used this only at my house, my parents, my brothers, and friends and always bring my cord to recharge it so if I need to.
User Rating: 9/10
light, fast, silent, gorgeous
Pros: I'm a biker and needed a netbook with a solid state drive that can take my daily bouncing on Parisian cobbled roads. The mini 9 is light as a feather, silent, fast, has a very good keyboard, bright screen, is gorgeous, & the battery lasts 4 hours.
Cons: 16 gs is a bit slim for a hard drive, but a 16 g card in the card slot stretches things out nicely. The only thing I needed to get used to was the truncated right shift key.
User Rating: 
6/10
Shocking ly quite being my first netbook
Pros: Will the size is defintely a plus. Its ability to be carried anywhere easily and not weighing but 2.5lbs is great. I bought one online refurbished for only $277 from dell and i have to say what a steal.
Cons: Im having battery issues as many buyers are finding. Something to do with the Bios. Dell support was super fast fast to fix and im awaiting a new battery in 48 hrs. The harddrive was already filled dramitcally more than i was expecting
User Rating: 9/10
Love the Mini 9!!
Pros: It so portable, you can carry it everywhere. Logs on faster than my HP laptop.. Excellent clarity. Includes Microsoft Word 2003 version, which is the best one.
Cons: The right hand shift key is too far to the end of the keyboard.
User Rating: 9/10
What a netbook's all about...
Pros: Size, Weight, Silent, Design, Battery life, XP, WiFi, Bluetooth, Bright Screen
Cons: Screen won't bend back as far as normal laptop, few awkward keys on keypad, wish for bigger 16GB SSD
I was very surprised with the battery life. Even though it has a 4-cell it was much better than my 12-cell 17" because of how quite and easy it runs; my 17" took a lot of power.
I don't understand why people complain so much about the keyboard. The keyboard is OBVIOUSLY going to be much smaller when you're buying a netbook. There are a few awkward things about the keyboard but after a week of using it I am so used to it that I have trouble now when I go home and use my standard keyboard on my desktop. The only key I would change is the apostrophe key. It's in an awkward location.
The WiFi has great range as well as the Bluetooth. I like having XP because it not only runs smoother but there are no crashes.
It is so lightweight that sometimes I forget that I have it in my bookbag on campus. I have the White color top and I really like the way it looks. I get so many looks when I have it out in public because people like how neat it looks.
I didn't give it a 5 because sometimes the Atom Processor can be a little buggy and I wish you would have bigger than a 16GB SSD but overall I love this netbook! I would definitely recommend getting this and having a desktop for home use.
Updated on Jan 25, 2009*I also upgraded my RAM from 1GB to 2GB and that has also made a world of difference in speed and performance!
User Rating: 
1/10
Technical support is awful
Pros: It's Cheap
Cons: Dell Inspiron technical support are not capable of diagnosing or fixing the simplest problems. If it's not on their script then they're at a loss - but that doesn't stop them from wasting your time.
User Rating: 10/10
A perfect laptop for travel. Light, great perfomance.
Pros: weight and performance.
Cons: I miss Word and Excel now being available at time of purchase
User Rating: 
8/10
There is a lot to like about the the Mini 9
Pros: The size
Performance
Wireless NIC range
Keyboard
Battery Life
Number of USB ports
MMC card reader
Cons: Limited drive space 8 gb standard and 16 gb max
Retail Price
Some people will have problems restoring the OS if they need to
The Dell Mini is a great product if you accept and understand what it was intended for. I am an IT professional, so it could not be my only system. I also do not think this will become most people's desktop replacement unless all you do is browse the internet and type simple word documents and email. However, if you want a highly portable laptop that you can take almost anywhere then this is it!
Like I said this will be my wife's laptop mostly, but when I am working in the field and will not need my powerhouse laptop, I grab the dell mini. It is about the size of a book and it does not add much weight. It has snappy performance and I really have no complaints about this unit. When I ordered it for 139.00 I was not expecting much but WOW. Dollar for dollar I like it better than the Studio laptop I bought.
The wireless card's performance. It has better range than the studio laptop and the studio laptop has a better card. I do not know why this is but I am guessing the Mini 9 is getting less internal interference. I really like the keyboard layout, but some may not because of the small tab and caps lock key. The laptop boots up fast; however, it does not multitask very well. Although it does run IE and Outlook with no problems simultaneously.
My biggest complaint is that some people with have issues if they need to reload the OS. You should make a bootable USB drive now and get the OS files on there. Do a web search on steps to do this. You can also get a USB cd drive. I would have liked a larger drive option because 8 gb is really not big enough, but is it sufficient to run the OS, get online, and check emails. However, you will want to store as much as you can to the USB/MMC memory. The 16 gb drive option did not give me enough more to justify the cost.
Overall I am very impressed and would give it 4.5 stars if I could. However, this is based on the 139.00 price. I do not think I would fork out the 450.00 MSRP for this laptop. If you want something that is ultra portable then that price may be worth it to you.
User Rating: 8/10
very good first netbook
Pros: the keyboard takes some getting used to, but is definitely usable. The size is perfect for carrying around. it definitely has enough power to browse the web, do email, and run office.
Cons: should have removed preinstalled crapware.
User Rating: 1/10
It's the Best Netbook Ever....WHEN IT IS WORKING
Pros: Love the weight and design
Internet and wireless are strong
Can handle the workload of lieght wordprocessing, e-mail and internet on the go
Cons: I wouldn't write my Senior Thesis on the thing...keyboard has some challenging configurations that take a little bit to learn.
Mine stopped working 24 days after I got it.
Dell's India-based customer service and tech support are the worst ever
First Incident
On 11/27, for reasons unexplained the Windows registry files became corrupted and I got the blue screen of death. After working through basic support options, The Phone Tech suggested a complete reinstall of Windows XP Home. I executed that as I have done previously with other computers. Since the Dell Mini 9 had no DVD drive, I booted from a USB DVD ? the product suggested from Dell ? and began the reinstall. Half-way through the reinstall the computer stopped recognizing the USB DVD drive and the install was stuck. At that point I was told to return the computer to the ?depot? for repair.
Second Incident
My expectation from when I received my computer back is that it would be in factory condition (i.e. operating just like it had when I first got the thing). Unfortunately, the tech who worked on the product did not complete the factory pre-installation process. When I turned on the computer an orange and white text box informed me that the computer was reinstalling software and drivers to restore my computer back to factory standards and that the process would take ?up to 60 minutes.? The process ran for 4 hours ? twice. I called tech support again and they prescribed another trip to the ?depot.? The paperwork that came with the returned with the computer said they had simply replaced the RAM. I was angry because how could the tech know all was fixed if they had not completely reinstalled the operating system. This seemed like a sloppy and lazy job and is unacceptable to me. There is something more clearly wrong here.
Third Incident
After telling my office IT manager about this issue, he suggested I try one last time to do a reinstall of Windows XP prior to returning it to the depot. This time I successfully reinstalled the software ? the previous problem of the USB DVD losing communication with the computer seemingly disappeared (WEIRD!!). I began the process of updating the software, operating system drivers and BIOS ? following the procedure order as recommended by the Dell Driver disc that came with the computer. When I tried to update the BIOS the update was rejected and the computer locked up. I tried to restart and it would not turn on. It just beeps repeatedly.
There is something seriously unstable about this computer. I really enjoyed working on it when it was operating so I want this to all workout. However, I need it 100% fixed or replaced. I cannot go weeks and weeks without the computer as I need it for work. If you can?t fix it this time, please don?t waste my time anymore. Just declare this product defective and provide me with w new product or a refund. I have wasted 15 hours of direct time and weeks now without a computer. It is time to get a resolution here. If the computer is going to have problems persistently, then a new one is the best option. It?s a customer service issue for me at this point.
I have owned 10 PC?s in the last 15 years so I understand the basics and know when a computer is a lemon ? and this is the worst computer I have owned. I cannot stand being stuck with something that doesn?t work.
I wrote a similar review on Dell.com...and surprise...they refused to post it.
User Rating: 8/10
Achieves its purpose
Pros: Size, design, usefulness, decent battery life, XP
Cons: Keyboard takes some getting used to, glossy screen, Dell
User Rating: 9/10
Simply awesome! Dells BEST in a while!
Pros: Light and very mobile. 3.5-4 hour battery. Doesn't make a sound. No camara, but BT, use it with my BT keyboard/mouse. I hook this up to my 37" HDTV and the limited resolution increases itself automatically to fit my TV perfectly. I love that!
Cons: odd place for the apostrophe, this is my #1 complaint. Other than that, the keyboard isn't all bad, but does take some time getting used to. Compressed drive out of the box makes the system run a bit sluggish.
User Rating: 1/10
Worst Customer Service EVER!!!!!!
Pros: Product looks great and feels solid.
Screen is small, but bright. This is perfect for young children or anyone needing a way to connect with the internet.
Cons: I ordered the computer with Ubuntu and received the Windows XP instead. 2 hours of customer (non)service later I still have the computer with windows xp and no ubuntu.
User Rating: 9/10
Love it! Small, great screen, snappy response.
Pros: Size/weight, screen (bright, crisp), options (WiFi, 3G, ports, bluetooth, etc.), price.
Cons: Wish larger battery an option (maybe in near future <-- Dell are you listening). Also, could of fit a little more screen real estate (perhaps 10" screen would fit in the same area (i.e. smaller bezel)). But these are MINOR cons.
User Rating: 1/10
Please don't buy this. A passable product only.
Pros: Barely acceptable. Battery life is truly subpar, particularly with the ASUS 901 out there lasting 3 times as long. Only thing going for it now is that its getting cheaper. Hello? Warning sign?
Cons: What you want is a Samsung NC10-14GB 10.2-Inch Netbook. At 10 inches, the keyboard is large enough to actually work on. The mini 9 is atrocious as a typer. Battery life is terrible.
User Rating: 9/10
Best Mini laptop!! Fits in my purse!!
Pros: Small-fits in my purse
Great to use for Itunes movies etc
Loads quickly
Web Camera works well
Cons: Sounds is low
a couple keys are in the wrong place if you type
The sound is low for some reason. Not sure if its me or just the laptop. However when you have a headset on it I don't notice it.
Great PC for the price. Buy it!! You won't regret it.
User Rating: 6/10
It looks nice but it is very very very slow
Pros: size and design
Cons: I do not know why the performance is irregular. It stops every 4 - 5 minutes. If someone know how to make this faster let me know. I already uninstall all the free ware I just left the anti virus, but I do not know if that is the problem
User Rating: 7/10
Should i buy this?
Pros: Well should i buy this for my daughter for her 11 birthday and hannukah gifts combined?
Cons: Should i buy this/
User Rating: 9/10
My new best friend
Pros: Much more useful then I had thought, extremely portable, not worth my life (I'll explain later), great battery life, very solid construction, low profile, easily upgradeable, fast, quiet, recomended
Cons: SMALL KEYBOARD takes some time to get used to, some programs expand beyond the screen a little
As far as upgrading goes, I plan to install a 30gb SSD I found online. Even though I do not plan to load it up with data, I feel its important to have more then enough memory, just in case. RAM is also easily swapped out. The mini 9 is upgrade friendly too, with its easily removable back panel.
I would strongly recommend the mini 9 to anyone looking for a reasonably priced addition to their mobile computing arsenal. Due to the keyboard size and portability factor, I am sure this would be a hit with kids too. The WiFi, and SIM card slot offer strong wireless capabilities. For the business user or road warrior, this computer will travel.
User Rating: 8/10
Does what it needs!
Pros: Don't expect much of it. It's basically for getting on the internet; playing some games - if any at all and even minor documents if you can get programs on it. But I just use it to get on the internet.
Cons: No CD rom - so you have to DL all programs via the web but that's normal nowadays anyway. Get rid of the junk DELL adds on and you've got a useful netbook to walkaround with!!
User Rating: 9/10
Amazing netbook!
Pros: Fast processor (with realistic expectations)
Lightweight, VERY portable
Great price (under $400)
Windows XP / Linux options
Eye-cathing design
Wireless internet and bluetooth options
Cons: There are a few awkward key compromises that take getting used to (especially moving the apostrophe key below the period and comma)
The screen is great. The images are crisp and clear. Also, having three USB ports its really convenient - as it allows having a hookup for a flash drive, a printer, and a CD Drive / Hard drive all at once. The glossy finish is very eye-catching (though fingerprint-prone) - and it really looks impressive.
Just as the CNET review says, the caps lock, tab key, shft, control keys are all tiny. This hasn't been much of a problem for me, as you just get used to being a little more accurate when you go to punch these keys. In all honesty, it never really slowed me down. Reviews I have read talk about the moving of keys like the dash or the F-row. In my experience, I use these keys relatively infrequently, and so it is not very frustrating at all. However, the keyboard compromise that is maddening is the decision to move the apostrophe key down to where the right alt and control button would be on a normal keyboard. This requires you to literally pick up your hand and punch the key every time you use quotes or a contraction. The other problem is that when you go to press that key where it normally would be, you end up pressing enter. So, if you're talking on gchat, and you go to click apostrophe, you'll click enter instead, sending your message. Otherwise, letters, numbers, enter, and space bar are all big enough to type on relatively comfortably.
Overall, I am very happy with this purchase. If you get one, though, just be ready to feel that any other laptop you use is heavy and clunky. This machine is perfect for watching a movie in bed, on a train or an airplane, and bringing to Panera / Starbucks to surf the web or work on a paper. Highly, highly recommended.
User Rating: 9/10
Great Netbook that is stylish and efficient
Pros: It is light and perfect for its intention. It won't do any heavy lifting but for accessing the internet it is the perfect companion. It doesn't take very long to get used to the keyboard and there are no problems with the trackpad or keyboard.
Cons: I have run into a problem sometimes when i have to many windows open with the virtual memory getting low but i plan to upgrade to the 2GB memory. Also i would have liked an option for a larger hard drive
User Rating: 10/10
Highly configurable with warranty options.
Pros: Nice size and weight. Unlike Asus' tiny keys, Dell put some thought and innovation into the keyboard compromises allowing for larger keys. I was able to configure mine with a 3 year warranty that I know Dell will honor (unlike Asus).
Cons: The only annoyance is the placement of the ' " key. Would have preferred smaller enter key to allow for this key to be in its normal place. No other complaints. WWAN option did not materialize for the U.S.
User Rating: 9/10
Great Netbook
Pros: Size, Speed (1GB memory), screen, Bluetooth
Cons: More Memory options, More SSD drive size options, Its a Dell!
First off, my did ship later due to a few factors with the LED screen on my 1530 and Dell's cluster of a web site. Lucky I was on vacation and it made me relies how much more I wanted this.
First off, the size and weight are awesome. I always had issues with laptops because the size and all the extra "crap" you need to lug along. Even the power cord is bulky for most laptops. Not in the Mini's case. No extra inverter to drag around. Its just a standard plug and connector. So the whole thing fits in a Portable DVD player sleeve and slips into my wife's purse.
During my set up I took it to Starbucks and it took me for ever to set up because people kept asking me about it.
The screen is clear and with the 1 GB memory it pretty slick for XP. Like others said you might want to look at removing some of the "crap" that gets loaded from Dell but over all it a smooth running at quick to boot.
I wish there was an option for 2GB and a larger SSD drive. With the 16 GB drive you lose like 4 to 6 GB when you first get it so you really only have 10GB left. Thus as one of my options I got a 16 GB SD card, thus doubling my storage space in a snap. I would recommend the SD card for ANYONE getting this machine as it just gives you the option to store more junk. We all can use more space for junk.
I got all the options that were available at the time:
-1GB memory
-16GB SSD
-Built-in-Bluetooth
-1.3 webcam.
I would recommend all but the web cam. That one may not be so much a need if your looking to save money.
I would also recommend getting:
-Bluetooth mouse (I like mice better then the touch pad but the touch pad works well.)
-SD card (go 16GB as it doubles your space and frees up the 10GB or so on the SSD for the applications and lets you use the SD card for storage and allows file transfer quickly between machines.)
-Slim Case DVD drive (THERE IS NO OPTICAL DRIVE. You probably wont need one unless you plan to install other programs (new firewall/antivirus) but it a nice to have that could save your butt.)
-extra power cord ( I have cats. They are the bane of power cords with their pointy teeth.)
I have not tried using a SD card over 16GB as there has not been one at Fry's on sale yet, but I see no reason why this machine won't take it. I would also recommend against a USB flash drive as it sticks WAY out on such a small machine, but in a pinch it works.
Over all I been super happy with this machine. I can check e-mail and play Peggle on it. My wife can slip in in her purse and keep up with all here friends and e-mail.
I also recommend the 2 following reviews. These 2 guys do a GREAT job of going over the hardware and I agree with the majority of their reviews.
http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/dell-inspiron-mini-9/4864-3121_7-33240837-1.html?tag=userReviews;summaryList
http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/dell-inspiron-mini-9/4864-3121_7-33240837-2.html?tag=userReviews;summaryList
User Rating: 7/10
add some memory
Pros: love the clarity of the screenl
Cons: needs a bit more ram and the screen sould tilt back a little further
User Rating: 1/10
Shipment delays-weak customer service
Pros: Looks good on paper-never got due to last minute delay by Dell (2nd time this has happened to me -I have ordered 3 Dell's and only 1 delivered on time). It is infuriating to wait 2-3 weeks to find out that your computer is delayed another month!
Cons: Never got computer - Dell delayed my order-one working day before the promised shipment (already waited 2 weeks for my order!). Weak excuse-Dell blamed Adobe for late shipment of software-why did it take until 1 working day before shipment date?
One working day before shipment I checked the order and found out it was canceled and changed to 11/3 delivery (no notice was sent-I had to check shipment myself). The cost still included next day delivery.
I canceled my order-bought a ASUS 901 from Amazon on 9/26-arrived in 3 days on 9/29. I am angry, because this is the 2nd Dell computer that was postponed a few days before the promised shipment-Dell should give more notice and state reason for the delay.
On paper the Dell appears better than the ASUS 901, but, with the 901 you can disconnect the touch pad - which makes it easier to type (pretty good for short emails - hey if you can get used to a Blackberry...), the battery life is much longer (6 cell battery vs. 4 cell), and the wireless I think is stronger than the b/g of the Dell-I am pretty happy with my 901, and angry with Dell business practices-won't order from Dell again
User Rating: 8/10
Life "On-the-go" made easy
Pros: -compact size, a general ease of packing/toting, great for college life, aesthetically pleasing, quiet laptop with a solid state drive that fits the bill. The Microsoft Works application that is included is also a good decision on Dell's part.
Cons: Not a huge fan of the glossy exterior (fingermarks show up all over the place), the keyboard isn't bad but takes some getting used to, obviously the disk space is of some concern, and the screen's gloss can be burdensome at times.
User Rating: 10/10
Dell Mini is a must have
Pros: Love the size and weight, nice and small. Login is faster than on my other two Dell laptops. It's convenient for traveling anywhere. I easily slip it into my purse. Keyboard does take getting use to but now it's no problem.
Cons: Getting use to the small keyboard, other than that I love the Dell mini.
User Rating: 7/10
Great when you're on the go
Pros: Much easier to carry for travel if you just want basics or a smaller device to download vacation photos. The size of a book; can fit in some ladies' handbags.
Cons: Keyboard variations take some getting used to. Display is hard to read without making some font changes. (Try the Verdona font at about 10 or 11 point size.)
User Rating: 1/10
Walk away! Find something else!
Pros: The ONLY good things about this computer are that it is very light, and it has 3 usb ports.
Cons: Keyboard is horrible to type on. I'm a touch typist, and now I find myself missing keys on a regular keyboard because of using this thing! Screen too small, hard drive too slow, even for web surfing & email only.
User Rating: 10/10
Does what they say it will do.
Pros: Great for traveling. I log into my office machine to do the big work. THIS SHOULD NOT ME Y0UR MAIL COMPUTER. Great wireless.
Cons: To many items in the startup menue. It slows the computer down. Small hard drive.
User Rating: 9/10
Great travel companion with good performance
Pros: Portable, fast boot, webcam and bluetooth are great for videoconferencing with cell phone. WiFi range is good. Battery life is good. Very quiet operation. Good screen.
Cons: Junk software bundled should be removed. With XP and updates you have about 9 Gb of the 16 Gb SSD.
User Rating: 10/10
BEST NETBOOK I HAVE EVER USED!
Pros: Small, compact, sturdy, powerful (compared to other netbooks), and stylish. Is everything you need if you sre on the go and need something small and lightweight, I take it to school, work, coffee shop and even the gym.
Cons: Small SSD and the screen does not bend all the way back so somethimes it is hard to see the screen if there is glare.
8 GB SSD
512 MB Memory
0.3 MP Webcam
When I got it I threw in 2 GB Memory and took less than 2 minutes and it worked perfectly. I also bought a 320 GB External Hard Drive and use that to back-up my NetBook and for extra storage at home (I save all my presentations and papers on it). My only real complant is the small SSD. But I did find a 32 GB SSD that works with the Mini for $100 and am going to order it soon. Otherwise this NetBook is faster than my Dell 1501 Laptop on the internet. A great product from Dell, does not need much improvements which is why I think Dell took their time in releasing it, to make sure the bugs were figured out and that it was going to be a great product.
Thanks Again Dell for the Mini 9
User Rating: 8/10
Nice little fellow
Pros: Size, weight, prize correlated with power, fairly good.
Cons: Glossy screen.
User Rating: 4/10
Cute as a bug, but a poorly performing laptop.
Pros: Upon first impression, its a very nicely finished product. I found not one dead cell on the monitor, and the styling is great.
Cons: Runs HOT. Fully loaded (ie: 1Gig, 16g drive) its performance was very disappointing. Had difficulty processing SPSS analysis. Keyboard is too small to be effective/fluid. Customer service was utterly horrible...I repeat, utterly horrible. Sad.
The customer service experience was BY FAR the worst experince I've ever had dealing with any manufacturer. Even my wife was insulted at the poor customer service she was bearing witness to (I had my speakerphone on). Seriously, this is not a computer for doing proper work, but is rather a toy. The keyboard is just too small to be efficient. The RH space key is a real struggle for everyone I had try it. Also, there is no F11? This is essential for such a small screen when one needs to maximize the screen for various functions (ie: web, photos, etc). Terribly disappointed, and am now planning to go get a new Mac. There is little wonder why Dell is having issues in the stock market.
Bad service + poor product = Happy customers buying elsewhere.
User Rating: 1/10
Horrible technical support experience
Pros: Small and slick
Cons: Poor poor poor technical support
I opened an issue with XPS technical 4 weeks ago. It was a carry over from a previous incident I phoned in April. I am told "incredibly" that there is no record of this incident. I guess things happen so I accepted this and moved on. Regardless, a new incident was logged on Sep 6th for me. I am taken through a series of troubleshooting steps and 3... that right "3" goto assist sessions to help resolve my issue. Nothing helps and after over 2 weeks of troubleshooting the XPS support staff finally come to conclusion that I need a replacement video card. That the current video card series is "defective". It's even posted in the Dell knowledge base.
Great!, they recommend that I get the new ATI series cards in crossfire to replace my NVIDIA 8800 GTX card in SLI. I'm okay with this except for the fact that my 680i motherboard does not support those cards in that configuration. I find it bizarre that an XPS support technician in not aware of this and point this out. They confirm and then apologize for not knowing this. Their supervisor recommends then that I get a motherboard replacement and suggests that the new 790i motherboard will accept the new ATI cards. Well I think "WoW this must be an expensive and complex replacment" but okay... That is why I purchased both "Next day business service AND Complete Care!" for extra $$$ with the system about 400 more. But WAIT!... I ask... the new motherboard... would it fit in my 720 h2c chasis? Dell support tech reps put me on hold again and then say... no... Whoops I guess we don't know our own product... again extremely bizarre that they do not know basic stuff like this.
Well that option is now down the drain. I suggest the new Nvidia 280 GTX cards. They say they need authorization for this from their special resolution group. I say that would be just fine. Then they promise me a call back in 48 hours. Which means I should be getting a call on the 23rd of September.
That date comes and goes without an update or call. so I call again to inquire when I would be recieveing the promise call back. A differnet Dell supervisor tells me "sorry" and assures me that I will get a call in the next 24 hours. I guess everyone can mess up... no problem... I say okay. By know I have spent over 9 hours over the phone over numerous sessions.
Another 24 hours comes and goes and still no call back. So I call again... "my second reminder call" on Sep. 24th. Again the apology and again a promise to call me back. This time at a predetermined time at 9:30 PST on the 25th. Yeat another dell supervisor apologizes and then assures me that he will schedule a call back at that exact time. Now I have a job of course so I need to make sure I'm available at that time. So I do that. Again another day goes by and 9:30am comes and still no call back. Infact I don't get a call back that whole day.
Now I'm extremely frustrated. I paid $$400-500 extra for premium level support but I can't seem to get a simple call back. My system has not been working really since I received it on March 08 and I'm getting the serious run around here for a $5600 system.
I call again on the 26th and now I'm very upset but calmly explaining how poor the service I have been receiving to date has been. The new tech support supervisor now informs me for the first time that the "special resolution group" is backed up and that is why i have not been given my promised callback and resolution. She promises that without fail that by Monday I will be receiving my call back if not sooner. Now by this time I have receive 4. Count them. NOT 1, not 2, not 3 but 4... that is right 4 promises for a callback that have not been fulfilled. Even their case notes reflect this and the new 5th... supervisor reads and is stunned by their own level of poor service and does not "know what to say to me". Again... another promise... this time "with absolute certainty of a call back." So I reluctantly agree to this again... (you would think I would know better by now) but I wait again for this elusive callback from this "Special resolution" group at Dell. Promises are made about emails sent "directly to the manager of this group" threatening punitive action if I do not get my call back... not from me but from the manager handling my case in support at the time to the manager of this "special resolution" group if I do not receive my call back in a timely manner.
Can you guess what happens next?... that right... I wait another 24 hours and now it's 9/30/08 and still nothing. 5 promised call backs. I violations of their own service level commitments to me (the customer) I call again today (9/30) I get more hollow apologies, And more promises from another manager.
At this point I have to point this out to Dell consumers and potentional consumers this event as I believe no one should have to endure this kind of service
User Rating: 8/10
I like my new best friend, but...
Pros: Absolutely silent operation, compact design, light weight, aesthetically pleasing, configurable to your needs.
Cons: The absence of an internal cooling fan causes warm operation. The keyboard takes some getting used to.
What I noticed right away when I turned it on was that it didn't make any noise whatsoever.
The keyboard: When I began typing, I immediately took notice of the Shift key on the right side of the keyboard being very small and this slowed me down a bit because I had to watch where my pinky was going at first. Also, the apostrophe/quotation key is in the same row as the space bar, which is very weird for me. Then I noticed that the 'Ctrl' and 'Alt' keys have been removed from the right side (they're still on the left). I also hit the 'S' key a few times when I meant to hit the 'A' key because of the compact placement of the keys. I remember thinking "uh oh" when I first saw the keyboard, but it's really not that bad. It's a little weird at first, but you get used to it quickly. However, I'm still trying to get used to the apostrophe being in the row of the space bar.
The webcam: When the webcam is turned on, a small white light illuminates to the left of it. Really, it's more of an indicator light than a flash. It's only there to let you know that it's on. I got the 1.3 Megapixel option and it works great. It even comes with some fun software that allows you to switch the background, put on a hat, sunglasses, etc... I thought that was pretty cool.
The speakers: Dell says it only comes with one, but there are actually two...weird. As you would expect with such a small space to work with, the sound isn't spectacular but it definitely does the job. There's not very much bass. This also came with some cool software that has an equalizer with some presets built in (pop, live, club, rock, jazz, etc...). You can also change the pitch of what you're listening to (plus or minus 4). There are also different effects you can choose (as if you're playing your music in a bathroom, hallway, stone room, auditorium, etc...). Lastly, I wish there was an indicator on the screen that would show up when you change the volume with the keyboard, but sadly, there isn't.
The indicator lights: Aside from the small white one next to the webcam, there are only two to the left of the track pad. The one on the left is for power. It lights up (white) when the computer is on (or charging, if the computer is off. If the computer is off and plugged in, the light will turn off when the charge reaches 90%). The indicator light right next to it is for low battery, which will light up (orange) when your battery reaches 10% (or whichever percent you decide to set yours to -- 10% is default). There are no other indicator lights like on traditional computers (such as the Caps lock, Number lock, and Scroll lock). However, if you turn Caps lock on, a small message on the screen will tell you (mine only did it the first few times, then it stopped showing up...I don't know why).
Well, I think that's pretty much it. There's no latch for the lid, like on some other models. It holds itself closed through the force of the hinges. I would recommend putting your finger in the way so it doesn't slam down on itself (no, it doesn't hurt) and try to close it gently.
I would NOT recommend anything less than the 16GB model, even if you THINK you won't have a lot of files on it. You have to consider all of the pre-loaded software that comes with it -- you only have about 9 or 10 USABLE gigabytes when you first turn it on. I recommend removing some of the pre-loaded software that you don't use to free up some space, but only if you really know what you're doing. Also, don't get anything less than the 1GB of RAM (unless you have a LOT of patience).
One more thing I forgot to mention earlier: Beware if you have something to install through a CD ROM. It has no CD ROM drive with it and it will cost you over 80 dollars to add that option on, according to the Dell website. That price may go down, but still, it's not worth it to me (I almost NEVER use CD ROMs).
User Rating: 7/10
Surprizingly Good
Pros: It's light, small and fairly perky. The XP version with 1G Ram runs Office 2007 reasonably well. It handled DVD playback using using the trial version of PowerDVD (and mounting the DVD on a server available via wifi).
Cons: The keyboard is small but I can touch type on it. The display is hard to see when not viewing it straight on. The laptop gets surprizingly warm. The environment isn't peppy enough to allow the user to do multiple activities without a slow down.
The battery life is good. I'd say it's over 3 hours when using wifi. The keyboard could be too cramped for some - it worked well for me. I need my reading glasses to use it, but otherwise the screen is fine.
My kids (11 & 7) really liked it. The seemed to really appreciate the smaller keyboard. I never thought about it, but adult size keyboards can be a bit big for little fingers.
I'd recommend it as a kids laptop for school work or as a travel computer. I wouldn't want it to be my primary computer though.
User Rating: 8/10
Fast and versatile - but could use a little more juice
Pros: - Perfect size - exactly the size of a 200 page hardcover
- Great options. Mine has bluetooth USB, 16 GB SSD, XP and 1GB RAM. Handles movies and anything short of Photoshopping.
- Little crapware, lots of ports, and Screen is clear and bright.
Cons: - Some crapware (Google desktop, McAfee, Dell's Online storage which is fee-based).
- Battery should've been a 5 or 6 cell instead of 4. It died 45 minutes short of a 5hr10min flight. Typically lives for 4 hrs per charge.
- Boot-to-surfing time for Windows XP plus Norton Internet Security 2009 was 1:38. That's pretty expletive fast.
- I have not yet received the external DVD-RW that Dell sold me with the unit, so no comment on whether that was a smart move.
- The SDHC card is a real nessesity. The great thing about the SSD drive is that the battery lasts much longer with low-current electron-based memory than with a motor-driven spinning plate. It also, I'm told, can take quite an impact, though I do not have any plans to test that theory. The additional SDHC card is both a low-draw second drive for files, as well as a handy substitute for a thumbdrive if you buy a $5 addapter. This is key for uploading fresh music and movies from your other machines without having to deal with more arduous transfer methods between boxes.
- I saw one comment about the glare on the screen. Insofar as that goes, it is true that the Mini 9 has a glossy screen, and not a matte screen, as some laptops do, for minimizing glare. However, a glossy screen is much harder and sturdier than a matte screen would be, which pretty much makes it integral for this type of ultra-portable, on-the-road platform. If I quickly throw this thing in a bag when my flight is announced, I don't want the impact damaging my too-soft screen (I hate discolorations in my display - they just bug me to no end). However, I need to add that, as far as glossy screens go, this is by no means "glare-y" as compared to other laptops I've used. You want to see glare-y, go look at one of the large screen Compaq's from three or four years ago. The Mini 9 does not produce enough reflection from a window or ceiling light behind you to pose any visibility issues. (At least not so far - I've only had it a week.)
- Aesthetically, it is attractive enough to have elicited several comments from people who have seen it. Personally, I like the looks and the line, but I think it could've used a little more spiffing-up. Again, though, I like my computers tough, and I would not choose to sacrifice any aspect of its durability for a marginally jazzier appearance. One's fashion statements should not derive primarily from one's netbook anyway.
- One thing that was not substantial enough to qualify as a "con" but which Dell should consider changing is the Wi-Fi signal standards available on the Mini 9. They only offer 802.11 b/g. I would've preferred b/g/n compatibility so that the computer could take advantage of the improved speed offered by "n" service as that standard becomes more predominant.
- Lastly, I really like the 1.3MP built in webcam. For the added $10 over the 0.3MP model, I don't see how you can't upgrade. Since my model now allows me to participate in high-quality video chatting/conferencing wherever I am, it has now become a total laptop replacement on business or extended trips.
- Like I mentioned earlier, unless you need to photoshop extremely large image files, perform extremely process-hungry tasks like Acrobat OCR scanning or play very graphics intensive games wherever you go, this computer ably performs everything you could need a computer to do on the road or in a coffeeshop. The bluetooth lets you print, scan or integrate with another bluetooth enabled computer wirelessly, the modern ubiquity of WiFi eliminates the need for any connecting cords in most urban areas, and the excellent touchpad eliminates the need to pack a usb or wireless mouse (I didn't buy one when Dell offered, and after using the system, I assure you it would be a waste of money, considering that the whole point of the system is to minimize its footprint in your luggage/backpack). If it wasn't for the pesky need to plug into a wall outlet occasionally, this system would totally self-contained and wire/leash-less.
- For the ladies: my GF assures me that this is the first truly purse-friendly fully-functional computer.
User Rating: 1/10
Can't see -- too much glare/reflection; drive too small
Pros: Atom Processor, size & weight.
Cons: Notebooks & mini PCs should not have glossy screens. The idea is to be able to work in different environments - the glare/reflection is ridiculous. Glossy screens are nice to watch movies in the dark. Drive too small to install desired programs.
User Rating: 9/10
Good Competitor on the low end of Netbooks
Pros: Uses Fast booting, Shock-proof SSD's.
Starts at $350.
Nice hidden hinge in contrast to the EEE's enormous screen hinge.
Cons: Keyboard difficult to use sometimes.
User Rating: 6/10
Netbooks are sons and daughters of PALM Foleo
Pros: well built Keyboard and builtin webcam and support for linux is plus factor
Cons: no builtin 3G, this is a must for netbook, how can you surf the net on the move if you dont have 3G connection
I just hope that they should be honest and release the real battery time and provide a builtin 3G
