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- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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37 out of 38 people found this review helpful
4.0 stars
"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).
Summary: It's my little duece coup. After the addition of a 16GB class 6 SDHC card (which should only be used for files, not applications, system or other software data), I absolutely have a tempest in a tea-kettle. It's as fast for simple processes and applications as the laptop I paid Dell $3300 for in 2003, and it's battery, as noted above, lasts almost long enough to make it through a coast-to-coast flight. (Though I would've upgraded for two more cells for another 30-50 bucks if Dell wised up and offered that.) Make no mistake, the Atom processor and 1GB of RAM will not have you photoshopping hi-rez RAW images or OCR-scanning large PDF files with Acrobat (though most other processes performed with Acrobat are relatively painless). Microsoft Works comes standard with the XP option and has done the job so far. Since Office is not a feasible option for such a limited machine, I would prefer it if Dell gave me option of no MS apps at all so that I could've thrown OpenOffice or some other small footprint suite on instead of tremulously contemplating a Works uninstall.
- 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.
- 8 replies to this review
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Please don't buy this. The price has been dropping like a rock. Danger Will Robinson!!! Consider a Samsung NC10-14GB 10.2-Inch Netbook. I don't think CNET will review this until after the holidays.
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Hi
I was wondering if you think this would be a good laptop for a nine year old. He uses mine just for webkins and some game sites, I would buy him one, the price right now is $299, but I wanted to know if it would be worth it, can it do basic stuff like that without any problems? The $299 is for 512 MB Memory; 4GB Solid State Drive, should I upgrade it? Thank you for your advice on this, I always feel like I'm going in blind when I buy a computer. -
Geat review. Question - I got an LG Slim DVD player since Dell was out of stock on theirs, but it won't play any DVD movies. I have downloaded some files using it, so the DVD player works. Any help you can give would be appreciated. Love it otherwise.
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quick question: is it possible to install Office 2007??
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Reply to gatormom89: To clarify, the SDHC card runs fine on the mini's card reader, just not on my older machines (class 6 and all). If you have a five year old laptop or desktop as your box at home, like I do, its harware may not be sufficiently "of the moment" to incorporate such high-fangled technological accoutrement as SDHC-compatible card readers or wireless USB. My laptop, for instance, will do me no better than a USB 1.0 slot. So I just slide the SDHC card into the adapter, which in turm allows me to upload data via said USB port for (much quicker) transfer onto my mini.
If you have a decent SD card reader and install the most up-to date drivers for it, you will be able to simply pop the SDHC card out of the netbook and into your less-primitive PC sans adapter.
Alternatively, if your home computer is wireless-USB (bluetooth) enabled, you will be able to transfer files back and forth on the ether itself with nary an atom to manhandle. -
Quick question. When you said, "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," I'm uncertain as to the $5 adapter. I thought the Mini had a multi card reader. So, the SDHC card needs something more to use it? I've ordered a Mini so I'd like to know what else I need. I have several jump drives (up to 4 GB) that I could use but am interested in the SDHC card. VERY much appreciated your extensive review. Now I'm very glad I ordered one. Plan on using it while in airports, planes and in Europe for our next trip. Wanted an easy way to store and label all those photos that we seem to take while we're there. Also, going through secuity with a regular size laptop is a pain, plus I carry enough without the extra weight of a laptop. Thanks for your info!
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Thanks scsutera, glad to get the chance to retrun the favor to all the reviewers that have helped me.
- UPDATE: I removed Works and installed Office 2003 (just Outlook, Word, XL and Powerpoint) on my machine (the disk was from a computer I bought a couple years ago, but no problem registering the new box). It ran slowly until I ran Microsoft Update twice, and then it operated as quickly as on my desktop. Outlook runs fine, BUT you should be aware that if you leave Outlook open all the time in the background while you work in other applications, and, like me, you tend to have Office, Word and Firefox open simultaneously, you're going to see some slowdowns opening additional tabs in media-heavy webpages or large PDF files. The analogy to a two-cylinder engine holds true: It's surprisingly quick off the line, unless you have too many people in the car.
- In short, yes Outlook works great on this computer, but don't expect it to give you the horsepower of a thinkpad. -
Your review was extremely helpful. I am looking at purchasing this for my wife for travel. She complains that my Dell is too large and heavy. My one concern after reading your review is the use of Outlook. My wife absolutely has to have Outlook for her emails and scheduling. Will this program work well or will it be very slow?
