A lot of info about Dell’s entry into the netbook market has been uncovered in the last day or two. The Inspiron 910 Mini 9 has gone official a day before Gizmodo’s predicted date. Now we have all the details about the new netbook, and reviews are already up on the nets. Lets have a look, shall we?
Info directly from Dell’s site shows us three model tiers. All models share an 8.9" 1024×600 display and a 1.6GHz Atom N270 CPU and the usual bevy of ports (full specs can be found in the Portal), but they differentiate in RAM, OS, webcam and SSD size. The least in terms of specs and price starts at $349 and comes equipped with 512MB of RAM, no camera, 4GB SSD, and Ubuntu, apparently with a custom Dell interface. The next model up will run you $399 and has 512MB of RAM, 0.3MP webcam, 8GB SSD, and Windows XP Home. The most costly of the three is $449 and has 1GB of RAM, 16GB SSD, 0.3MP webcam, and is also running Windows XP. Keep in mind, these are just pre-configured machines. You can mix and match the different specs (RAM/OS/webcam/SSD) and get exactly what you want. Oh and don’t forget that you can pay an extra $25 for a white model instead of a black one, if you feel so inclined. Buyer beware, none of the models come with Bluetooth, you need to add that yourself (+$20) when you customize the machine.
Strangely enough, Dell is offering ‘Instant Savings’ of $40 and $55 on the middle and top end models respectively; effectively negating any price break for taking the Ubuntu OS. Anyone care to theorize why they would want to get XP machines out the door rather than Ubuntu?
My best guess as to why they can offer the discounts on XP is that Microsoft is giving them the licenses for next to nothing. The last thing Microsoft wants is for a netbook to become very popular and come with Linux.
I *must* know if the SSD will be a fast contiguous drive. Or will it be the same weirdness as EEE where you get 4 gigs of fast onboard flash and then some slower card as a separate drive to make up the diff.
I’m not sure at this point, but I’ll let you guys know if I see anything about it.
I don’t have a guess on the XP, but I like XP.
I think that I remember other models are due in October this year, and then next year, maybe 2nd quarter.
I am happy overall though. This legitimizes the whole genre of small computers for the common users in the USA, and we don’t have to spend a fortune on a Fujitsu or a Sony to get a small notebook that can be typed on.
I am going to get one, but I will probably wait a few months.
By the way, the next sale may be on the 350 USD one. Dell commonly rotates its sales among its’ products.
I priced the lowest end Inspiron 13 (13.3 inch) and came up with 699 USD.
Main diferences were the 13 had a optical drive (80 additional for an external for the Mini 9) and a 160 HDD and of course the really really good selling point (LOL) Vista.
By the way, what kind of software is offered on the Mini 9. You get “Works” on the 13.
The price is *a bit* tempting. But when I think of it, I’m only getting ONE netbook. I want it to be more powerful and versatile than Dell’s offering. The Everun note seems like the logical strong choice, despite the price.
It appears there is only one version in the UK:
XP, 1GB, 16GB SSD and Windows XP.
Priced at £299 delivered.
They are saying it takes 15 days to be delivered…
http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop-inspiron-9?c=uk&l=en&s=dhs&cs=ukdhs1
Oh, and it has Bluetooth.
And it’s only in Black.
And it has the webcam (and obviously wifi but they all have that).
I really should read before posting.
Anyway, I accidently managed to order one…
In Ireland its available in one format only (the top end spec) and its €399 ($568). The Advent aka MSI Wind is €370, Acer Aspire one A150L is €306 and the ASUS 904HD is €343. Why buy the Dell?
Well the UK price is good and 16GB of SSD means it should have enough storage for most people.
If the build quality and performance is good this is
definatley gonna dominate the budget market. The
only atom umpc cheaper than this is the acer one.
The euro price is stupid based on the current exchange rate the uk price including VAT is around
350euros. Looks like your getting screwed over twice just for living in the euro zone.
Looking at the UK pricing for the fully loaded XP versions of the main Netbooks.
At £299 you have the Dell Mini 9, Acer One, EEE 901
Dell has 16GB SSD and Bluetooth, EEE has 12GB SSD and Bluetooth, One has 120GB HD and No Bluetooth.
The Advent is £280 with 80GB Hard Drive and Bluetooth. It also has a 10.2″ screen, but that is a negative for me.
Most of the others outside the Dell do have cheaper alternatives.
For me the Dell, for me wins on styling and the fact that it is a Dell. We use a lot of Dells and have always been happy with their build, performance and support on the rare times we’ve needed it.
I know other’s opinions may vary on them as a company!
I really like Dell as well, as far as my experiences go with them, they are a good company and make good products. That is why I’ve been excited to see their entry into the netbook market. I might have to see if I can get one of these for testing.
For those interested, here is a size comparison of the main contenders I list above and a piece of A4 paper:
http://www.sizeasy.com/page/size_comparison/16816-Paper-A4-vs-MSI-Wind-vs-Acer-One-vs-Dell-Mini-9-vs-Asus-Eee-PC-901
Only the 901 is a tiny bit smaller than the Dell.
you can add the M912 sizes: 235/180/42 mm
Size wise the M912 fits in nicely. However you are talking another £100 on top for it (you do get a swivel touch screen for that), but it is really taking it to another level.
At £300 I already think we are at too much money for a Netbook. Despite just buying one at that price!
To much and youve just ordered one!
I kind of agree with you we really need to see most of these UMPC’s around the £200 mark at £300+ you can get much more powerful laptops although you will obviously sacrifice size and weight.
If UMPC’s are marketed at low prices they could effectivly challenge and defeat the IPAQ/PDA market.
The white/black are the same price in Canada when I checked yesterday.
“Well the UK price is good and 16GB of SSD means it should have enough storage for most people.”
since when the hell is 16GB enough space? lets take the word “SSD” out of the equation & replace it with “HDD”, people would outraged with such a small HDD.
it doesnt matter the pros/cons each medium offers (speed, power consumption, etc), storage space is storage space & 16GB is not much.
I would really like to know if it is rugged! Can it take the stresses of carrying it around in a backpack?
Is it easier to type on than the Asus EEE?
Does anyone know?
Also 16Gig is all the storage I would need in something that I can carry around and isn’t my main computer- besides that’s what the “3” USB ports and the 3-in-1 Media Card Reader are there for!
Chippy Where is your review?
Sell UMPC at USD350 one.
xp,80G,Ultra Mobile PC——-Go Everywhere,Do Everything!
All functions are just as the same as the Laptop/Notebook Computer!But its dimensions and weight are smaller than Laptop/Notebook Computer.
Windows XP system
80GB,160GB hard disk optional
1GB,4GB Memory optional
Display Screen:7 inch,8.9 inch, 10.2 inch,12.1 inch optional
Built-in Three hundred pixels Camera
Color: white,black,pink,blue optional
Dimensions optioanl:
22.8Lx14.6Wx2.51H cm
22.5Lx16.5Wx3.3Hcm
Price:USD350
Ultra Mobile PC——-Go Everywhere,Do Everything!
All functions are just as the same as the Laptop/Notebook Computer!But its dimensions and weight are smaller than Laptop/Notebook Computer.
Windows XP system
80GB,160GB hard disk optional
1GB,4GB Memory optional
Display Screen:7 inch,8.9 inch, 10.2 inch,12.1 inch optional
Built-in Three hundred pixels Camera
Color: white,black,pink,blue optional
Dimensions optioanl:
22.8Lx14.6Wx2.51H cm
22.5Lx16.5Wx3.3Hcm
Price:350 USD
contact me: madonnachina@yahoo.cn
I waited for this until the end of August and then bagged it and went for an EEE pc 1000. I have no regrets:
http://wombatdiet.net/2008/09/05/asus-eee-pc-1000-with-ubuntu-chrome-an-inflection-point/
Does anyone know what type the 3-in-1 media card reader reads? Of the three what would be the fastest to use if you wanted to use that media for files?
Отлично! ХотелоÑÑŒ бы побольше таких же интереÑных поÑтов