Dell Inspiron Mini 9
Manufacturer: Dell, Inc. Part number: dncwxa1
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- 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.
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CNET editors' review
Dell Inspiron Mini 9
price range: $349.00
- Reviewed by: Dan Ackerman
- Reviewed on: 09/05/2008
- Updated on:10/27/2008
- Released on: 09/04/2008
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.
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 Eee PC 901 and 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 | 6.2/6.9 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 reviews
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Fast and versatile - but could use a little more juice
by reciprocityjones on September 23, 2008
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.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), ...
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.
- 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.21 out of 21 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I like my new best friend, but...
by IAM_MATT on September 26, 2008
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.
Summary: My configuration is the 16GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, Windows XP, and 1.3 Megapixel webcam. I refused the bluetooth option because I knew I would never use it....
Summary: My configuration is the 16GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, Windows XP, and 1.3 Megapixel webcam. I refused the bluetooth option because I knew I would never use it.
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).15 out of 15 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great travel companion with good performance
by juanchovies on October 10, 2008
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.
Summary: This sleek netbook satisfies most of my travel needs. With a 16Gb Sd card and my USB portable HDD I have all the storage needed. For $18 I purchased 2Gb ...
Summary: This sleek netbook satisfies most of my travel needs. With a 16Gb Sd card and my USB portable HDD I have all the storage needed. For $18 I purchased 2Gb RAM upgrade and it was a great investment. Installed Office XP, Prism 5, Photoshop 7, EndNote, Messenger, Skype and iTunes and I can do all the work I normally did on my low-end dual core laptop, except that I'm not looking for outlet after 2 hours and my load is much lighter through TSA checkpoints. Now I have workspace on my coach tray table and do not worry about screen damage by the front seat aggressive reclining. For what I do on the road it is perfect.
6 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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BEST NETBOOK I HAVE EVER USED!
by firemedic37 on October 8, 2008
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.
Summary: A must have for anyone that is always on the go and needs something small and lightweight. It has Windows XP so it is very stable and trustworthy. I ordered ...
Summary: A must have for anyone that is always on the go and needs something small and lightweight. It has Windows XP so it is very stable and trustworthy. I ordered mine as follows:
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 96 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Amazing netbook!
by dalsanto3 on November 10, 2008
Pros: Fast processor (with realistic expectations)
Lightweight, VERY portable
Great price (under $400)
Windows XP / Linux options
Eye-cathing design
Wireless internet and bluetooth optionsCons: There are a few awkward key compromises that take getting used to (especially moving the apostrophe key below the period and comma)
Summary: I absolutely love my Dell Mini 9; it's tiny profile is great for on-the-go computing. It runs Windows XP about as well as my office computer. However, to be ...
Summary: I absolutely love my Dell Mini 9; it's tiny profile is great for on-the-go computing. It runs Windows XP about as well as my office computer. However, to be fair, when asked to multi-task (say, if you have 4-6 tabs open in Firefox, start a video in Windows Media Player, and try to open Windows Explorer), you might experience a bit of a lag. This has a lot more to do with the stated limitations of the product rather than any fault of Dell or Intel in their Atom processors. They are low-drain, low-cost processors (with only 1 GB of ram) that can't do quite as much as more expensive chips found in full size laptops. However, in general, the performance is very zippy. It's not that you can't do browse the internet, watch a movie, or transfer files around. It's just that you might not want to do them all at the same time.
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.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Netbook
by Data_Monkey on October 27, 2008
Pros: Size, Speed (1GB memory), screen, Bluetooth
Cons: More Memory options, More SSD drive size options, Its a Dell!
Summary: This thing is great. I got mine for $99 deal($190 something with all the options, a lot of coupons and my companies preferred status) when I finally took the ...
Summary: This thing is great. I got mine for $99 deal($190 something with all the options, a lot of coupons and my companies preferred status) when I finally took the laptop plunge finally and got myself a XPS 1530 and figured I get this for my wife so she can check e-mail and chat with her friends on Facebook/Myspace or what ever people are using.
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;summaryList2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Does what it needs!
by jsl31 on November 15, 2008
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!!
Summary: Bottomline: awesome netbook; simple, lightweight, I can connect easily since XP is on it loads on fast; works for what I need. No complaints at all!
Summary: Bottomline: awesome netbook; simple, lightweight, I can connect easily since XP is on it loads on fast; works for what I need. No complaints at all!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Netbook that is stylish and efficient
by Bigdawg1101 on November 4, 2008
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
Summary: It is a great computer that I recommend for anyone looking at the netbooks. It has the normal drawbacks to netbooks but i love the look and size of this ...
Summary: It is a great computer that I recommend for anyone looking at the netbooks. It has the normal drawbacks to netbooks but i love the look and size of this dell. It could of had a bigger hard drive and a 6 cell battery would have been nice, but overall it is a great computer.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Highly configurable with warranty options.
by mostlyharmless22 on November 4, 2008
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.
Summary: Finally having this in my hands, after a month of delays, I couldn't stay mad because I love this thing. Build quality is much better than the Asus 701 ...
Summary: Finally having this in my hands, after a month of delays, I couldn't stay mad because I love this thing. Build quality is much better than the Asus 701 I used to have -- there is no competition there -- and the keyboard is easy to get used to.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Surprizingly Good
by galenaway on September 24, 2008
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.
Summary: Not a bad value. I'd recommend it for word process, web browsing and email. But that's about it. But don't expect to have word up and a ...
Summary: Not a bad value. I'd recommend it for word process, web browsing and email. But that's about it. But don't expect to have word up and a web browser going without an obvious slowdown.
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.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Dell, Inc.
- Part number: dncwxa1
- 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.
General
- Notebook type Netbook
Processor
- Processor Intel ATOM N270 / 1.6 GHz
RAM
- Installed Size 512 MB
- Technology DDR2 SDRAM
Storage
- Hard Drive 4 GB
Optical Storage
- Type Optional
Display
- Display Type 8.9
Video
- Graphics Processor / Vendor Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950
Operating System / Software
- OS Provided Ubuntu Linux version 8.04.1
Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics'
- Greenpeace 'Guide to Greener Electronics' manufacturer rating (Mar 2008) 7.3
Manufacturer info
- Dell, Inc.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Dell, Inc. products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.dell.com/
- Address:
One Dell Way, Round Rock, TX 78682 - Phone: (800) 274-3355
- Email: LB_Order_Questions@dell.com
