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Dell Inspiron Mini 1012 Netbook Review – 5.25/7

Update – Now known as the Dell Inspiron Mini 1012

Dell have updated their erstwhile Mini 10 with the new Pine Trail processor, but they’ve pulled in some other major changes as well. The netbook market is getting a bit convoluted with all these updates, smartbooks, tablets and now Apple’s much-hyped iPad. Lets see how the new Mini 10 stands up to all these.

One of the first things you notice about the new Mini 1012 is the design. It’s thicker now and that’s because the battery, whether 3 or 6-cell is integrated within the body instead of jutting out like earlier. The lid hinge is unique and it starts a bit ahead of where you’d normally expect. Instead of me trying to explain, just take a look at the picture below. A benefit of this is the space normally occupied by the rest of the lid when closed is a handy gripping point for the netbook. The Mini 10 has fairly normal specifications and performs like its earlier version, except for a much improved battery life (9-10 hours).

Dell Inspiron Mini 1012 Netbook Review – Top Features

• Nice Keyboard – Instead of a chiclet-style board which is all rage right now, the keys are terraced and fairly close to one another. I quite enjoyed my typing experience with a solid thunk (mini thunk) while striking down on keys.
• No Brick on Power Chord – The familiar two-piece power cable and brick combination has been done away with. The plug is still chunky, but the new chord is much more compact on the whole.
• Improved Battery Life – Whereas the earlier Mini 10 gave us 6 hours, this one reaches 10. Quite a jump. We don’t know if its down only to the new processor, but we’re not complaining.

Dell Inspiron Mini 1012 Netbook Review – Drawbacks and things to keep in mind

• Faulty Touchpad – Dell’s Mini 1012 has discontinued its multi-gesture touchpad. It also features mouse buttons integrated into the touchpad, which sometimes makes for annoying cursor movements and problems dragging/dropping.
• Runs Hot – While playing videos, the netbook heated up significantly and was uncomfortable to touch. The underside was as bad. We don’t know if this is a generic problem, or we got our hands on a faulty model.
• Customization can get expensive – The base Pine Trail model starts out at $279, but that’s the 3-cell Windows XP version. The 6-cell Windows 7 version costs $329. Dell has a gazillion other options from accessories to tax softwares (??). We recommend a glance but not too many modifications, else you might end up being billed over $500.

Dell Inspiron Mini 1012 Netbook Review – Ratings

1. Price and Value for money – 0.75 Star. Performance-wise the new Mini 1012 matches up to the other netbooks out there,and for $329 it’s a decently priced offering. But only that. The ASUS-1005PE’s 11 hour models are available for $10-$15 less on amazon.
2. Speed and Performance – 0.75 Star. The netbook is adequate, but nothing special.
3. Screen – 0.75 Star. The 1024 x 600 screen resolution displays colors and images well. There’s  an HD option in the works as well.
4. Keyboard, Touchpad, Useability – 0.75 Star. We quite like the keyboard which features adequately sized keys with traction. The touchpad was a different story, and a sore disappointment.
5. Portability and Battery life – 0.75 Star. Quite an improvement on the earlier model, and Dell’s quote of 10 hours comes through in real life conditions.
6. Looks and Design – 0.75 Star. Although it’s a bit chunky, the Mini 1012’s design grew on us. The shiny yet fingerprint-free lid is a nice touch.
7. Connectivity and Extensibility – 0.75 Star. Features the full complement of ports. The wireless receiver doesn’t support all networks though.

That gives the Dell Inspiron Mini 1012 netbook a rating of 5.25 out of 7 stars.

Dell Inspiron Mini 1012 Netbook Review – Our Recommendation

Dell’s new Inspiron Mini 1012 netbook with Pine Trail processor sits squarely in the middle of the shelf amongst its netbook colleagues. It does have an impressive battery life and a unique, if chunky design. Then there’s also the customizable lid with a bunch of funky and abstract covers. And Dell is quite a popular brand with its own loyalists. Those are pretty much the only reasons why we’d recommend a Dell over any other netbook. We’re not trying to say that it’s not good, only that it just about gets there. Available on amazon for $329.99.

Check out the website for all the models and customization options.

Dell Inspiron Mini 1012 Netbook Review – Technical Specifications

• OS: Windows 7 Starter
• CPU: Intel Atom Processor N450 (1.66GHz, 512KB L2 cache, 667MHz FSB)
• Display & Graphics: 10.1 inch WSVGA Display, Intel GMA 3150
• RAM: 1GB DDR2
• Storage: 160GB (5400RPM) SATA Hard Drive
• Connectivity: 3-in-1 card reader, 802.11b/g, VGA, 3 x USB 2.0 Ports
• Battery: 6-cell Li-ion Battery (10 hour life)
• Weight: 3.1lbs
• Price: $329.99

Filed under: Dell Netbook Review