Dell Inspiron Mini 9 Review
Rating: 6.5/7
Dell entered the netbook market late, and with the company having more time to assess the competition, we had high hopes for the launch of their first Netbook, the Inspirion Mini 9.
And yet again, Dell does not fail to impress.
This netbook is available in two operating systems [Ubuntu Linux or Windows XP (more expensive)], with 512 MB, 1 or 2GB RAM, and 4, 8, 16, 32 or 64 GB SSD options. A black, 1 GB, 8GB SSD version with Windows XP is available at Amazon for $350. You can also customize your own model at the Dell website.
Dell Mini 9 Review - Top Features
- Spacious Keyboard and touchpad – nice, especially considering how small the netbook is.
- Speakers – unlike other netbooks where the speakers are located at the base, the speakers on this netbook are located beneath the screen, giving better sound than most current netbooks.
- Durable – on account of its sturdy build.
- Free online storage facility – up to 2GB online storage with Box.net’s online file storage service.
Dell Mini 9 – Drawbacks and things to keep in mind
- Operating System and Hard Drive space – The size of the hard drive depends on the operating system, and with although the maximum 64GB available being impressive for an SSD, this is still significantly less than 160 HDD of standard netbooks.
- Battery Life - 3 hour run time on a 4-cell battery.
- Location of ‘function’ keys – re-located to allow for a larger keyboard, the fact that these keys are located in the middle of the keyboard may annoy some users
- Size of specific keyboard keys – For the touch typers, the fact that the Tab, Shift and Caps Lock are so tiny may be annoying.
Dell Mini 9 Netbook Ratings
- Price and Value for Money – 1.0 stars – great value for money.
- Speed and Performance – .5 stars standard Intel Atom N270 processor.
- Screen – 1.0 stars – Nice glossy 8.9″ screen with wide viewing angles.
- Keyboard and Usability – .5 stars – spacious keyboard for a netbook of this size, but the compromise of re-locating the ‘Function’ may bother some.
- Portability and Battery Life – .5 stars – small and light [weighs 2.2 pounds/ 1kg], but battery life could be better.
- Looks and Design – 1.0 stars – stylish and professional at the same time.
- Connectivity & Extensibility – 1.0 starsBonus point: for extensibility. The Dell Mini 9 is easier to upgrade than most netbooks. All key upgradable components are housed directly beneath a single access panel secured by two screws. In addition, this netbook is very customizable – among other things, you can add a webcam [1.3 megapixel] or even a Bluetooth internet antenna [useful for synchronizing the netbook to your cellphone for mobile broadband
That gives the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 a total of 6.5 stars out of 7.
Dell Mini 9 Review – Our Recommendation
Given its looks, specs as well as well as value for money, the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 is a winner in our eyes – it is compact and stylish, without the compromise of basic netbook features.
Stylish enough to brag about, yet sturdy enough to be durable, this will be perfect for students, and an ideal secondary device for business users.
Filed under: Dell Netbook Review