Dell Announces the Inspiron Mini 9

After literally months of speculation and leaked photos on the internet, Dell today officially unveiled the Inspiron Mini 9. This lightweight "netbook" is designed to be an affordable mobile companion and internet access point for surfing the Web, chatting with friends, blogging, uploading photos or enjoying videos, music and games. Of course, you can do work on the Mini 9 as well.

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The Inspiron Mini 9 is available today on www.dell.com in the U.S., Canada, Japan and select countries in Europe.

Thanks to a starting weight of less than 2.5 lbs., durable build, and attractive design, the Mini 9 should offer some impressive competition in the crowded netbook market. The new Dell netbook comes equipped with an 8.9-inch (1024x600) glossy LCD with LED backlighting, solid state drive (SSD) memory storage, standard built-in Wi-Fi, and is available with built-in webcam and built-in Bluetooth.

Dell hopes to make the Mini 9 even more attractive by teaming up with Box.net to offer exclusive web-based file storage, access and sharing to Inspiron Mini users, including a free Basic plan with 2GB of remote storage space, expandable to 25GB. Dell's Inspiron Mini will include a direct link to a Dell-exclusive home page on Box.net, providing users with an easy way to add additional online storage space.

Consumers have their choice of two colors options with the Mini 9: "Obsidian Black" or "Alpine White" and can choose either Windows XP or Ubuntu 8.04 with custom Dell interface (Linux versions available soon). The Inspiron Mini 9 with Windows XP Home is available immediately starting at $399. TheUbuntu Linux version (when available) will start at $349.

For a limited time, starting on September 5, Dell is also offering the Inspiron Mini 9 for only $99 with the purchase of a Studio 15, XPS M1530 or XPS M1330 laptop through 6 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9 (U.S. only).

In addition, Dell has already joined forces with laptop bag manufacturer Timbuk2 to offer a full line of custom "Designed for Dell" backpacks, messenger bags and convertible cases.

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Available Technical Specs:

• Intel Atom N270 (1.6GHz/533MHz FSB/512K L2Cache)
• Display: Glossy 8.9 inch LED display (1024X600)
• Memory: 512MB DDR2 at 533MHz or 1GB DDR2 at 533MHz (optional)
• Chipset: Intel 965PM / GM Express Chipset
• Graphics: Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 950
• Weight: Starting weight of 1.035kg / 2.28 lbs.
• Dimensions:
  • Height: 27.2mm (Front) - 31.7mm (Rear)1.07 inches (Front) - 1.25 inches (Rear)
  • Width: 232mm, 9.13 inches
  • Depth: 172mm, 6.77 inches
• Hard Drive
  • 4GB Solid State Drive (not available with Windows XP Home)
  • 8GB Solid State Drive (optional)
  • 16GB Solid State Drive (optional)
• Wireless: 802.11g Mini Card
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth Internal (2.0) mini-card (optional)
• Audio: external speakers
• Battery: 4-cell 32WHr Li-Ion Battery
• Operating System:
  • Genuine Windows XP Home SP3 (optional)
  • Ubuntu 8.04 with custom Dell interface
• Webcam
  • 0.3M Pixel Webcam (optional)
  • 1.3M Pixel Webcam (optional)

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Dell Inspiron Mini 9 Review

 

The $99 deal for the Inspiron is great, but wouldn't you think that Dell would offer something like that with a heavier option? I mean, the Studio 15, m1530, and m1330 are all relatively portable devices, and most people wouldn't need a secondary netbook with those. I think it would make more sense if it was offered with either a desktop or a desktop replacement notebook.

 

I wonder if you can play Crysis on it in max settings?

 

You don't think 15 inchers are heavy compared to netbooks?

 

Where is this deal found on Dell site?

 

Compared to netbooks, sure 15 inchers are heavy, but 6 pounds or so isn't really that much to complain about when carrying around. Even less if you buy the m1330. It's just that I feel like 15 inchers are a good compromise between portability and raw power, especially since they're getting lighter and lighter all the time.

 

Dude, don't underestimate the weight differences. Even with the M1330, the difference in weight is 2lbs - half the M1330's weight, what the Mini 9 weighs. The difference in perception there is huge.

 

Weight/size of a laptop is a personal preference but yeah IMO most people notice the difference in the weight(they may need to use the laptop for an extended time).

I use a carrying case(4lb laptop+case weight+extra battery+power brick+small book+paper notebook) and backpack(typical student with college books+binders+spiral notebooks) so I value the pounds I save and I dont need a "performance" laptop.