Thanks for this review -- I have been pouring over several to see if this is the computer for me. I want an extremely portable device that will allow me to surf the net, watch streaming video, listen/watch music and video files and work with Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. Would be nice to add images and photoshop -- but not necessary as I have my desktop as my photography studio.
All of my previous laptops and even my desktop have less than 1GB RAM (256MB and 520MB respectively) so I am thinking despite the reduced hard disk space, this will be an improvement. I can always add memory cards.
Any thoughts you have regarding the compatibility of this computer for my needs would be appreciated.
Review of Dell Inspiron Mini 9 (October 2008)
Over the past four months, I have been using the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 for web based documents/blog/email, still photo manipulation/transmitting and I have attempted to harness it for editing video.
I bought it as a low cost (motorcycle laptop) that would be less likely to be damaged by vibration (no mechanical hard drive) and would have a better risk/loss ratio than my expensive laptop.
The nice part about running Windows XP is that it's compatible with everything. I can browse swiftly with Firefox and Google Chrome or anything else I desire to download. It takes my Verizon broadband modem and has built in WIFI.
It will stream video content like any Windows XP computer. The speakers are smaller and less robust than with most laptops but adequate for personal listening. There are jacks for headphones and mic. With the headphones the volume is comparable to any laptop.
I used it as a backup laptop to edit/transmit photos last week from the Inauguration where I needed 17 hours of reserve power and had no ability to charge. I have not used Photoshop on the Dell Mini 9, but use the free image editing program GIMP
The size of the screen can present a challenge as with some browser based programs as it always seems short on the bottom when the browser is enlarged, but I have adapted by toggling the size hot keys. I think it is probably an odd screen size and you just can't have small and large at the same time.
I have tried video editing with it with limited success. While using the included Windows Movie Maker editing program, sound and video often become un-synched after about a minute of rendering with small 320x240 highly compressed mpg files. This probably points to hardware.
One would think that a flash hard drive would be very fast, but in reality the Dell Mini 9 is slower loading programs and some actions than a typical desktop/laptop. I really haven't investigated the numbers at work here, but it is a compact unit, with a compact processor (Atom) all trying to run off a single chip drive.
The operating system and loaded programs only take a little over 3 gig of the 16gig memory. I stripped out some of the usual resident programs and DELL pre-installs.
All said, I am happy with a computer that cost under $500 (rebate). I find myself grabbing it quick to research something while watching a presidential speech, an instant messenger client or email check. It's a great laying in your bed propped on your knees computer, taking to a car dealership for two hours of bleeding time... in one hand with three papers. And a great computer just small enough to sneak to dinner and annoy your significant other with.
I wouldn't think of the Dell Mini 9 as replacement for anything, but if you are like me and have several computers and operating systems, its a great tool for the compact moment and can take some pressure off your more expensive laptop.
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