Dell Begins Selling Inspiron Mini 9

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Dell Begins Selling Inspiron Mini 9

Posted by timothy on Thursday September 4, 2008 @08:33AM from the lightbulbs-in-round-rock dept.

mocoloco writes "A week after the rumored date, Dell has begun selling their entry into the netbook/subnotebook/UMPC market, the Inspiron Mini 9. The base system for $349 includes Ubuntu 8.04 "with custom Dell interface", 512MB RAM, and a 4GB SSD. There are options with XP, one that includes an 8GB drive and a $40 instant savings, another with a 16GB drive and 1GB RAM that has a $55 instant savings. Curiously the Ubuntu systems are a pre-order at this point, to be shipped within 15 days. Also, no Red option yet."

27 of 320 comments (clear)

Not in Canada by VEGETA_GT · 2008-09-04 08:37 · Score: 5, Informative

Like normal its not on the Canadian site. Usually launches in the Us of product is on the same day in Canada but Dell dose not give us Canadians as many options for pc/laptops as they do to the US. HP also has a limited website for product configuration/product compared to the US. Considering how closely tied we are and how most company release Canada/us same time this would be in Canada to.
1. Re:Not in Canada by Anonymous Coward · 2008-09-04 08:39 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  You should learn to proofread. You're giving us Canadians a bad name, therefore Dell won't sell their new products to us.
2. Re:Not in Canada by Imagix · 2008-09-04 08:51 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  If we started you on the beer, you'd be so drunk so fast....
3. Re:Not in Canada by KillerBob · 2008-09-04 08:57 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Like normal its not on the Canadian site. Usually launches in the Us of product is on the same day in Canada but Dell dose not give us Canadians as many options for pc/laptops as they do to the US. HP also has a limited website for product configuration/product compared to the US. Considering how closely tied we are and how most company release Canada/us same time this would be in Canada to.
  Historically, the reason that Dell hasn't released products in Canada at the same time as the US is because they need to sell it in French as well as English. That means they have to translate the manuals, and that they need to provide French-language technical support. Doing otherwise would open themselves to a lawsuit for discrimination. They don't have French tech. support for *any* of their Linux offerings, which is what explains this one. That's what prevented the Insprion N-series Linux-based systems, as well as the XPS One from being released in Canada.
  
  --
  If you believe everything you read, you'd better not read. - Japanese proverb
4. Re:Not in Canada by wattrlz · 2008-09-04 09:20 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Yes, it's weapons-grade beer. You've also stocked up most of this continent's oil too... hmmm.
5. Re:Not in Canada by vux984 · 2008-09-04 09:27 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Good point. I probably wouldn't have thought of that even. It's just another reason why having mandatory second languages hurts companies and the consumer.
  Lots of companies dealing in Canada don't have french support. Even many Canadian companies don't. Head over to to the West Coast (French is primarily spoken in Quebec eastwards, and dwindles the farther west you go.) By the time you reach Vancouver the odds of a small business having any one that speaks french above a pre-school level is pretty low.
  Sure their products still have bilingual labels and instruction booklets and they'll happily ship them to Quebec, but that's about the extent of it, and its not expensive to have a translator write those for you. Point is, lots of Canadian websites and companies are english only.
  Dell does have to provide french language manuals and labelling with their products which is a minor burden, but they do not have to provide french language support.
  They offer french support not for regulatory reasons, but for competitive reasons, to appeal to french speaking Canadian, and also to make them eligible to sell to large Canadian enterprises and government entities that require bilingual support for practical reasons -- they want to buy computers from a company that provides support in the same languages that their employees speak.
  Because Dell chooses to offer support in French, its in the interest of customer support simplicity to offer it consistently across all their products, not just some of them.
6. Re:Not in Canada by PitaBred · 2008-09-04 10:31 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Yeah. OK, well, uh, we found, uh, this mouse in a bottle of YOUR BEER, eh. Like, we was at a party and, uh, a friend of ours - a COP - had some, and HE PUKED. And he said, uh, come here and get free beer or, uh, he'll press charges
  
  --
  My blog. Good stuff (when I remember to update it). Read it.
7. Re:Not in Canada by ColdWetDog · 2008-09-04 11:23 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  French support for Dell shouldn't be much of an issue:
  
  "reboot your PC" - "rechargez votre PC"
  
  "reinstall the operating system" - "réinstallez le du système d'exploitation"
  
  I've got most of the work already done!
  
  --
  Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
8. Re:Not in Canada by billcopc · 2008-09-04 12:56 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Big disclaimer: French is (or was) my first language. I live 100% in English, 'cept when I visit long-time friends or family.
  As an ex-Quebecer, I have absolutely no pity for unilingual French speakers. English is the de facto language of business and of the world. Chinese people speak English. Indian people speak English. Dutch people speak English. Hell, Chinese people IN QUEBEC speak French and English. So why the hell do less than half of all Quebecers speak any English ? I'll be quite frank: if they're too dumb to learn English, they're too dumb for me to give a damn. I make one very narrow exception, and that's for people who didn't have English classes in school at the time - that was a while ago!
  Now don't get me wrong, I think French is a lovely, expressive, intelligent language, and I would never want it to vanish. Even our cussing is artful and rich! But less than two percent of the whole world speaks French, and the great majority of them live in France, about 90% of all French speakers, to be exact. There are roughly twice as many French speakers in France as there are Canadians in Canada! So really, why does our so-called Government force every single business to do backflips for this tiny demographic sliver of society ?
  I don't know of any other non-religious nation that is so anal about language. Do English people in Japan whine to the government about not being about to read anything on the goddamned menus ? No.
  
  --
  -Billco, Fnarg.com
The value of Windows by jmorris42 · 2008-09-04 08:38 · Score: 5, Informative

I just love it! Go price out the same specs with Linux or Windows. The Windows machines are cheaper! Gotta love this, Linux is now more valuable than Windows!
Yes I know what is actually happening, Dell is keeping Microsoft happy. But lets all spin this as Windows is now the option nobody wants and see what happens. :)

--
Democrat delenda est
1. Re:The value of Windows by MightyYar · 2008-09-04 08:44 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  No kidding! Go fully-loaded with Linux and it costs $20 more! LOL. MS must be practically giving them XP.
  
  --
  W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
2. Re:The value of Windows by Corrado · 2008-09-04 08:45 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  Yea, well couldn't you get the Windows one, refuse the EULA, and get $100 back? That sounds like the way to go to me. :)
  
  --
  KangarooBox - We make IT simple!
3. Re:The value of Windows by thermian · 2008-09-04 08:47 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  lets all spin this as Windows is now the option nobody wants and see what happens. :)
  Nobody wants? Lots of people want Windows. Surprising though it may be, outside of technically aware circles, there are many computer owners who don't even know Linux exists. Then even if they find out, how many shops sell Linux software on their shelves? Again, there are still lots of people who like to buy their goods in high street stores.
  I'd buy the Windows version, put the backup media aside, then install Linux, in full knowledge that if I decide to I can change to Windows with ease.
  I wouldn't want a machine without an option to install Windows on it if I want to, and that means getting the licence when I buy the machine.
  But then I must be a freak, because I like Linux and Windows XP. Ok, not Vista, I'm a freak, but I'm not crazy.
  
  --
  A learning experience is one of those things that say, 'You know that thing you just did? Don't do that.' - D. Adams
4. Re:The value of Windows by jellomizer · 2008-09-04 08:53 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  It is more of a fact that they need to alter the production line and put a different OS on the system. Thus costing more as it is an exception to the process. When you are mass producing things every step of customization costs more. Having Linux or Windows option means most likely the drives default come with windows on them and then there is an extra step to reimage it with Linux. This doesn't have anything to do with Linux being better or worse then Windows, or even the cost of the licenses that dell needs to pay for it is about costs of mass production. Say each Windows License costs Dell $100.00, it is quite possible the extra step in production is costing dell $120 for an exception of a Linux image (Labor Costs+Benefits, QA, support, inventory....) It all adds up.
  
  --
  If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
5. Re:The value of Windows by Shados · 2008-09-04 08:58 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  They are. Having dealt with some OEM contracts, XP can end up as low as 5$ per license. Then add what companies pay Dell to install crapware, and you end up with negative cost (until people start developing crapware for Linux anyway)
6. Re:The value of Windows by mocoloco · 2008-09-04 09:04 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  This irks me, if you go to the "design" tab and hit "Meet the Mini" it says "Look for Ubuntu Linux 8.04 with custom Dell interface when customizing your Inspiron Mini 9, or upgrade to Genuine Microsoft Windows XP."
  So XP is considered an Upgrade? Aaarrgh!
Re:Discounts make the Windows=Linux in cost by Thelasko · 2008-09-04 08:48 · Score: 4, Informative

The discounts on the two windows based versions equal out the cost of configuring the Linux version exactly the same. The resolution of the screen is 1024x600 making it slightly better than some competitors.
I don't know how you configured yours, but if you specify everything:
1GB DDR2 at 533MHz
16GB Solid State Drive
Built-in Bluetooth 2.1 capability
Integrated 1.3M Pixel Webcam

Windows=$479
Ubuntu=$494

--
One of our competitors trademarked the term "hypothesis". From now on, we will call them "boneheaded ideas".
"With Custom Dell Interface" by bcolflesh · 2008-09-04 08:52 · Score: 4, Funny

Cue ominous music...
Re:Linux + Bigger HDD? by nicolas.kassis · 2008-09-04 08:52 · Score: 4, Informative

You can upgrade everything on the linux option. Just select and configure.
Re:Needs an HD option by jrothwell97 · 2008-09-04 08:53 · Score: 4, Interesting

And it would make it less durable. SSDs are very drop-friendly. (My own SSD-powered Eee 701 has survived many, many drops.)

--
Those using pirated Tinysoft signatures(TM) are a real threat to society and should all be thrown in jail.
Re:Custom Dell Interface? by mocoloco · 2008-09-04 08:55 · Score: 4, Informative

I would guess it's a further customized version of Ubuntu netbook remix, which does use Gnome underneath everything.
$99! by Thelasko · 2008-09-04 08:58 · Score: 5, Interesting

If you can wait until 6 a.m. Central tomorrow, Sept. 5, youâ(TM)ll be able to get a Mini 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).
yourblog found via endgadget.

--
One of our competitors trademarked the term "hypothesis". From now on, we will call them "boneheaded ideas".
Review with video (Linux version)... by feranick · 2008-09-04 09:00 · Score: 5, Informative

http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops/dell-inspiron-mini-9-linux.aspx
Re:I rather have an eee by Zymergy · 2008-09-04 09:20 · Score: 5, Interesting

The Eee PC 1000H is a great system. I say GO GET ONE! If the Dell is better than the Eee 1000H, I have yet to read about it...

I get about 7-8 hours of *actual* battery life with my 1000H in the field with the optional Asus AL24-1000 8800mAh battery for Eee PC 1000H (yes, I ebayed it straight from Taiwan/China). NOTE: The 1000H comes default with the Asus 6600mAh AL23-901 battery (about 5-6 hours *actual* runtime).
I yanked the OEM 1GB SODIMM and replaced it with a PC-5300 2GB Corsair Value Ram SODIMM. (After updating to the latest Asus 1000H BIOS, it detects the full 2GB SODIMM, whereas before the BIOS update it only detected as 1GB, but still worked fine at 1GB...) It appears the Atom chipset memory limit at 1GB is artificially crippled initially.
Also yanked the OEM Wi-Fi card and installed a much better Intel 4965AGN Wi-Fi card.
I am about to replace the OEM Seagate 5,400RPM SATA 80GB HDD with a 64GB SATA SSD, but the run times named above were with the factory HDD and the Asus WinXP performance profiles set to "Auto". (Note that the Asus Eee 1000H has an 80 GB HDD with two 32GB partitions, the OS is ont he first one and the second one is not used. (but present as a D drive. Ans yes, you can install any notebook SATA drive, including the 320GB Seagate model, according to my buddy). Not sure why the 32GB WinXP partition, but it can be modified by pulling the drive and using Partition Magic (or whatever) to delete the other partition and change the size of the primary 32GB partition to fill the drive...

As I understand it, Microsoft has deliberately restricted the systems that can be licensed with OEM WinXP by mandating that devices having screens smaller than something like 10" or 11", and no more than 1GB of RAM, a HDD no larger than 80GB, and a processor slower than 1.8GHz. (Someone feel free to correct me on the exact WinXP OEM Netbook licensing hardware restrictions, but I have read about there somewhere recently...)
It is probable that the *nix versions of Dell's teeny PC can have larger/better hardware installed because *nix does not cripple the Atom-based PC's hardware restrictions.
The REAL QUESTION is, will Dell do what Asus did and allow their BIOS to allow 2GB of RAM and different NICs and BT modules and HDD. (But I rather doubt that Dell will release a 8800mAh battery for their Atom-based Netbook... I would like to publicly state to Microsoft that, "I think that a hardware *restriction* policy for OEM Netbook WinXP is just a bunch of CRAP!" Maybe Linux will eat their lunch because of it... Too bad I have to have windows for my work software...
Look at the keyboard before you buy! by TheGreatGraySkwid · 2008-09-04 09:32 · Score: 4, Informative

I was actually considering one of these until I took a close look at the keyboard.
They moved the quote key.
Look at it! The '/" key has been relocated from right next to your pinky to somewhere weird! How the fuck am I supposed to touch type with that monstrosity? WTF!
Anyway, buyer beware.

--
The Humblest Mollusk on the Net
Re:I rather have an eee by Anonymous Coward · 2008-09-04 09:33 · Score: 5, Interesting

I think you're mistaken abut the 1GB memory and the BIOS update. To expedite boot-up, the eee skips alot of the hardware checks that precede the OS initialization. You can restore them in the BIOS setup.
My 2GB stick wasn't recognized as more than 1GB until I entered BIOS setup for the first time. I think that was the first opportunity the system got to say "Oh, look, new RAM."
I assume that flashing the BIOS also forces a hardware check on restart, which would explain why it suddenly started working for you.
Re:I rather have an eee by Zymergy · 2008-09-04 09:44 · Score: 4, Informative

It is under the same bottom hatch as the RAM and HDD on the bottom of the Eee PC 1000H.
It had an AzureWave AW-NE766 Mini-PCIe card factory installed so just I removed the standard white and black antenna connectors and swapped cards with my Intel 4965AGN card. (because the Intel card has more features and is well-documented.) I just had no third antenna to connect to the center "gray" antenna connection on the Intel card, but it works fine.)
Here is an article of an EeePC 1000H it with the back cover off, etc... http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1474/2/asus_eee_pc_1000h_under_the_covers/index.html