GOOD GOD LAWD HAVE MERCY

Cordfucious

It's like a mini version of my now-broken Compaq laptop (from which I write this) in all but looks (plus my laptop has a Celeron M, not Atom)... Creepy...

hammertime1994

@ludwigk:

wait, are you talking about the dell or alicia keys?

skylog

i'd say the extra low price is just to keep potential customers from buying umpc's from other companies before it actually comes out. dell is going to anounce the real price like 2 days before the launch giving whatever the petty reason they have for the $200 price jump. some people are going to buy this anyways since they've waited for it and since it's still not a bad price for the machine, except they've wasted a couple of months waiting for the product when they could've gotten a similarly spec'ed and priced umpc months ago.

saych

too small

Somadis

What does "contrary to previous reports it'll it's the Dell E." mean exactly?

In other news... Gimme XP and a 60GB drive for free.

Stacky Botrus

I'm ready.
I was under the impression that there would be three models with larger SSD, BT, and RAM options.
I can make do with this just fine, but a leetle more ain't bad either. :)

strider_mt2k

I see a lot of dissing and hooplafied hating of linux when those specifications should allow you to pop xp onto that sucker. Atom, 1gb ram and a decent chipset come on, HL2 on low please? Maybe Halo the original? See, when you start thinking in terms of older games gone portable potential I find this more attractive. Didn't see a optical drive though, but where there's a will theres a hacker(SD install? fun!). And he will post instructions, because he will be awesome. Now get to it and make me a sandwich.

CrashingOut

what about the options? we all heard that they have mutiple hd/ram configs, and maybe a bit bigger one, more powerfull, for hungry apps, like multimedia/games.

can i change to 2gb and 80gb sata for 100 bucks more? i think would be a steal. 2gb on subnotes rulez.

laio

The kind of people that are most interested in netbooks seem like the kind of people what would most likely find them frustrating to use after the novelty wears off.

Crappy, dim screens. Tiny trackpads. Weak keyboards. Resources seriously challenged by modern web browsing. And the list goes on.

The ASUS Eee 901 looks like the best of the lot, but really, if Apple can get their shit together for the Macbook Air 2.0, we'll have an ultra portable that can give a pleasant experience for most people's needs.

I have to add that I am NOT sold on Linux, and I imagine typical users are not, either. This whole netbook *fad* will collapse when people realize that the web is demanding more computing power everyday.

peacefulpony

@Shane112358: thanks for the heads up.

Cordfucious

couldn't you just buy a MacBook?

anti-hello-kitty

this is just what iv been waiting for... ill wipe the bloatware dell will no doubt pack in, and vola!

Charging_Mooses

@thomusvoo: no its just a huge pencil...

Charging_Mooses

Good info on the Bated Breath Cordfucious, I know I have made that mistake before...

AlternateEarth

Even though this is essentially very similar to the Eee, something about it is just a lot more attractive to me. That's a linux subnotebook I can get behind.

ludwigk

@Cordfucious: Good post, and nice Alicia Keys reference. But I gotta call grammar nazi on "baited breath". It's actually "bated".

Shane112358

@Cordfucious:
Hey I dont know how trusting you are of this shop but they use paypal so its a safe transaction (you cant get scammed) and its cheap (MSI wind $488) Not my site so dont hold me to anything, just thought Id look for you
[www.superduperclub.net]

jsmjr816

@phantam: lol so if they can't used a dumbed-down interface how the hell would they use any other interface? The fact that a ton of people don't understand how to read a screen and follow instructions won't be solved by any interface.

migsims

"...Linux model with extra Dell productivity apps..."

Great, Dell has crapware for Linux now?

Not that it matters... if I end up getting this little beastie (tempting) I'd just wipe that massive 8GB SSD and install my distro of choice.

aseriesoftubes

@urbanturban666: yes I totally agree

But I am severely torn here. The MSI Wind has been calling me like Alicia Keys' butt in tight jeans*. It has all the right specs but is almost becoming unicorn like in its ability to find one. Then there is the ECS G10iL, that baby had my name written all over it, but once again..Unicorns. Now this Dell E/Inspiron Mini has me with baited breathe, but I also fear that it will become a unicorn as well.

*See 2008 BET Awards for sample.

Cordfucious

and yes pencil is actual size, i actually want one especially since i found out you can hackint0sh the eeepc and similar atom mini-tops

phantam

this linux on cheap PC's is a horrible idea, the people that buy these are people that really aren't enamored to drop lots of cash on a pc... and im sorry as easy as eeepc is and linux is great i use it at homee (Ubuntu)... the fact is even the dumbed down interface they gave 2 ladies i know went insane in confusion over it, especially with trying to setup the wifi to connect... its just not their currently im sorry, not mass market idiot-proofed, bring on the xp version so i can have a few less people calling my companies support hotline for internet help

phantam

whoa whoa whoa... is that pencil acutal size to the laptop?

thomusvoo

Dell mini doesn't make me want a pastrami on rye as much, avoiding a gut large enough to fit said mini laptop on top works for me...mmm samwich...

marc_wtih_a_c

thank god they invented the OLPC. that sparked all this in the fist place.

urbanturban666

man, this is all the rage now. small, cheap and affordable laptops

thomusvoo

Nice. :)

Evangelion

Sorry no edit button, but there is also a webcam as you can see in the pics and will be in the inspirons slew of color choices

jsmjr816

What isnt listed from what I have heard is there are options, 8.9in or 12in screens, and variable specs and ssd sizes

jsmjr816

If this is all true dell can consider three sold! Eee killer for sure the way they have been working

jsmjr816

Cool - IwantIwantIwant.

mikewire

And people will be buying this for back to school ? I really doubt that since anybody under 25 will probably want to install itunes, limewire etc and 8gb aint holding that.

utube2007

But will it blend/float/run WoW?

ackthbbft

Waiting for the Dell Mini Inspiron vs. MSI Wind review...

Windhawk

>This whole netbook *fad* will collapse when people realize that >the web is demanding more computing power everyday. Im running Linux (using the light XCFE desktop) on my 10 year old T21 Thinkpad and have not felt a need 'more power', Tim Taylor. I triple boot my Mac into Linux and Vista because of work and havent noticed my web experience lag on the Thinkpad. Please tell us more, its fascinating. My neighbour bought his mother the Acer Aspire One and I checked on its Linpus Lite OS and liked the keyboard which is less cramped than the EEE. For $370, it does everything she wants to do and not have to touch her husbands computer when she wants to call her son on Skype and talk to the kids. She's touched a computer less than 40-50 times in her whole life and now they cant get her off the damn thing Of course, I had the same experience putting my parents and aunts on PCLinuxOS. Seems people in their 70s arent as dumb as we make them out to be. My wife wants a netbook because of the size and she can do some quick work when she is outside the house. She also refuses to pay 799$ for the HP Mininote when we have 5 computers in the house but 299$ is almost an impulse buy. And the Dell E is waaaaaaaaaaaay faster than my T21. I like the way Dell is going to promote the netbooks. Smartphones are for the 3 minute web experience. Netbooks are for the 30 minute web experience. Regular laptop for longer use. Which is exactly how I see the netbook fit in with our N95 and Toshiba Protege. Each have their use (dont expect me to read more than a few paragraphs on a 3 inch screen).

GeorginaGoose

Why Don't You just wait a little or buy a Acer Aspire One (LATEST Version from ebay or any store?
Acer Aspire One (new)
Comes with 1GB RAM, 120 GB HARD DRIVE + Wifi and 3usbs, VGA, etc..
its like 480 or even 500
but its worth the buy

iCoder

The kind of people that are most interested in netbooks seem like the kind of people that want maximum portability and affordability with relative functionality as a replacement/alternative for larger, costlier full-sized notebooks. Simple. This one will sell like crack in the ghetto because it is from a reputable manufacturer. OS won't matter to people who buy from retail stores, online shoppers will more than likely know how to handle everything OS related.

I want the Mini-Inspirion (so far).

FinalValgas

Reputable manufacturer?? Is that your way of saying that if BB or CircuitCity carry it in stores then it's a "normal", mainstream brand, but if you buy it from Amazon or NewEgg then it's "ching-chong" brand (my apologies if I offended anyone -- just making a point).?
I'd buy an Asus or an MSi or an Acer over a Dell or HP any day. If you think ASUS or MSi are "obscure" brands, then you really don't know very much about computers, and have certainly never assembled a barebones one.

ASUS and MSi are motherboard manufacturers. Dell and HP just use other peoples' crap and usually choose the cheapest of components.

What a laugh.

I love how everyone is praising this machine when no one knows the final specs; no one has seen one or used one, and it remains to be seen what the actual final price will be.

I can praise vaporware too.

In the meantime, the Eee and MSi are REAL, and HERE (I just wish I could actually find one in-stock and able to be ordered!).

Typed on my Eee PC 701 (looking to upgrade)

darex

It's just how it is. Un-tech savvy retail shoppers will buy a Dell (especially BB and CC shoppers) before the "ching-chong" brands any day - specs won't matter. Dell has proved it already with the Inspirion line. They're decent specd full sized laptops at very affordable prices and they've sold extremely well over other brands with superior specs around the same price range.

I've done business with MSi (i purchased a couple of their graphics boards), while they manufacture great hardware, regular retail shoppers won't know it because they ALWAYS skip the ching-chong in preference for the more well known brand with proven (while not the greatest) and reliable customer support.

Can't say ASUS and MSi deliver all that well on the customer and tech support front. And that's why most brand whores shun ching-chongs.

FinalValgas

@Shane112358

Not if you actually eat the bait!

CapnFG