Dell Inspiron Mini 9

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Review

Whatever you think about Dell, one thing’s for sure – it’s the first laptop manufacturer to realise that an ‘internet anywhere’ netbook isn’t much use without internet access. Wi-Fi is all well and good, but step out of network range with your little, low-cost laptop and it’s close to becoming dead weight.

So, while other manufacturers umm and ah about onboard mobile broadband support, the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 is the first netbook to actually have it, albeit as an option available only from Vodafone.

With some manufacturers nudging their netbooks into laptop territory with swelling specifications (and prices), it’s encouraging to see that Dell hasn’t forgotten the point of this particular category of portables. At just over a kilo, the Inspiron Mini 9 is very light and it’s barely bigger than the Asus Eee PC 901. These diminutive dimensions don’t result in quite the usability nightmare you might think, but that’s not to say the Inspiron Mini 9 isn’t without compromise.

As you would hope for a Dell product, the Inspiron Mini 9 feels very well-made and it’s certainly one of the better-looking netbooks. There’s no latch to keep the lid closed, but the stiff hinges do a good enough job, although they’re not quite stiff enough to stop the screen from wobbling – a potential annoyance if you’re using the Inspiron Mini 9 on a train, for example.

Other netbook manufacturers have moved up to 10in screens, but Dell has stuck with an 8.9in display for the Inspiron Mini 9. Actually, there really isn’t room for anything larger in the lid, but the screen still has the same 1024 x 600 resolution found on other netbooks. If anything, the greater pixel density makes it a bit sharper than the competition too, but the glossy coating is bound to deter some buyers, notwithstanding its more vibrant image.

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