The commercial evolution of the small size "netbook" PC takes a step forward this week with the launch of the Dell Inspiron Mini 10, but the new model has received a muted response from PC enthusiasts. John Stokdyk reports.
First seen on the US shopping channel QVC, the Inspiron Mini 10 has a 10-inch screen powered by 1.33GHz or 1.6GHz Intel Atom processors, with a 160GB hard drive, 1.3 megapixel webcam and built-in Wi-Fi. It is scheduled to go on sale in the UK on Thursday 26 February.
As IDC noted last week in its quarterly PC sales figures, netbook PCs such as the Acer Aspire One and Asus Eee accounted for one in five PCs sold in Europe in the final three months of 2008. The Dell Mini 10 confirms IDC's prediction that new hybrids would emerge in 2009 with slightly larger keyboards and screens.
But the mini 10's specs have not met with universal acclaim. In a company blog, Dell executive Lionel Menchaca explained, "Initially, all Mini 10s will come with 1GB fixed RAM (which means it will not be upgradable), the Windows XP operating system, and a 16:9 edge-to-edge display that supports a maximum resolution of 1024 x 768." The screen dimensions will default to 1024 x 576, which is a better fit for widescreen viewing, he added.
The full specifications are available from Dell's US site. The US price will be $399, with the UK price expected to start from £299 - check your national Dell site for local availability and pricing.
The non-upgradable RAM in the initial models has proved to be a turn-off for the people who responded to Menchaca's blog.
One commentator called ShakataGaNai summed up the the case: "Dell: People buy machines from you because they want customisation. By moving away from that model (not telling us when features will be available, and making items like RAM non-upgradeable), you just make your customers go elsewhere. Why would I pay $399 for a Mini 10 that doesn't have everything I want, and won't for an unknown amount of time, when I can have an Eee PC tomorrow, for cheaper?"
