Dell Inspiron Mini Series
Encyclopedia
The Dell Inspiron Mini Series was a line of subnotebook
/netbook
computers designed by Dell
. The series was introduced in September 2008 amidst the growing popularity of low-cost netbook computers introduced by competitors, and now consists of the Inspiron Mini 10; with the numbers representing the approximate diagonal screen size in inches. The Inspiron Mini 9, Mini 10v, and the Mini 12 are now discontinued.
set to contend with other low cost ultra-portables such as the ASUS Eee PC
and Acer Aspire One.
The Mini 9 began shipping on September 16, 2008, starting at US$349. It is built by Compal Electronics
, which also makes the MSI Wind Netbook
and the HP Mini-Note 2133
.
Some users report difficulty becoming accustomed to the unusual keyboard layout. The layout varies by country: non-US keyboards provide a semicolon and apostrophe on the home row.
The Mini 9 does not have dedicated buttons for the function key
s. For the functions of F1 to F10, the user must press the Fn key and the home row key that has the function keys as secondary function (the A through semicolon row). There is no F11 or F12 on the keyboard but a BIOS
upgrade provides mapping of F11 to Fn+Z and F12 to Fn+X. The Mini 10 and 10v do not suffer from this.
3G
/PCI Express Mini Card slot
The Dell service manual include images showing an unused PCI Express Mini Card slot, although this slot is not physically connected to the mainboard in initial units.
Subsequently, this slot was used to provide integrated 3G
mobile broadband
facilities in some countries. In the UK, Mini 9 computers are offered with 3G by default from Vodafone (September 2008; free with a two-year contract) and from the Dell Outlet (UK). In Australia, Vodafone offer the device for $20 per month on top of a $39.95 5GB Mobile broadband plan. In the US, Dell began offering built-in 3G mobile broadband for an additional $125 for use on the AT&T network; with a $120 credit with a 2-year service contract.
SSD
/Ubuntu Netbook Remix
Dell initially shipped versions of the Mini 9 with only partially usable storage, after models were built using a software image that fit just the basic 4GB SSD. Standard operating system upgrades later fixed the issue.
Battery capacity
In January, it was suspected that some units were shipping with 24 watt-hour capacity batteries, labeled as 32 watt-hour. The low-capacity batteries appear to be those manufactured in Tokyo
. It was later determined that the software used to examine the batteries was incorrectly reporting the capacity and has since been reported to be fixed with an upgrade of the BIOS.
It has the Intel Atom
Z520 and Z530 processor configurations. The default Mini 10 model has a 16:9 widescreen display with a 1024x600 (originally 1024x576) or 1366x768 (described as 720p) HD resolution and an HDMI
port. It uses the Poulsbo chipset
. It can be customized with GPS or integrated TV tuner. The service manual displays two full-height MiniPCI-E internal slots, and one half-height. It is unclear whether the connectors are all in place, but the manual shows one full-height TV tuner in place.
The device also features a multi-touch
touchpad. Provided with a driver from Elantech, it can be used for scrolling, 3 button operation, dragging, resizing, rotating pictures and system shortcuts as Start Menu and Explorer (on Windows), browser back and forward, minimizing and maximizing windows, window switching, desktop showing and hiding, and running custom commands.
This popular model was loaded with a BootEFI version of Mac OS X and run successfully by many HAX0R, and fans maintain a website concerning
Hackintoshes.
. The Mini 10v has since been discontinued.
Dell no longer preinstalls full Ubuntu releases on the Mini 10n. Because this model uses a standard Intel platform, Ubuntu (or almost any other up-to-date Linux distribution) can be installed by an end user.
The Mini 10n hardware is the same as the newer version of the Mini 10 with the Atom N450 CPU, 160G disk and NM10 video. It does not have an available option to add the "media processor" upgrade as on the Windows version of the 1012 which can allow better performance for full-motion video, particularly from HD sources.
However the N455 is actually 64-bit and Hyper Threading capable, and thus is actually capable of running 64-bit variants of Windows 7.
market, with a secondary goal of competing with subnotebook
s such as the MacBook Air
from Apple Inc. It began shipping on December 8, 2008, with a starting price of $549.
Silverthorne CPU, and comes bundled with Windows XP Home or Ubuntu 8.04. It comes with 1GB of RAM (the maximum for the device), a 40/60/80GB hard drive, and a small speaker located above the keyboard.
For connectivity, the device carries WiFi
and 3 USB ports. A 1.3 MP webcam
and internal bluetooth are available as options. The Dell Inspiron Mini 12 is 1.1 inches thick and weighs 3.2 pounds (with six-cell battery), or 2.8 pounds (with three-cell battery).
In dell black and silver colour. The outside is shiny black.
On site one year warranty by Dell.
Subnotebook
A subnotebook is a class of laptop computers that are smaller and lighter than a typical laptop....
/netbook
Netbook
Netbooks are a category of small, lightweight, legacy-free, and inexpensive laptop computers.At their inception in late 2007 as smaller notebooks optimized for low weight and low cost — netbooks omitted certain features , featured smaller screens and keyboards, and offered reduced computing...
computers designed by Dell
Dell
Dell, Inc. is an American multinational information technology corporation based in 1 Dell Way, Round Rock, Texas, United States, that develops, sells and supports computers and related products and services. Bearing the name of its founder, Michael Dell, the company is one of the largest...
. The series was introduced in September 2008 amidst the growing popularity of low-cost netbook computers introduced by competitors, and now consists of the Inspiron Mini 10; with the numbers representing the approximate diagonal screen size in inches. The Inspiron Mini 9, Mini 10v, and the Mini 12 are now discontinued.
9 Series
The Dell Inspiron Mini 9 (also called the Inspiron 910), was announced on 4 September 2008, as a netbookNetbook
Netbooks are a category of small, lightweight, legacy-free, and inexpensive laptop computers.At their inception in late 2007 as smaller notebooks optimized for low weight and low cost — netbooks omitted certain features , featured smaller screens and keyboards, and offered reduced computing...
set to contend with other low cost ultra-portables such as the ASUS Eee PC
ASUS Eee PC
The Asus Eee PC is a subnotebook/netbook computer line from ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated, and a part of the Asus Eee product family. At the time of its introduction in late 2007, it was noted for its combination of a light weight, Linux operating system, solid-state drive , and relatively low cost...
and Acer Aspire One.
The Mini 9 began shipping on September 16, 2008, starting at US$349. It is built by Compal Electronics
Compal Electronics
Compal Electronics is a Taiwanese original design manufacturer , handling the production of notebook computers, monitors, and televisions for a variety of clients around the world, including Acer Inc., Dell, Toshiba, Hewlett-Packard, and Fujitsu Siemens Computers...
, which also makes the MSI Wind Netbook
MSI Wind Netbook
The MSI Wind Notebook is a family of subnotebooks / netbooks designed by Micro-Star International . Wind stands for "Wi-Fi Network Device". The first model was announced at CeBIT 2008, and first listed for pre-orders on May 9, 2008. While initially 8.9- and 10.1-inch screen versions existed, as...
and the HP Mini-Note 2133
HP 2133 Mini-Note PC
The HP 2133 Mini-Note PC is a full-function netbook aimed at the business and education markets. It is available with SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, Windows Vista or Windows XP. Its retail price starts at US$499 for the Linux version with 4GB of flash memory. According to DigiTimes, the netbook is...
.
Criticisms
KeyboardKeyboard (computing)
In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches...
Some users report difficulty becoming accustomed to the unusual keyboard layout. The layout varies by country: non-US keyboards provide a semicolon and apostrophe on the home row.
The Mini 9 does not have dedicated buttons for the function key
Function key
A function key is a key on a computer or terminal keyboard which can be programmed so as to cause an operating system command interpreter or application program to perform certain actions...
s. For the functions of F1 to F10, the user must press the Fn key and the home row key that has the function keys as secondary function (the A through semicolon row). There is no F11 or F12 on the keyboard but a BIOS
BIOS
In IBM PC compatible computers, the basic input/output system , also known as the System BIOS or ROM BIOS , is a de facto standard defining a firmware interface....
upgrade provides mapping of F11 to Fn+Z and F12 to Fn+X. The Mini 10 and 10v do not suffer from this.
3G
3G
3G or 3rd generation mobile telecommunications is a generation of standards for mobile phones and mobile telecommunication services fulfilling the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 specifications by the International Telecommunication Union...
/PCI Express Mini Card slot
The Dell service manual include images showing an unused PCI Express Mini Card slot, although this slot is not physically connected to the mainboard in initial units.
Subsequently, this slot was used to provide integrated 3G
3G
3G or 3rd generation mobile telecommunications is a generation of standards for mobile phones and mobile telecommunication services fulfilling the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 specifications by the International Telecommunication Union...
mobile broadband
Mobile Broadband
Mobile broadband is the marketing term for wireless Internet access through a portable modem, mobile phone or other mobile device.-Description:...
facilities in some countries. In the UK, Mini 9 computers are offered with 3G by default from Vodafone (September 2008; free with a two-year contract) and from the Dell Outlet (UK). In Australia, Vodafone offer the device for $20 per month on top of a $39.95 5GB Mobile broadband plan. In the US, Dell began offering built-in 3G mobile broadband for an additional $125 for use on the AT&T network; with a $120 credit with a 2-year service contract.
SSD
Solid-state drive
A solid-state drive , sometimes called a solid-state disk or electronic disk, is a data storage device that uses solid-state memory to store persistent data with the intention of providing access in the same manner of a traditional block i/o hard disk drive...
/Ubuntu Netbook Remix
Ubuntu Netbook Remix
Ubuntu Netbook Edition , known as Ubuntu Netbook Remix prior to the release of Ubuntu 10.04, was a version of the Ubuntu Linux distribution that had been optimized to enable it to work better on netbooks and other devices with small screens or with the Intel Atom CPU.UNE was available starting with...
Dell initially shipped versions of the Mini 9 with only partially usable storage, after models were built using a software image that fit just the basic 4GB SSD. Standard operating system upgrades later fixed the issue.
Battery capacity
In January, it was suspected that some units were shipping with 24 watt-hour capacity batteries, labeled as 32 watt-hour. The low-capacity batteries appear to be those manufactured in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. It was later determined that the software used to examine the batteries was incorrectly reporting the capacity and has since been reported to be fixed with an upgrade of the BIOS.
Dell Inspiron Mini 10
Dell has sold (and as of September 2010, currently still sells) two models under the "Mini 10" branding, distinguished by model number.Dell Inspiron Mini 10 (1010)
The Mini 10 (1010) is a netbook with a 10.1" screen that was designed to fill the gap between the Mini 9 and Mini 12. It began shipping on February 26, 2009 with a base price of US$399.It has the Intel Atom
Intel Atom
Intel Atom is the brand name for a line of ultra-low-voltage x86 and x86-64 CPUs from Intel, designed in 45 nm CMOS and used mainly in netbooks, nettops, embedded application ranging from health care to advanced robotics and Mobile Internet devices...
Z520 and Z530 processor configurations. The default Mini 10 model has a 16:9 widescreen display with a 1024x600 (originally 1024x576) or 1366x768 (described as 720p) HD resolution and an HDMI
HDMI
HDMI is a compact audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed digital data. It is a digital alternative to consumer analog standards, such as radio frequency coaxial cable, composite video, S-Video, SCART, component video, D-Terminal, or VGA...
port. It uses the Poulsbo chipset
Poulsbo (chipset)
System Controller Hub is a family of Intel microchips employed in chipsets for low-power Atom-based platforms. Its architecture is consistent with the Intel Hub Architecture but combines the traditional northbridge and southbridge functions into a single microchip.- Poulsbo :Poulsbo is the...
. It can be customized with GPS or integrated TV tuner. The service manual displays two full-height MiniPCI-E internal slots, and one half-height. It is unclear whether the connectors are all in place, but the manual shows one full-height TV tuner in place.
The device also features a multi-touch
Multi-touch
In computing, multi-touch refers to a touch sensing surface's ability to recognize the presence of two or more points of contact with the surface...
touchpad. Provided with a driver from Elantech, it can be used for scrolling, 3 button operation, dragging, resizing, rotating pictures and system shortcuts as Start Menu and Explorer (on Windows), browser back and forward, minimizing and maximizing windows, window switching, desktop showing and hiding, and running custom commands.
This popular model was loaded with a BootEFI version of Mac OS X and run successfully by many HAX0R, and fans maintain a website concerning
Hackintoshes.
Dell Inspiron Mini 10 (1012)
The Mini 10 (1012) has a similar form factor to the older Mini 10 (1010) and 10v (1011); it is distinguished by the use of the newer Atom n450 processor, and its supporting chipset. The HDMI port is also replaced with a standard VGA connector.Dell Inspiron Mini 10v (1011)
To fill the gap left when the Mini 9 was discontinued, Dell introduced a 'value' version, the Inspiron Mini 10v, which ships with a standard VGA connector, 1024x600 resolution display (1024x576 on early models) and the same Atom N270 processor that the Mini 9 used (an optional upgrade to the N280 was briefly later available.) In fact, the 10v has nearly exactly the same hardware as the Mini 9 and, as such, is also able to run LinuxLinux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
. The Mini 10v has since been discontinued.
- (The Dell Mini 10v is one of, if not the most, popular or 'compatible' netbook and/or laptop to be "Hackintosh"ed.)
Dell Inspiron Mini 10n
Dell released the Mini 10n based on the Mini 10. The only difference between the 10n and the 10 (1012) is the installed OS has been changed to Ubuntu Moblin Remix Developer Edition, bridging Canonical's Ubuntu and Intel's Moblin graphical environment and Atom optimizations.Dell no longer preinstalls full Ubuntu releases on the Mini 10n. Because this model uses a standard Intel platform, Ubuntu (or almost any other up-to-date Linux distribution) can be installed by an end user.
The Mini 10n hardware is the same as the newer version of the Mini 10 with the Atom N450 CPU, 160G disk and NM10 video. It does not have an available option to add the "media processor" upgrade as on the Windows version of the 1012 which can allow better performance for full-motion video, particularly from HD sources.
Dell Inspiron Mini 1018
On August 19, 2010, Dell Europe announced the introduction of the Dell Mini 1018. This new Dell Mini features the Atom N455 CPU which supports DDR3 memory. Design has also been tweaked and stated specs include 7+ hours of battery life on the 6-cell battery (unconfirmed). As of January 2011, the model has been made available in Asia. The Asian release of the 1018 features 1GB of DDR3 RAM and is shipped with Windows 7 Starter as well as Office 2010 starter.However the N455 is actually 64-bit and Hyper Threading capable, and thus is actually capable of running 64-bit variants of Windows 7.
12 Series
The Dell Inspiron Mini 12 was announced on 26 October 2008 as a larger counterpart to the Mini 9. It was mainly created for the netbookNetbook
Netbooks are a category of small, lightweight, legacy-free, and inexpensive laptop computers.At their inception in late 2007 as smaller notebooks optimized for low weight and low cost — netbooks omitted certain features , featured smaller screens and keyboards, and offered reduced computing...
market, with a secondary goal of competing with subnotebook
Subnotebook
A subnotebook is a class of laptop computers that are smaller and lighter than a typical laptop....
s such as the MacBook Air
MacBook Air
The MacBook Air family is a line of Apple ultraportable Macintosh notebook computers.The first-generation MacBook Air was a 13.3"-only model, previously promoted as the World's Thinnest Notebook, introduced at the Macworld Conference & Expo on January 15, 2008. It featured a custom Intel Merom CPU...
from Apple Inc. It began shipping on December 8, 2008, with a starting price of $549.
Features
It features a 12.1 inch (1280x800) WXGA Truelife widescreen display running on a 1.33 GHz or 1.6 GHz Intel AtomIntel Atom
Intel Atom is the brand name for a line of ultra-low-voltage x86 and x86-64 CPUs from Intel, designed in 45 nm CMOS and used mainly in netbooks, nettops, embedded application ranging from health care to advanced robotics and Mobile Internet devices...
Silverthorne CPU, and comes bundled with Windows XP Home or Ubuntu 8.04. It comes with 1GB of RAM (the maximum for the device), a 40/60/80GB hard drive, and a small speaker located above the keyboard.
For connectivity, the device carries WiFi
WIFI
WIFI is a radio station broadcasting a brokered format. Licensed to Florence, New Jersey, USA, the station is currently operated by Florence Broadcasting Partners, LLC.This station was previously owned by Real Life Broadcasting...
and 3 USB ports. A 1.3 MP webcam
Webcam
A webcam is a video camera that feeds its images in real time to a computer or computer network, often via USB, ethernet, or Wi-Fi.Their most popular use is the establishment of video links, permitting computers to act as videophones or videoconference stations. This common use as a video camera...
and internal bluetooth are available as options. The Dell Inspiron Mini 12 is 1.1 inches thick and weighs 3.2 pounds (with six-cell battery), or 2.8 pounds (with three-cell battery).
In dell black and silver colour. The outside is shiny black.
On site one year warranty by Dell.