My Dell Inspiron Mini 9

For a variety of reasons I found that it was time to replace my, once amazing and now pathetic, Dell Inspiron 8500.  It’s amazing what a few years of technological advances can do to your perspective of a particular computer. My needs have changed and I was no longer in need of a desktop replacement. I was looking for portability, plain and simple. I had heard about the ASUS Eee PC and had passed over them. Then one day I was at the mall and I actually saw the HP 2133 variety of the Ultra Portable Laptops that seem to be popping up. I quickly decided that the Apple iPod touch that I was shopping for, was not really what I wanted after all. I also remembered seeing that Dell had recently started offering a computer similar to the HP 2133 and ASUS Eee

Within a few hours of arriving home I had placed the order for a Dell Inspiron Mini 9 Laptop Computer.

Here is what I love about this new machine:

• It is portable enough that I can toss it in a shoulder bag
• It runs a full version of Windows XP Home
• 3 USB ports compared to the 2 ports in my old computer
• Integrated SD card reader.
• VGA port to connect a monitor
• True Dual Monitor Support!
• Solid State Hard Drive
• Crowds tend to gather when I pull it out of my bag

Things that could be better

• The function keys stop at F10. Firebug uses F12.
• The apostrophe key is displaced on the sized down keyboard which causes me to make carriage returns when I type anything with an apostrophe in it.
• The hard drive is small and fills quickly
• No internal optical drive

My final conclusion is that this was one of the best computer purchases I have ever made and I’ve extended it’s abilities significantly with the following peripherals:

• Small USB Hub
• Logitech V220 Cordless Optical Mouse for Notebooks
• GlobalSat BU-353 USB GPS Receiver
• External Portable Slim-Line DVD Drive
• Power Inverter for recharging in the car
• 16GB SDHC CARD

I have to give this computer high marks. It does not feel at all flimsy or cheap, it’s attractive, and definately meets my needs when I”m out and about. Not needing to worry about whether or not my portable device will have the sofware I need is a real bonus, I use the same software I would use on my full size computer.

What this computer is: A lightweight portable laptop that can handle most day to day tasks.

What this computer is NOT: A graphics intensive computer to do graphic design of high end gaming.

It certainly exceeds my needs and my expectations in a very small package.  My only regret is that the integrated Web Cam was not available at the time I placed my order. My husband was so impressed (and jealous) that he ordered one for himself.