At this point we've seen a ton of Dell's upcoming
Inspiron 910 / Mini Inspiron, but until this thing hits the street for real it looks like our pal Mr. Blurrycam has a new favorite target. Here's the 8.9-inch netbook testing Ubuntu somewhere, with a far less ugly keyboard than
last time -- maybe next time it'll sprout some function keys. Two more, including a configuration screen, after the break.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
biohazard @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:40AM
what the hell? why on earth does it show 2 processors?
Danny @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:45AM
I know my dual core shows up as two processors. Atom is only 1 core though.. ???? Very weird.
biohazard @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:54AM
ahhhhh makes sense now...
Chad @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:41PM
but i though hyperthreading only worked on xp (and i guess vista now)?
blub @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:42AM
does it have a dual core cpu??
michas_pi @ Aug 22nd 2008 6:53AM
No, the Atom processor uses Hyperthreading.
Macro @ Aug 22nd 2008 9:28AM
Dual core Atom is slated for this year though, hopefully with a less thirsty new chipset as well!
Mike Cerm @ Aug 22nd 2008 2:57PM
The model of Atom that Dell's using evidently does hyperthreading, but not all Atoms do. This is the first netbook I've seen with hyperthreading enabled.
w4rh34rt @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:42AM
I hoping this thing is good when it comes out, I've been trying to decide this and the Aspire One. I'm liking the inclusion of the Ubuntu obviously, but I wish there were more Linux distribituions getting all the attention, not just Ubuntu.
Anyway, it's looking good.. Can't wait ^_^
James M @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:45AM
This version with the gray and black interior is much better looking than the glossy all black interiors in the last set of spy shots. I hope this is at least amongst the versions they release. Still looks a bit cheap and plasticy though -- the S10 wins out on looks. That's very important when you're as superficial as I am.
biohazard @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:56AM
it's not just that... i've worked with dell laptops before and noticed that they generally are quite poor quality and also the dell support is practically inexistent...
if any other brand had ubuntu, i'd buy it, but i really don't want to buy a dell...
G36C @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:47AM
Please please please release it today!!!
POMAH @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:48AM
With the atom processor Intel reintroduced HT-technology, that is why it looks like it has 2 CPU's.
yode @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:49AM
my iphone has 2 dead pixels
James M @ Aug 22nd 2008 6:20AM
My caterpillar has rigor mortis
michas_pi @ Aug 22nd 2008 6:53AM
My wallet has kidneys.
bstear @ Aug 22nd 2008 9:17AM
My Grandmother is under the wastebasket.
My hovercraft is full of eels
Rick @ Aug 22nd 2008 9:37AM
You are the fruitcake in my Grandma's stocking.
Jon MacDoanld @ Aug 22nd 2008 12:07PM
My air conditioner has the clap.
sirebral @ Aug 26th 2008 2:13PM
my clap has a fungi
My fun guy has a hang nail
My hanging nail has a picture of your mom
My picture of your mom has two guys and a face mask
My face mask has a stain...
Dr Zoidberg @ Aug 22nd 2008 6:13AM
what about the 12 inch model?
King Mustard @ Aug 22nd 2008 6:33AM
What about her?
Jon @ Aug 22nd 2008 6:36AM
Oh Snap !
charliekaufman @ Aug 22nd 2008 9:37AM
Yes, where's the 12-inchers for normal-handed people? aaaarrrrrgggggggh!
Cristian @ Aug 22nd 2008 6:35AM
Why has it got the windows key? If it comes with Linux it should not have it.
Mr_Odwin @ Aug 22nd 2008 7:02AM
In Linux (or at least Ubuntu) the Windows key is the Super key.
. @ Aug 22nd 2008 7:17AM
Cristian, you're not serious I presume?
Cristian @ Aug 22nd 2008 7:27AM
Both Asus Eee and Acer Aspire One haven't got the Windows key, instead the have got a nicer non Microsoft shit.
buck @ Aug 23rd 2008 6:58AM
Its called the super key in ubuntu and it does still have function
Josh @ Aug 22nd 2008 7:04AM
GNOME is so ugly, wish Ubuntu came with KDE by default.
Pumping_Iron @ Aug 22nd 2008 7:08AM
Then u mean Kubuntu....KDE
k2001 @ Aug 22nd 2008 7:55AM
Forget about the gnome, the 910 is extremely ugly when compare to it.
Lattyware @ Aug 22nd 2008 8:20AM
Say what? If you are talking about KDE3.5, then Gnome looks way better than KDE3.5 - full stop. If you mean KDE4.x, then it's not stable enough for common usage yet.
Gnome looks fine.
(Disclaimer: Currently running Arch/KDE4.1)
Eric @ Aug 22nd 2008 10:17AM
The default panel on KDE 4 would probably take up half the screen on these things, and it's also still very buggy.
Gnome + Compiz + awn + Emerald look very nice, just as long as you've got decent video drivers, but I think these all use Intel chips, so that shouldn't be a problem.
34ford @ Aug 22nd 2008 7:15AM
Should I unbox my new Eee 1000h and use it or sell it and buy this Dell?
dimka448 @ Aug 22nd 2008 7:34AM
Get Acer One instead
Kathy @ Aug 22nd 2008 8:22AM
I would try to return it but don't expect to have any luck with that. The Eee is my last choice because Asus has agreements with all their resellers to not accept them back under any circumstances. You have to go to Asus directly, if you have any problem, even if you've only had the device for 24 hours. Asus customer service is horrible. I've dealt with Dell before -- 1,000 times better!
Socioguy @ Aug 22nd 2008 10:47AM
At this point, the only reason to go the "Eeeasy" way is for the SSD, hence my decision to go with the 1000. I haven't seen many competitors with SSD which may be the only reason the Eee survives (and rabid Eee fans - please don't bite me!)
zunq @ Aug 22nd 2008 7:18AM
I couldn't help but think that this thing could have sported a fuller keyboard(like the mini note) without compromising the F1-12 keys if they used more of the sides and the back.
Mike Cerm @ Aug 22nd 2008 3:04PM
I made a comment about the misplaced right shift key a few days ago and got hammered for it. Apparently I'm the only person who uses the right shift key. However, with their misplaced right shift key AND the lack of the F keys, I think it's pretty safe to say that Dell really cut a few corners too many with the keyboard.
It's really a shame, because the keyboard on the XPS m1210 is perfect. They should have just shrunk that a little bit.
Mike Cerm @ Aug 22nd 2008 3:10PM
It appears that the smaller keyboard has a purpose: It looks like Dell has used that extra space to include a 6-cell battery that doesn't hang off the back. It appears that way from the pictures I've seen, and if that's the case, it's not the worst compromise in the world. Most netbooks come with 3-cells. On the ones that do have 6-cells, the battery hangs off the back or the bottom, and adds to the size and weight.
DiBosco @ Aug 25th 2008 3:58AM
Agreed. Seeing that keyboard makes me glad that I didn't wait for this and went with the Aspire One. Acer have the best compromise so far with a flash based device, full sized keyboard and very fast boot. Where they don't score so well is battery life with the battery that comes with the machine, but that's not a killer. The ridiculous small right shift key on the Dell and the complete lack of one on the Asus renders these machines useless if you want to any sort of typing.
I also wonder about Gnome. The Aspire uses xfce which is much more lightweight and presumably helps with the general speed of boot an execution. Does anyone know how the Dell performs in terms of boot time and general performance. That's one area where the Asus and the Acer score particularly highly.
I wish people wouldn't get into playground slanging matches about Gnome versus KDE. Neither looks horrible, they both look good and make XP look well dated these days, it's just down to a matter of taste which you prefer. The beauty of Linux in a nutshell: freedom and flexibility.
Aspire one is not perfect (purely on battery life), but it's still the best of the bunch for me.
sirebral @ Aug 26th 2008 2:23PM
I think it's ugly on the inside. It still looks like a prototype. The silver power button? Maybe an Alpha Test or Beta Test model, but if that device looks like that on the inside - I think I'm looking for an Acer or the original Asus EEE
Lancelot @ Aug 22nd 2008 7:48AM
If they expect to sell any of these they had better get on the ball & announce the true release date. The rumor mill seemed to indicate that it would be released today, & I"m sure a lot of people are putting off purchasing a netbook in hopes that this is in fact true. The College crowd can't wait much longer & it's not serving Dell to no say a word. I can't figure out why dell hasn't taken advantage of the excitement that seems to be in the air & announce an offisical release to market date.
fluffette @ Aug 22nd 2008 12:03PM
Totally agree. I've been putting off a decision on which to buy until this is released. I'm getting a touch impatient!
Pumping_Iron @ Aug 22nd 2008 8:28AM
I dont like how this netbook looks too (@k2001)....looks cheap quality...rather ugly-ish...
█▄ █▄█ ▄█▀ █■█ @ Aug 22nd 2008 8:50AM
No F1 - F12 keys and wasted space underneath the hinge/top of keyboard (could have been used for short keys wifi swtich etc) = FAIL
Pumping_Iron @ Aug 22nd 2008 8:53AM
I agree !
Charles @ Aug 22nd 2008 10:32AM
I might be seeing things, but isn't that huge space above the keyboard being used by the battery? I don't think the space is being wasted....
chrisaroz @ Aug 22nd 2008 8:55AM
It clearly has Function keys already, and the "F1" and such keys are at the top, activated with the Function key. How can you guys not see that?