Just bought an outlet Dell Mini 1018

I think I got a decent deal on it, it was a scratch n dent, so hopefully it's not too messed up. We'll see. It was $219 shipped because of the coupon code out now, down from $259. Here's the specs sorry they are taken from the email I forgot to copy them off the little window with system details:


Inspiron Mini 10 - 1018 Laptop Genuine Windows 7 Starter
Unit Price: $259.00
Quantity: 1
-- Inspiron Mini 10 - 1018 Laptop

-- Operating System Label

-- Label

-- 3 Cell, 24WHr Lithium-Ion Battery

-- Dell Standard Black

-- 1 GB DDR3 NON-ECC SDRAM 1333MHz (1 DIMM)

-- Information

-- Documentation

-- Label

-- Operating System DVD

-- Shipping Material

-- Genuine Windows 7 Starter

-- Software

-- Base Assembly

-- Software

-- Dell Support 2.0 Software

-- Keyboard

-- Scratch & Dent

-- 160 GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)

-- Label

-- 30W AC Adapter

-- Dell Solution Center Software

-- Realtek RTL 8188CE 11n

-- No Media Selected

-- 10.1 TrueLife Widescreen Display (1024x600) Integrated 0.3M Pixel Webcam

-- Processor: Intel Atom Processor N455 Single Core (1.66GHz, 512K L2 Cache)

-- 125V Power Cord

-- Processor Label

-- Microsoft Works 9.0

-- Service Software

-- 32BIT Operating System DVD

-- 32BIT Operating System CD

-- Label

-- Software

-- Image Restore Software

I am assuming it won't have recovery media except in the form of being put on its HD, which is fine, I can back that up no problem, I don't like that it has a 3 cell battery, but whatever, I'll mostly use it plugged in anyway, so it's not a deal breaker. So did I do okay? I know it's not the Inspiron 17R I really want, but I hope as a netbook, it will do FB & Twitter, and light surfing like message boards and checking out youtube videos on things, if it's too messed up and non-functional it's gonna go back and I'll just save up for the 17R. What do you think of my recent purchase?

Also while surfing twitter I found a link to a case for under $6 bucks:

Amazon.com: rooCASE Neoprene Netbook Sleeve Case Cover for Dell 10.1-Inch Inspiron Mini 1018 Netbook (Invisible Zipper Triple-Pocket - Blue): Electronics

Here is the skin I want for it:

Amazon.com: Protective Decal Skin Sticker for Dell Mini 1018 10.1" screen model case cover Dmini1018-443: Electronics

I think a skin is a good idea to keep it from getting dinged up just as well as the case is a good idea. That way I can put it in the backpack I already have or the messenger bag I have and it will be protected to a degree. What do you think? Both worth investing in for this lil machine? I am pleased because it means I won't have to sit here bored anymore while my son is on the desktop, and I can finally surf from the sofa.

 

From what I can tell from your parts list, yours does come with recovery media. Just make sure when you FIRST create an account launch the Dell Datasafe Local Backup and make recovery discs with an external optical drive. This is to ensure that in case your hard drive craps out you can reinstall all your original content (recovery partition is more convenient but that is gone if your HDD conks out). Uninstalling stuff makes recovery discs less successful (not like Dells have much bloatware to begin with).

Scratch and Dent are hit or miss. Sometimes I heard they are in pristine condition, I have also heard/seen horror stories of scratch and dent. Really up to the end user whether or not it is acceptable.

Yes skins/sleeves are a good investment keeping your notebook in good cosmetic condition. Nothing like reselling your notebook with a ton o'scratches.

 

I wondered if all that stuff about CD & DVD meant it had recovery media, thanks Tsunade! I hope I get lucky enough to get a recovery disc, Is the Dell Datasafe local backup utility easy to find? I haven't had that before I don't think on my desktops, probably because we did clean installs on them to remove bloatware. I hope that it's in decent shape, I think for the money I did okay, I really want to keep it in good shape so I am gonna get the skin and case once I have inspected the machine itself and decide to keep it. Thanks for your reply, I appreciate the advice and will definitely DO it after creating an account on the machine and burn recovery discs even if I have one included. Just to be safe.

EDIT: Just bought the case, waiting on the skin though til I get the machine, a case I can use for something else but a $20 skin is another story.

 

I'm sorry, I misspoke. It shipped with Dell branded discs to reinstall your OS and the drivers/applications discs most likely (almost all Outlet stuff comes with). What it will do is pre-activate Windows and get you back to square 1 in case your hard drive fails. In order to get a disc that pretty much does everything for you (recovery media) you need to create them in Windows. The Datasafe Local Backup should automatically run on first startup, but if you can't find it and you have Windows 7 just hit the Windows button and type datasafe in the search and it should automatically filter out the Datasafe local backup and online backup (I don't use online backup).

The 2 refurbished Dells I recently purchased had almost 0 bloatware and I haven't uninstalled anything because pretty much everything installed I needed or was going to install anyway (Adobe Flash, PDF reader). For almost every other manufacturer, I would recommend a clean install. Acer/Gateway/eMachines and HP/Compaq have some of the worst bloatware on there and ASUS is up there too. Toshibas have a fair amount.

 

Dell branded discs are fine with me, but still will want to make a recovery media DVD. So will do that right off the bat. I hope it's a good machine for what I need. Time will tell. I bought the case though, was afraid it might go out of stock before I could get in on the deal. LOL! Thanks for your advice Tsunade, I really appreciate it.

 

They delayed my order so I am cancelling it and going to reorder but get a 1012 this time around because it's got the HD screen resolution. Do you think that's a good idea? I didn't realize before ordering the 1018 that it was lower res then the 1012, and I can get a bigger battery for the 1012 then I got on my original 1018 order I cancelled. Did I do the right thing?

EDIT: Well its done, I got a $25 discount on it too! So for $16 less then my original order, I got the bigger hard drive and a 6 cell battery. Also got it in Ice Blue to match my new blue case I bought off amazon. I can't wait! It's going to be awesome!


Item Description:

-- Inspiron Mini 10 - 1012 Laptop Genuine Windows 7 Starter
Unit Price: $269.00
Quantity: 1
-- Inspiron Mini 10 - 1012 Laptop

-- Operating System Label

-- Label

-- Documentation

-- Label

-- Internal English Single Pointing Keyboard

-- Certified Refurbished

-- Software

-- HB 95 802.11n Wireless Network Card

-- Processor: Intel Atom Processor N450 (1.66GHz, 512K L2 Cache)

-- Shipping Material

-- Operating System DVD

-- Genuine Windows 7 Starter

-- No TV Tuner Option

-- Software

-- Software

-- Dell Support 2.0 Software

-- Intel NM10 Express

-- Shipping Material

-- Integrated 1.3M Pixel Webcam

-- Dell Solution Center Software

-- No Media Selected

-- 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz (1 DIMM)

-- 250 GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)

-- 6 Cell, 56WHr Lithium-Ion Primary Battery

-- 10.1 inch Widescreen Display (1024x600)

-- Service Software

-- Processor Label

-- 32BIT Operating System DVD

-- 32BIT Operating System CD

-- Software

-- 30W AC Adapter

-- Ice Blue

-- Image Restore Software

-- Base Assembly

-- Save 20% off any Dell Outlet Laptop with this coupon!
- $53.80
-- Insp Mini 10 (1012): 1 Yr Basic Warranty and Mail-In Service (Included In Price)
Unit Price: $0.00
Quantity: 1
Total Price: $0.00
Subtotal: $215.20
Shipping and Handling: $16.00
Shipping Discount: -$16.00
Sales Tax: $12.91
Total Amount: $228.11

Take that minus $25 and I got all the above for $203.11, not too shabby. ALso thought it would be easier to upgrade the ram on this machine then the 1018...Which hubby still says he won't do for me but I might attempt to if I can't stand the speed that badly.

 

I had the Dell Mini 9 and added a 2GB stick of RAM which made web browsing and the other things you mentioned much faster. I also installed Windows 7 from a flash drive. Have fun!

 

I will see about the back up, I think I actually might get recovery media, it's showing it there in the specs, so that would be awesome! If not then I will burn my own up. Thanks MoInSTL! I can't wait to get my machine!