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    Practical Uses For the Inspiron Mini?

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by MICHAELSD01, Sep 6, 2008.

  1. MICHAELSD01

    MICHAELSD01 Apple/Alienware Master

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    I've been looking at getting the Inspiron Mini just to have a really small notebook that I can use for school work and I might take it into class to take notes. How's typing on the Mini? According to the NBR Mini review, typing must really suck, which makes me think that I should get a 13" laptop, but no 13" laptops are as nice as the Mini at $350. How is a 9" screen on a laptop, once you get used to it? I've though of 13" being small, but I'd probably get used to worked with such a small screen. What do you guys think are the most practical uses for the Mini? I would think it'll be really slow with almost anything with the 1.6GHz Atom processor, anyone know try running XP/Vista on it yet?
     
    MICHAELSD01, Sep 6, 2008
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  2. talin

    talin Notebook Prophet

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    I would think a mini could be used to do just about anything a full power computer could.
    You could hook up an external optical drive and watch movies, burn discs, etc.
    Of course you can also do email, web, chat.
    I think depending on your needs, it could actually be a primary computer for some, using an external keyboard, mouse and monitor though. :D
    Hey it could work. :rolleyes: :D
     
    talin, Sep 6, 2008
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  3. Neafujn

    Neafujn Notebook Enthusiast

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    Practical use? How about having a small cheap notebook, you can throw into your schoolbag without noticing the extra weight and use it to write down your notes while attending your lectures? :)

    (The only drawbag being the mediocre battery duration provided by the undersized batteries of most "netbooks")
     
    Neafujn, Sep 6, 2008
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  4. Cin'

    Cin' Anathema

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    Hmmmm..practical uses:

    Portability (lightweight, pack-and-go, ease of use), companion netbook to your main lappy, awesome for internet usage.....

    It comes w/XP Home Edition...


    Cin.... ;)
     
    Cin', Sep 6, 2008
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  5. PeterDw

    PeterDw Notebook Guru

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    Doesn't come in tangarine orange yet though!

    Come on Dell get the spraycans out already!:smile:
     
    PeterDw, Sep 6, 2008
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  6. tential

    tential Notebook Consultant

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    anandtech.com did a great review on the mini and the guy only typed on it twice and his WPM went from a normal 100 to 90. That isn't bad and after you get used to it you'll be fine. If you are getting a mini there is no point stacking it out to the top of the line. My laptop right now is actually the smae specs as the mini about (it's old) and if you throw ubuntu on it and stick to what hte laptop is supposed to be for (email, web browsing, instant messaging) it's great. Don't expect to be playing games it's a cheap laptop buy it for what it's supposed to do. If dell ever offered this deal with a Centrino 2 laptop I'd buy it.
     
    tential, Sep 6, 2008
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