The Official Dell Inspiron Mini 12 Thread!!!

When u installed UNR, did everything work right away?

How much better is UNR than regular Ubuntu?

 

No, you have to set it up right, which takes 3 minutes.
What you have to do is

1. switch from Netbook mode to desktop mode
2. install poulsbo graphic driver

I don't understand well, but....
because of lpia kernal and poulsbo driver, regular Ubuntu will not run (or require many tweaks I can't do).

 

I've been playing around with Ubuntu on my desktop computer, and its not very user friendly compared to Windows.

I recently also tried Sabayon Linux which looks like an Ubuntu version on steriods. I like it better than Ubuntu.

I wonder if Sabayon can work on the Dell Mini 12?

 

My favorite is PCLinuxOS.
I am using that for my desktop.

From what I understood, the combination of lpia kernal and poulsbo graphic driver is only available on Ubuntu Netbook Remix.

If you have time and external dvd drive, you should try it and tell me what happens.

 

Thanks for that, but what I wanted to know was if all the hardware worked easily; especially the sound card and wireless.

I see you're using Xfce. I've never used UNR (I'm typing this on a Kubuntu 64 machine), does it support Gnome or KDE? Hang on, I ought to look that up myself

I'd have thought that standard Ubuntu would work well on the Mini 12 since Dell supply it with that installed.

You've got yourself a really nice machine for little money.

 

Nah, it ships with Dellbuntu, it's a different animal.

Ubuntu 8.04 Dastardly Dell!

 

I've been searching the forums to find the answer to the following question:

What resolutions are supported by the external VGA connector on the Dell Inspiron Mini 12?

I have a Mini 12 here, connected to a Benq FP202W screen (1680x1050 20"). I am using XP SP3 with the latest display drivers from Dell's site (V6.14.10.1093).

The problem is that only 3 resolutions are shown for the monitor, 640x480, 800x600 and 1024x768, no widescreen resolutions at all! This is the same whether I run in clone, extended or single display modes.

Do the Ubuntu or Vista drivers offer more resolutions (esp. widescreen) for external displays?

Can someone point to the Intel (not Dell) downloads center page where they have updated drivers for the GMA 500.

 

Yes I had been using with Gnome for several weeks. I had no issue with it. The audio and wireless worked out of the fresh install. I've just made a switch to Xfce three days ago. It works much better now. Its much faster.

Mine came with Vista, so I don't have Dell's Ubuntu. People are reporting some problems with Dell's Ubuntu, but the issue might have been already solved. You are using KDE? My desktop is KDE and Dell mini 12 was my first Gnome machine.

 

I'd forgotten about Dellbuntu being different. Using Xfce on this or any other netbook is intriguing; I've mostly used Gnome, which is why I was playing with KDE; I've neglected it too long. I've only used Xfce on a really old slow computer and it didn't work very well, probably the machines fault rather than Xfce. I must add it to my list of things to pay around with.

An Xfce/UNR powered N270 netbook should perform really well.

 

I was tempted to pick up a Mini 12 for the past week until I got my sister to give me her 700m. It's almost 4 years old now but the battery is still holding 4.5 hour charges and the screen is/was supposedly one of the best Dell has ever used in their laptop line. And the CD-RW drive helps too!

 

WHAT??? Bless yourself man and get a nice Mini 12!!!! Plus, it will help out the economy when we spend and helps us all out in the long run!!!

I'm still waiting for my Mini 12. Ordered back in February and isn't scheduled for shipment till March 25!! The wait is driving me crazy!!!!!

 

Hi richerich,

I still have my 5 year old Fujitsu s6210 powered by PenM 1.6GHz. And that is still working great. Being an old computer is not a reason to through it away. Just put some Linux and you have an up-to-date system.

Hi microman777,

Good to hear that yours is comming finally. Xfce is not that bad, once you immobilize the panels. And it boots up in 58 seconds, too.
I uploaded another video using Xfce.

 

Looks sweeeeeeeeeeet!!!! I'm gonna test out Sabayon Linux Lite when I get mine.

 

alright i just got this thing and actually i'm on it right now and its pretty slow. from a review i read that you should rip out vista and install xp, is this true? i would read but not on this thing, it's a bit too slow. thanks.

 

^^yes install xp...definitely.

 

Yeah go with XP if you want Windows.
I don't know what Dell was thinking when they went with Vista+4200 RPM HDD =p

 

haha seriously its pretty slow. If i can get it to be snappy like the mini 9 i'm good to go.

 

I saw this on a link over in the Dell Mini 10 Thread.

Apparently, some people in Japan have started to replace the PATA HDD in their Mini 12's with a PATA SSD made by MTRON.
Looks interesting, although a pricey upgrade. Might be worth it if you want to have Windows perform faster on your Mini 12!

http://mydellmini.com/forum/dell-mini-12-gets-ssd-speed-boost-in-japan-t4443.html

http://portablemonkey.com/article/dell-mini-12-gets-ssd-speed-boost-japan/

 

Ive had my Mini 12 with Windows XP SP3 for a week now, and I'm impressed(Australian version).
Its got alright speed, enough screen real estate to browse the internet or work on a word document. I have 4 Firefox windows and Windows Media Player open now, and there is no problem.

What I have changed:
Removed Norton
installed firefox
easily 3+ hours of battery life

the good:
Its Light
It browses easily
it connects to networks easily from a distance
it does what it is supposed to do
screen size is excellent, great for browsing


there are a couple of things I would change if I were Dell;
Improve the speaker - its just not cutting the mustard (maybe have a power saving option with a bigger speaker)
Re-design the innards of the beast to change its centre of gravity - it can overbalance easily when rested on legs
Edge to edge glass would be nice
Indication that the system is booting up - it takes a few seconds to display anything and its a little confusing
The powerpack should fit between two items on a powerboard, so i would like to see it mounting vertically so as not to obstruct a slot.

Id like to:
replace HDD with largeish PATA SSD
6-cell battery
custom made neoprene case
remove dell bloat (help?)

 

What USB DVD Drive you guys using for your Mini 12?

 

LOL I have an external USB 3.5" hard drive enclosure and an 5.25" optical drive.
I just plug in the optical drive to the enclosure and it acts just like any external optical drive

 

Man, just got my Mini 12 and it has already locked up like twice within 4 hours of first opening it. It runs on Ubuntu, and I can't believe how extremely slow it is. Keyboard feels very cheap, like some 99cent special. Speaker is horribly low volume, you can barely hear it.

What is nice is the LCD Screen, and paint job.

But, I don't think I can live with a horribly slow, locking up netbook, with very bad speaker sound, and el super cheapo feeling keyboard. Gonna call Dell and get a refund.

Gonna get the 10" Asus Eee instead!!!!!!

 

Very odd, generally they work great.

I wish you the best of luck with dell support, i hope you get a native english speaker.

 

Yea, I wanted it to work great. I even waited over a month to get it build with the Ice Blue color. I think what really dissapointed me was how bad the volume sound is. I love watching YouTube video's all the time, basically every day, and I can't even imagine trying to sit there barely being able to hear the vids.

 

I just bought a Mini 12 from the Dell Outlet for my best friend. He's travels Mon-Fri and has a ThinkPad T61p for work use, but wanted something thin, light and inexpensive for internet and personal email use that would travel easily. Like me, he's not a fan of the lower-resolution 1024x600-ish displays on all the other netbooks.

So, I found the following for $341 after 15% coupon-

Dell Inspiron Mini 12
Obsidian Black
1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530
Windows XP Home
12.1" WXGA (1280x800) LED... the selling point!
1GB RAM
40GB 4200rpm PATA hard drive
Intel 500 graphics
Wireless-g
Bluetooth
6-cell Battery
Previously Ordered New

It's being delivered to my house and I'm going to play around with it a bit before turning it over to him. Anxiously waiting for delivery now...

 

Hope you guys have fun with your Dell Mini 12. I finally RMA'd mine, and now have an Asus 1000HE that just rocks!!!! It has a smaller screen, but is so much nicer, faster, better built, etc...

 

Man you were the most vocal advocate of the Mini 12... too bad you had to send it back. Its like the Adamo thread, where the only person who wanted to buy one was forced to cancel it after Dell kept playing tricks with his order and jerking him around.

Whither thy CS, dell?

 

I wanted to get a netbook since the first 7" eee pc came out. But I thought the screen size and having to scroll would be too much of a drawback.

When the 9" eee came out I thought, "now I can get one". But I read that they were planing to come out with a 10" screen one and decided to wait for that.

So after all these different companies came out with 10"ers I waited, trying to decide which one to get.

I had never actually gotten to play with one till 2 weeks ago, when my friend got a Lenovo S10. I just couldn't help but feel that the screen was a bit too small. I wanted a little bit bigger screen but not much higher resolution (the text was small enough), but I wanted something that was not much heavier. I think the Mini 12 is a very good compromise.

I thought the Mini 12 was a bit pricey though, and wasn't crazy about it having a slower and smaller 1.8" hard drive. But when I found that I could get one very cheap on the Dell outlet site with 15% off and free shipping I bought one.

I found a certified refurbished black Z520, 40GB, 3cell, Ubuntu Mini 12 listed for $289. After the coupon and tax I paid only $266. I ordered it 3 days ago and it came yesterday. Looks perfect not a mark on it and it booted fine.

I haven't had much time to play with it yet. But that 12" screen is a night and day difference in usability compared to a 10" screen, and it doesn't feel like it weighs any more than my friend's S10. The build quality seems fine to me. I like the trackpad and have no problem with the quality of the keyboard, but I'm not a touch typist so I knew that wouldn't be an issue. The most noticeable drawback I can see, or rather hear, is the low speaker volume. But I'm hoping I can maybe switch out the speaker for a louder one later. If not I can still live with that problem.

 

$266 is amazing Back when I bought my M12 at the outlet it cost $399

 

guyz,

I try to update BIOS through windows, but it hangs and I shut down the windows, and cannot open anymore.. .pity me... any way that I can reset the BIOS or recover my mini 12?

tqvm

 

NO NO NO, you should not have 4-second-shutdown during a bios flash...

Your gonna need to call dell and get them to get you a new bios chip...

 

yeah.. pity me... i don't know what i'm thinking at that moment.. i know i should have just wait....
try to get DELL

 

I'm thinking about buying a dell mini 12 from dell itself. I read a few past pages. Anything I should know before placing my order?

 

ummm you might be able to save a few bucks if you call a dell sales rep or get a coupon offline.

 

Anybody tried Haiku-OS on mini 12? It is supposed to be way faster than any other OS.