Comments on: Dell Inspiron Mini 12 First Impressions; The $600 MacBook Air?? http://blog.laptopmag.com/dell-inspiron-mini-12-first-impressions-the-600-macbook-air News and views on today's hottest laptops, cell phones, and other mobile devices. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:25:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: mini 12 user http://blog.laptopmag.com/dell-inspiron-mini-12-first-impressions-the-600-macbook-air/comment-page-1#comment-22495 mini 12 user Sat, 08 Aug 2009 21:29:59 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=6371#comment-22495 Hi there, Ok first of all lets get something straight; Vista may be pretty but as far as a decent operating system is concerned it will only support students, home users and small business. XP is far better. It is true that you would be ruining the mini 12 by running it on Vista, Linux and XP are the better options. If you are after a PC to run your business then stop complaining that the mini 12 isn't sufficient - no notebook, netbook or laptop would be. As far as portability goes, internet access, presentation preparation and presenting, basic diarising, financial planning and entertainment the mini 12 is perfect. The price is competative, comfortable to use (including a decent keyboard and graphics) and has decent hardware for a laptop this size. While it would be best to run home office, this laptop/netbook/notebook/whatever jargon you wish to apply will support other office suites including professional. I would recommend this PC for students and families as it will support what they require. It is a shame that that the hard drive cannot be increased in size, but an external drive will suffice for applications/items not used regularly or when away from home. It is also annoying that ram cannot be increased. But for basic computer users who needs more than 1 gig? Hi there,

Ok first of all lets get something straight; Vista may be pretty but as far as a decent operating system is concerned it will only support students, home users and small business. XP is far better. It is true that you would be ruining the mini 12 by running it on Vista, Linux and XP are the better options.

If you are after a PC to run your business then stop complaining that the mini 12 isn’t sufficient – no notebook, netbook or laptop would be. As far as portability goes, internet access, presentation preparation and presenting, basic diarising, financial planning and entertainment the mini 12 is perfect. The price is competative, comfortable to use (including a decent keyboard and graphics) and has decent hardware for a laptop this size. While it would be best to run home office, this laptop/netbook/notebook/whatever jargon you wish to apply will support other office suites including professional.

I would recommend this PC for students and families as it will support what they require. It is a shame that that the hard drive cannot be increased in size, but an external drive will suffice for applications/items not used regularly or when away from home. It is also annoying that ram cannot be increased. But for basic computer users who needs more than 1 gig?

]]> By: Free apple tablet http://blog.laptopmag.com/dell-inspiron-mini-12-first-impressions-the-600-macbook-air/comment-page-1#comment-22166 Free apple tablet Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:02:47 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=6371#comment-22166 at last the information i needed thank you. at last the information i needed thank you.

]]> By: CB http://blog.laptopmag.com/dell-inspiron-mini-12-first-impressions-the-600-macbook-air/comment-page-1#comment-18569 CB Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:35:35 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=6371#comment-18569 Each time I have seen one of the Dell netbooks at costco or another store, where they are clamped down with a security device, they have been bent by that device - as if the are quite flimsy. They won't live long! Each time I have seen one of the Dell netbooks at costco or another store, where they are clamped down with a security device, they have been bent by that device – as if the are quite flimsy. They won’t live long!

]]> By: Nir Friedman http://blog.laptopmag.com/dell-inspiron-mini-12-first-impressions-the-600-macbook-air/comment-page-1#comment-17459 Nir Friedman Thu, 12 Feb 2009 01:59:03 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=6371#comment-17459 Some of the people here are hating way too hard on this netbook. I do agree though that putting vista on a machine this weak is a terrible mistake. However for someone who's reasonably computer savvy, putting Linux on this machine is a no brainer. Linux is more efficient than even windows XP, and b/c the Mini has the potential to ship with Ubuntu you are guaranteed to have full driver support (the traditional achilles heel of Linux). Some other netbooks aren't guaranteed linux support, which is actually a disadvantage in my opinion. The thing is, compared to most other netbooks (10 inch), this one has many minor disadvantages: smaller hard drive, weaker performance, can't put in an extra gig of ram, battery life (against the very top netbooks like the Samsung and Asus 1000 He), extra cost. But it has one good advantage and one huge one: the good one is the keyboard is another step closer to full size, but the truly undisputed massive advantage is not so much the screen size as the screen resolution. All other netbooks run in some cheesy resolution that is around 600x1000 (I don't remember the exact numbers). This one runs at 1280x800. That is really huge. There are some web pages that might require horizontal scrolling on other netbooks (to give an example of something truly annoying), but not on the mini 12. There are other netbooks that are probably better for most people (again, the amazing N10 and 1000 he come to mind) but if the screen size, resolution and keyboard are really huge for you this is should be on your short list. Some of the people here are hating way too hard on this netbook. I do agree though that putting vista on a machine this weak is a terrible mistake. However for someone who’s reasonably computer savvy, putting Linux on this machine is a no brainer. Linux is more efficient than even windows XP, and b/c the Mini has the potential to ship with Ubuntu you are guaranteed to have full driver support (the traditional achilles heel of Linux). Some other netbooks aren’t guaranteed linux support, which is actually a disadvantage in my opinion.
The thing is, compared to most other netbooks (10 inch), this one has many minor disadvantages: smaller hard drive, weaker performance, can’t put in an extra gig of ram, battery life (against the very top netbooks like the Samsung and Asus 1000 He), extra cost.
But it has one good advantage and one huge one: the good one is the keyboard is another step closer to full size, but the truly undisputed massive advantage is not so much the screen size as the screen resolution. All other netbooks run in some cheesy resolution that is around 600×1000 (I don’t remember the exact numbers). This one runs at 1280×800. That is really huge. There are some web pages that might require horizontal scrolling on other netbooks (to give an example of something truly annoying), but not on the mini 12.
There are other netbooks that are probably better for most people (again, the amazing N10 and 1000 he come to mind) but if the screen size, resolution and keyboard are really huge for you this is should be on your short list.

]]> By: moochiku http://blog.laptopmag.com/dell-inspiron-mini-12-first-impressions-the-600-macbook-air/comment-page-1#comment-17394 moochiku Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:56:25 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=6371#comment-17394 I hate netbook for the price, its absurd considering the technology that was put into it. However, for those looking for an ultraportable machine to do some basic task, its the better product than those heavier and more expensive ultraportables ... which you will still basically do the same basic thing(browsing, email etc.). As for those thrashing Vista, im a tech guy and Vista(minus vista basic) is actually a pretty damned good OS .. try the 64Bit Business or 64bit Ultimate with complete pc protection. Its even better than Acronis. Life's never easier than that. As for this dell mini 12, I cant get it with ubuntu in Malaysia. That is a shame. Despite having the assembly line here, we never get the good stuff from Dell. Anyhow, i am going to get it cos I think its cheap for its hidden purposes which is basically a small, light, silent and portable apache server with linuxmint on top of it. PERFECTO! Now i can browse, and do presentations easier with clients .. and its superlight!. I hate thinking that I have to buy some expensive notebook for my presentations. My problems solved ! I hate netbook for the price, its absurd considering the technology that was put into it. However, for those looking for an ultraportable machine to do some basic task, its the better product than those heavier and more expensive ultraportables … which you will still basically do the same basic thing(browsing, email etc.).

As for those thrashing Vista, im a tech guy and Vista(minus vista basic) is actually a pretty damned good OS .. try the 64Bit Business or 64bit Ultimate with complete pc protection. Its even better than Acronis. Life’s never easier than that.

As for this dell mini 12, I cant get it with ubuntu in Malaysia. That is a shame. Despite having the assembly line here, we never get the good stuff from Dell. Anyhow, i am going to get it cos I think its cheap for its hidden purposes which is basically a small, light, silent and portable apache server with linuxmint on top of it. PERFECTO! Now i can browse, and do presentations easier with clients .. and its superlight!.

I hate thinking that I have to buy some expensive notebook for my presentations. My problems solved !

]]> By: Evan http://blog.laptopmag.com/dell-inspiron-mini-12-first-impressions-the-600-macbook-air/comment-page-1#comment-17290 Evan Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:58:29 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=6371#comment-17290 Why would anyone run Vista anyway? If you drop Vista you could easily cut $150-200. Plus, there is absolutely no benefit to running Vista over XP or Ubuntu. Ask any tech with serious experience in computing whether he/she would put Vista on a PC and you'll get the same answers. It looks nice, "but the nicety of interface isn't worth the drastic performance hit." Or, "XP was better." You'd be better off getting the serial off an unused or dead laptop and using it to install XP. Or buy it with Ubuntu installed and get the Wine package to run PC applications in Linux. Ubuntu could be considered a big step to people who have always used windows but it pays off in the long run. Imagine, typing one command to automatically download and update all of the software on your computer at once (Hint: type apt-update in the console). IMHO, that, combined with the massive software catalog of apps that you can download and use for free make it worth using. Why would anyone run Vista anyway? If you drop Vista you could easily cut $150-200. Plus, there is absolutely no benefit to running Vista over XP or Ubuntu.

Ask any tech with serious experience in computing whether he/she would put Vista on a PC and you’ll get the same answers. It looks nice, “but the nicety of interface isn’t worth the drastic performance hit.” Or, “XP was better.”

You’d be better off getting the serial off an unused or dead laptop and using it to install XP. Or buy it with Ubuntu installed and get the Wine package to run PC applications in Linux.

Ubuntu could be considered a big step to people who have always used windows but it pays off in the long run. Imagine, typing one command to automatically download and update all of the software on your computer at once (Hint: type apt-update in the console). IMHO, that, combined with the massive software catalog of apps that you can download and use for free make it worth using.

]]> By: chris http://blog.laptopmag.com/dell-inspiron-mini-12-first-impressions-the-600-macbook-air/comment-page-1#comment-15634 chris Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:50:01 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=6371#comment-15634 the mini 12 runs bad with vista but after installing xp it ran great. skip vista and load xp you will see a big differnce Chris the mini 12 runs bad with vista but after installing xp it ran great.

skip vista and load xp you will see a big differnce

Chris

]]> By: sarah http://blog.laptopmag.com/dell-inspiron-mini-12-first-impressions-the-600-macbook-air/comment-page-1#comment-15597 sarah Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:47:04 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=6371#comment-15597 Richard hit it right on the head, the specs for this computer are whack! It's for people who jsut want the look of the Mac air....pretty lame! Richard hit it right on the head, the specs for this computer are whack! It’s for people who jsut want the look of the Mac air….pretty lame!

]]> By: Nonoy http://blog.laptopmag.com/dell-inspiron-mini-12-first-impressions-the-600-macbook-air/comment-page-1#comment-14896 Nonoy Sun, 14 Dec 2008 05:22:37 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=6371#comment-14896 I have read a great deal of reviews. And I have been one of the first buyers of Asus and Acer netbooks. If I base my buying decision on price and specifications among netbook contenders, I'd rather not go for this Dell Mini 12. The reason is: the price is staggering -- considering that a netbook is only a netbook. Also, designs and models and brands and specifications change too fast. Hold your breath for a few months and another batch of new models will come out. The extra 250/300 dollars you save from NOT buying this Dell will get you a much better netbook after 6 months. I have read a great deal of reviews. And I have been one of the first buyers of Asus and Acer netbooks. If I base my buying decision on price and specifications among netbook contenders, I’d rather not go for this Dell Mini 12.

The reason is: the price is staggering — considering that a netbook is only a netbook. Also, designs and models and brands and specifications change too fast. Hold your breath for a few months and another batch of new models will come out. The extra 250/300 dollars you save from NOT buying this Dell will get you a much better netbook after 6 months.

]]> By: Anonymous http://blog.laptopmag.com/dell-inspiron-mini-12-first-impressions-the-600-macbook-air/comment-page-1#comment-14700 Anonymous Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:15:36 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=6371#comment-14700 this last guy is dumb he might not even know a thing but i rebuild and repair computers for a living and it is a pretty good notebook for the price and the macbook air isn't that great it only gets about 2 hours of life and if you want more you have to lug around a power block which in my opinion is the oppisite of portable this last guy is dumb he might not even know a thing but i rebuild and repair computers for a living and it is a pretty good notebook for the price and the macbook air isn’t that great it only gets about 2 hours of life and if you want more you have to lug around a power block which in my opinion is the oppisite of portable

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