What is it with tiny electronics?

For some reason, the more Lillputian, the more attractive they are to me.  I don't mean so small the product is unusable, like a flip phone the size of a peanut or a laptop the size of a checkbook - but compact enough that the small size is actually a benefit.

Even though I'm in love with my MacBook (despite some of its issues) I caught the "mini" bug about a few months ago.  Seeing boatloads of reviews of netbook computers wore me down, and I finally pulled the trigger.

The Dell Inspiron Mini 9 - An Introduction

For multiple reasons, my first foray into dimunitive size computing was the Dell Mini 9.  First of all, I

loved the form factor and overall look of the device.  I had played with an Acer Aspire One and an EEE PC, both 8.9" screens, and didn't like how they looked or felt.  That was merely my opinion, of course.

The Mini 9 also has pretty good specs - the de facto netbook standard Atom 1.6 ghz chipset paired with a mobile Intel graphics chipset.  The screen has gotten very positive reviews (some even say it's better that the screen on the MacBook Pro.)

One of my main motivators for purchasing the product, however, was the Dell Outlet.  Dell has a Twitter account, @DellOutlet, that occasionally tweets great deals... and I got 20% off the already discounted price.  Sure, I didn't get a fancy box, and there were a few extremely minor superficial scratches on the case (it was a refurb) but in the current economic times, who cares? I saved almost $200 off of what it would have cost new.

Inspiron Mini 9 Features and Specs

Screen Size: 8.9" glossy

Dimensions: 9.13 x 6.77 x 1.07 inches

Processor: 1.6 GHz Atom

RAM: Up to 1GB from factory (upgradable to 2GB)

Hard Drive: 4-16GB solid state

Operating System: Ubuntu 8.04 or Windows XP Home

Battery: 4 cells, over 4 hrs estimated life

Additional features: Intel GMA950 graphics, optional camera, 3-in-one card reader, 802.11g, customizable faceplates

Overall Build Quality and "Feel" Of The Mini 9

What really impressed me about this tiny little gem is how nicely built and solid it feels.  It has some weight to it; while some would view the heft as a downside, I kinda like it.  Makes it feel like a "real" computer and not just a toy.

True, the battery does "rattle" a small bit due to the fact it doesn't precisely fit within the case (and I mean ever so slightly, I never noticed it... my engineer father did).  This is really a minor issue.  Some reviewers have called the Mini 9 "plasticky" and I would agree with this.  How else do they keep the cost down?  I wouldn't have paid more for something made with metal... it feels just fine to me!

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