Thread: The Best Dell Inspiron Mini 9 Laptop

Three of the computers in this test are 10in machines, but to netbook purists they could be seen as merely small laptops. For ultra-portability, and a fairly considerable cost saving, take a look at an 8.9in model such as the Toshiba NB1 00 or this Dell.
Hitting this kind of size is all about compromise, the most obvious of which is the keyboard. The Dell's keyboard is slightly more stretched out compared to that of the Tosh, making typing more comfortable. Individual keys are taller, and ever so slightly wider, but there are a few odd choices which let it down. such as making the full stop the smallest key of all. In the right conditions the screen benefits from its contrast-enhancing coating.





but it turns into a mirror under bright lights. The speakers are right below the screen, which is a distinct improvement over regular designs that blast sound straight onto your lap. It's decked out in a two-tone outfit that's smart enough when closed up, but still rather plain in this company. There is a lower cost-Linux version available, which runs the excellent Ubuntu OS. It's much cheaper but has a titchy 8GB solid-state drive which is too small to make it a realistic option. The 16GB SSD of this Windows XP edition makes it by far the more viable of the two.