Dell Inspiron Mini 10 netbook test:

As masters of the built-to-order PC, it's no surprise that Dell has managed to create a reasonably customizable version of the Netbook. While most vendors offer them as universal solutions (or with only very minor options, such as color and hard drive), the Inspiron Mini 10 has plenty of ways to become the perfect netbook for you.

Our $593 review unit boasts features that fall short of the Netbook standard, including a high-resolution 1366x768 display, HDMI output, TV tuner, awesome lid design, and edge-to-edge glass overlay on the screen. Spend even more and you can get mobile broadband or built-in GPS.

Of course, at nearly $600, that's getting dangerously close to mainstream laptop territory, and we could think of several better ways to invest that kind of money in a laptop. And, if you're just a fan of the Mini 10's wide, flat keys and reasonably slim design, you can get virtually the same experience with the budget Mini 10v, which starts at just $299.

Price as revised / Starting price

$593 / $349

Processor

1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530

Memory

Hard disk

160GB 5400 rpm

chipset

Intel GMA 500

Graphics

Intel GMA 500 (integrated)

Operating system

Windows XP Home Edition SP3

Dimensions (WD)

Height

1.0 - 1.9 inches

Screen size (diagonal)

10.1 inches< /p>

System Weight / Weight with AC Adapter

3.0 / 3.4 pounds

Category

netbook

Not as streamlined as

the latest netbooks from Asus

or the minimalist

HP Mini 5101

, the Dell Mini 10 takes inspiration instead from the bigger laptops in the Inspiron family, with similar rounded edges and glossy surfaces. It's a smart move to attract new netbook buyers, as the familiar look and feel makes the netbook dive less daunting.

There's thankfully little wasted space in the keyboard tray, with large, flat keys. almost edge to edge. Unlike Dell's first 9-inch netbooks, there are no missing keys or major space compromises, and important keys, such as Shift, Tab, and Ctrl, are relatively full. The narrow wrist rest keeps the system from overextending and becoming bulky, but it requires a long, letterbox-style touchpad, with mouse buttons built right into the bottom left and right corners of the pad. It's a far cry from our favorite Netbook touchpad, but better than the similar long touchpad with buttons on the far sides found on the

Mini 110 HP

.

The 10.1-inch widescreen display is the system's standout feature, with a native resolution of 1366x768

. A standard 1024x600 is also available on other Mini 10 configurations. We were concerned that the higher resolution would make text too small to read, but we soon got used to it. A handful of other netbooks, including Sony's Vaio W, also offer these high-resolution displays, and we'd like to see it become the new netbook standard. The edge-to-edge glass on the screen is nice, but also adds to the glare - something to be aware of if you're sensitive to it.

Dell Inspiron Mini 10

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Video

VGA. hdmi

VGA

Audio

headphone/microphone sockets

headphone/microphone sockets

Data

3USB 2.0, SD card reader

2USB 2.0, SD card reader

Extension

No

None< /p>

Networking

Ethernet, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g,

Ethernet, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth

Optical drive

No

No

The HDMI port on the Mini 10 is a nice touch, and this may be the first time we've seen it on a netbook. An optional TV tuner is an interesting idea, but TV tuners in general have never connected with mainstream consumers and have been largely eclipsed by Hulu, Netflix, Slingbox and other online TV viewing tools. AT&T and Verizon mobile broadband modems are available for $125.

Unlike most netbooks we've reviewed, the Dell Mini 10 uses the Z530 version of Intel's Atom processor, instead of the typical N270 version. . Although both have a clock frequency of 1.6 GHz, the Z series is cooler and was intended for portable mobile internet devices (sometimes called MID). In our benchmark tests, it ran slower than the Dell Mini 10v with the N270 version of the Intel Atom, which was designed specifically for netbooks.

The difference wasn't serious, however, and the Dell Mini 10 performs well for basic netbook tasks, including web browsing, basic media viewing, and working on office documents, which is what netbooks are primarily intended.

Juice box

Dell Inspiron Mini 10

Off (watts)

0.88

Standby (watts)

0.71

Standby (watts)< /p>

7.6

Load (watts)

15.71

Gross (annual kWh)

28.77

Annual operating cost (@ $0.113/kWh)

$3.27

The Dell Inspiron Mini 10 ran for 5 hours and 40 minutes in our video playback battery drain test, using the six-cell battery. That's fantastic, even for a low-power netbook. However, the battery is particularly bulky and protrudes from the bottom of the system, lifting the rear end. A smaller three-cell battery option is also available.