Dell Mini 9: I'm baaack...

We always want what we can't have, and when Dell canned its Inspiron Mini 9, I beat myself up for not buying one earlier.

But lo and behold, Dell has brought back its itty-bitty Netbook for $199 until July 27. The price gives you bare necessities: the Ubuntu Linux OS, a 4G SSD, a Webcam, and other basic features.

There's also a $269 option that upgrades the Netbook to Windows XP and an 8GB SSD.

"That's it, this is your last chance. Really...I'm leaving this time. Or am I?"

(Credit: Dell)

The Mini 9 had a few words to say regarding her retirement and limited-time return:

A few months ago Anne C. was kind enough to publish a post about my retirement. It was a bittersweet moment for me - being the "eldest" of the Dell Inspiron Mini portfolio, but my siblings the Mini 10 and the Mini 10v have been introduced, and frankly are capable of offering anything I can, plus more.

Imagine my surprise when I got the call to return for a limited engagement. I checked my 401(k) and saw that it really wasn't at the point I needed it to be to support a comfortable retirement, so I have agreed to return.

I am back, for a limited time, and for now can be found as part of a few key limited time promotional deals on dell.com. Both Ubuntu (starting at $199) and XP versions are available, as are a few color options (Obsidian Black and Alpine White are standard, Jade Green and Promise Pink add $40).

Not to sound immodest, but I do want to acknowledge and thank my fan club members who expanded my pre-retirement horizons with various mods and hacks. I hope to renew our acquaintance, even if for a short time and continue our adventures. I do want to assure that this will be my last appearance - I disdain those "final sales" campaigns that seem to go on perpetually. Next time I retire, it will be for good.

[Mr. Dee]

Sounds more like Dell had some backlog that they need to get rid of before the launch of Windows 7. Anyway, if you are this 'desperate' for a Netbook, obviously choose the Windows XP option with the 8 GB SSD. A browsers temporary files and history are enough to full up a 4 GB SSD.

[reya276]

"A browsers temporary files and history are enough to full up a 4 GB SSD"

Yes for a windows based OS it is. With Ubuntu/Firefox that does not happen. But being that your a Windows fanboy and all you would not know about that now would you. Windows 7 will not be selling on netbooks lower than $298 wait an see. Also OEMs are going to be in a world of hurt due to the economy and all. With Ubuntu Dell does not pay a cent for the OS unlike windows 7 which MS will charge OEMs $55 - $75 a copy so lets wait and see whom is willing to part with their money first OEMs or Microsoft.

[viper396]

@reya276. Stop pretending you know what other people, OEM's, or even Microsoft will do. Presenting your opinions and guesses as "fact" does not make you right.

Linux has been around for what?....over 10 years now. In case you haven't figured it out yet, Linux needs something much more compelling then "Free" to get people to buy into it. Maybe you should spend less time trying to pick apart Windows and actually put more focus on actually making Linux live up to all the things Linux users claim it to be.

[jaguar717]

And more time working on the Engrish.

"your a Windows fanboy", "wait an see", "whom is willing"...?
Err oh err, I love pseudo-intellectuals and their forced snobbiness. They're all the rage these days...

[wusupjohn]

Is it possible to use a laptop with an optical drive to run programs via usb on a netbook? I don't want to shell out the $50 for an external drive when I'm only paying $200 for the netbook.

[reya276]

Yes with Ubuntu you can run it that way or pretty much any other version of linux, with vista, windows 7 not so much because of their bloat!

[michaelmombourquette]

it has been for nearly 20 years, if the two computers are on a shared network. simply make the optical drive on one computer available to share then access it from the netbook. If Windows works as it always has for me then you're off. I'm sure there are equally viable methods in Linux or Mac products too.

[tek-ed]

So how come when I go to the Dell link, it shows that the starting price is $239? Sure, it says for a limited time only, until 7/27, it's $199, but on the right hand side it says $239...is this bait and switch? What's the additional $40 for?

Ed

[sharonvak]

Hi Ed- They've set it up as a $40 discount rather than a price change.

When you add the netbook to your shopping cart and view it, you'll see that there is a $40 discount, bringing the subtotal to $199.

[reya276]

I think this is very good for competition and the specs on this netbook are more than enough for your average user to do all the basic computing needs, plus this thing comes with and Office suite, media players, web browser, photo management apps and IM client. for the price I say this is pretty good, the windows one not so much, sure the 8GB is good, but you get just the OS and that is it. Any smart consumer would choose the extra stuff, I would for sure.

[veruslite]

Regardless of what Dells intent was on re-releasing this laptop. I seriously suggest you guys get on the bandwagon with the 199 option. Yes obviously this is a subpar system in comparison with any other netbook presently on the market. But As anyone who already owns one of these badboys knows( like me) that these are some fairly capable systems with a bit of Modding. Just purchase one of these and head over to the MYDELLMINI.COM forums and you are served with a plethora of information on how to upgrade your lil buddy into a mini powerhouse. My setup currently consists of a White DELL MINI9 with an UPgraded 2GB of Ram/ 32GB Runcore SSD(available in larger sizes) bluetooth, webcam, and the cherry on top being the Fact that it RUNS MAC OSX on my Runcore, and Windows on my stock SSD(which are easily.. i mean really easy to swap). Winodows 7 may not ship on Netbooks, but i had the RC version running on my MINI and it was beautiful to say the least. Very snappy and just so perty., plus the Runcore SSD's come with a microUSB port on the drive for extremely easy OS installs. This MINI is Definitely worth it as cureent gen models do not alow for such freedom of customization.

[TexasTechie0504]

I love my dell mini 9, but it is a shame they are not including the 16gb ssd. You really do need the 16gb if you want to install windows 7, but whatever. This is also still a great machine for hacks and I found it funny that dell recognized that point.

[beelissa]

I guess "until July 27" means that if you order it before that date, you get the $199 price. It was $239 starting price with 4GB either black or white, when I followed the link Monday morning. Stupid how it could still be available but not at $199 because I didn't read this till too late.

[DMBoricua]

Thats fine if Dell Mini's are gone forever soon. Theres only about 12 different types of brand netbooks to choose from out there in the wild... But seriously Dell Mini was one of the netbooks that weren't that good.

[pennygirl49]

That's cool. I love my Dell Mini 9. I got it around Christmastime, and it's been serving me very well since. People need to stop bad-mouthing netbooks. I think the problem comes from people just expecting way too much out of them. They're just perfect for what I need them to do. I can't afford a full-sized laptop to go along with my old desktop computer, which is very slow, but I can use my Dell Mini for practically everything computer-related now.

[veruslite]

@DMboricua "But seriously Dell Mini was one of the netbooks that weren't that good."

Are you kidding me. They were/are some of the best Netbooks out there. Most other companies give you Netboks with the exact same specs as every(EVERY) other company on the market, yet almost none of them outside of the DELL mini 9 being so easily and so thoroughly customizable. If you buy a MINI from dell and leave it as is, then i agree its pretty much worthless. But if you buy a mini ( and upgrade the RAM, SSD, OS. then youve got quite a nifty little machine and quite frankly its one of if not the only machine thats truly capable of this on the market right now. Not only that its so completely simple to do you dont have to be a tech nerd in the slightest to pull it off.

They should get that little asian girl from the "IM a PC" commercial to hack her own mini 9 just to show the simplicity involved in said process, then maybe people will get the point.

[tipoo_]

The best hackintosh netbook ever is back!