Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Monday, 01 December 2008 09:07
Opinion and Analysis
Page 2 of 3
This was done to prevent netbooks making too big an impact in rest of the notebook market, but it’s really a silly decision. Given that Vista really prefers 2GB, it really doesn’t help that the Mini 12 can never be upgraded to 2GB in total, but Windows 7 will at least fix this “problem”.
But with no release version of Windows 7 for at least 7 months, and with Microsoft’s stupid rules not allowing Windows XP to be loaded as standard onto the Dell Inspiron Mini 12, Vista Basic is the only OS being pre-loaded in Australia – despite Ubuntu being offered in the US.
It’s funny, because the Australian Dell site clearly has its text taken from the US site, where Ubuntu is indeed offered. At Dell's
Mini 12 page, the third picture of the Mini 12 shows an Ubuntu desktop GUI and the text states that:
“Dell has developed a custom interface for the Inspiron Mini 12 to make it easy to find what you’re looking for. Intuitive icons give you access to groups of similar applications and your favorite web links to make them easy to find. Plus, you can customize the interface, putting your favorites front and center. Windows Vista is also available as an upgrade.”
The US spelling of “favorites” and “center” gives the game away, beyond the Ubuntu desktop shot and the notification that “Windows Vista is also available as an upgrade”, which is meaningless in Australia where Vista is the only choice.
Naturally, anyone can install their own copy of Ubuntu at any time, but you’ll have ended up paying for a copy of Windows Vista in the meantime, which you may never have wanted to pay for.
Beyond operating systems, Dell’s 12.1-inch netbook has the power to tempt a lot of netbook users for whom a 10-inch screen is just a tad too small.
A much more normal sized keyboard and a larger screen make the Mini 12 an ideal and light machine to take anywhere for surfing, email and simple office work, and at a price point of $749.00, won’t break the bank.
You just wouldn’t want to use it to burn DVDs or CDs (as there is no built-in drive, even though it could easily do so if an external USB DVD drive was plugged in), do complex movie editing or play the latest graphics heavy games – but netbooks were never designed to replace everything a “full powered” computer can do.
A friend with a smaller netbook and an iPod Touch considers his 10-inch netbook like an iPod Touch on steroids.
After all, instead of a 3.5-ich screen, a standard netbook gives you a 10-inch screen, an actual keyboard, and it can even run iTunes and give him access to all the same music, podcasts, movies, TV shows and more. All that’s missing is a multi-touch screen.
And you know what? He totally loves it.
Continued on page 3.
