Many have been the times that have I sat down with my laptop in a coffee shop, shrugging my shoulders to work out the tension caused by hauling around a too-hefty shoulder bag. Putting the computer on the wobbly table often enough knocks my mug of coffee across keyboard, pants, and floor.
In theory, a radically smaller and lighter ‘notebook’ computer—not a “palm top” or smart phone, but one with a full screen and keyboard—should save me from this cycle of needless violence.
Highlight: Weight; impressively compact and light
Drawback: Size; keyboard is too small for serious usage
Overall: Recommended, with caveat
The new Dell Inspiron Mini 9 is one of those impossibly small notebooks that leave their users remarkably free of upper-body tension. Not to mention, able to find space on their table for the computer, a coffee, a newspaper and (optional) cinnamon bun. I had the opportunity to try one out recently, to discover if it would be everything it promised.
The Inspiron Mini 9 certainly meets expectations in terms of weight and dimensions. It is about the same size and heft as, say, a short-ish hardcover novel. It would fit happily into a small satchel (where my current laptop requires an awkward messenger bag) and could probably even fit into a big cargo pocket, freeing its owner from the tyranny of the shoulder strap.
The screen is easy to read and looks good and crisp. The size is easily adequate for one window, but navigating multiple overlapping windows by clicking on title bars requires the user to adjust to clicking through open programs using the taskbar at the bottom of the Windows interface. Clunky.
The keyboard is functional for entering URLs and writing short emails, but the keys lack spring, and typists who use the “flying fingers” tap typing technique will need to approach the Dell Mini 9’s keyboard with a more gentle, caressing style. The machine is quite acceptable for casual web surfing, despite the small screen, and offers an ideal compromise between a laptop and a smart phone. It easily makes for a handy stay-in-touch travel computer.
The fact is, my dreams of heavy word processing on a light and tiny notebook will not be fufilled by the Mini 9: small by design, the thing is just a little bit too small to type on comfortably. The punctuation keys are particularly tiny, leading to a significant typos-per-minute rate.
The Mini 9 and other such “netbooks” won’t replace anyone’s main work laptop (or tower) anytime soon. Still, they’re well designed for certain uses, and will continue to arouse size envy in coffee shops across the continent for some time to come.
Starting price: $359; for more information and full technical specs, visit the Dell website.
