Dell Inspiron Mini 9 Verdict
Dell’s entrance into the mini-notebook market is bound to make the competition take notice. The Linux version of the Inspiron Mini 9 boasts the most consumer-friendly interface we have seen, its footprint is tiny but sturdy, and it gets more than three hours of battery life. The Linux version of the Acer Aspire one is $70 cheaper than our $399 configuration, has a bigger 8GB solid state drive, and a more ergonomic keyboard, but it lasts 1 hour and 14 minutes less on a charge and its Linux interface isn’t as polished.
Despite its inferior keyboard, we recommend the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 over the Aspire one for those users interested in Linux. Spending the extra cash for this system is worth it for those seeking a small yet solidly built mini-notebook, and for those who want the ability to configure their system online.
Check out our hands-on video with the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 on the next page.