Dell Inspiron Mini IM10-2863 10.1-Inch Obsidian Black Netbook Review
I bought this for my youngest daughter who needed a laptop for High School Debate. What a world huh? Laptops have become an indispensable and back saving tool for getting and storing debate evidence and arguments. Her coach is not thrilled about Netbooks, but my oldest son recently bought one (as it is easier for his daily train commute), and had very high praises, so after looking and thinking about it I decided to get the Dell Mini.
What I figured was the big down side was the lack of an optical drive, but I figured well, it has USB ports so I’ll just hook up my external DVD writer, and she’ll be in business. Unfortunately, Dell in a smart business move but bad consumer relations idea, put no DVD encoder in the unit, and directs you to pay for an encoder. Or, one assumes, if you get the add on DVD unit for the Mini, from Dell (for about 0) one assumes that will take care of that. But here’s my deal on that, for the extra money I could have just got her what the coach wanted her to have in the first place.
All in all, it has been working all right for her, and the light weight is a big plus. Several software companies, have accommodating downloads just use the license key on the software disk to activate (for example MS Office 2007), and Kapersky even makes an internet security suite specifically for “Ultra-Portables”.
The Netbook has a very good wireless pick-up, it works at any location in the house, which is more than I can say about some of my other devices that were a lot more expensive.
So here’s the deal, I’m sold (at least for now) , but not overjoyed (yet).
Dell Inspiron Mini IM10-2863 10.1-Inch Obsidian Black Netbook Feature
- 1.33 GHz Intel Atom Z520 Processor
- 1GB DDR2 RAM
- 160GB Hard Drive
- Windows XP Home, 3 Hour Lithium Ion Battery
- 10.1-Inch LED Display (1024×576), 1.3mp Web Cam
Dell Inspiron Mini IM10-2863 10.1-Inch Obsidian Black Netbook Overview
larger sibling to Dell’s Inspiron Mini 9, the Inspiron Mini 10 in obsidian black adds keyboard comfort and even more entertainment-friendly dimensions to the Inspiron Mini family. Like the Inspiron Mini 9 and Mini 12, the Mini 10 is a compact, easy-to-carry Internet companion that’s ideal for teens, tweens, travelers and “Tweeters” to surf the Web, chat with friends (both via text and using the integrated 1.3-megapixel webcam), stream video and audiocontent, and upload on-the-go photos to blogs or social networking sites. Standard built-in Wi-Fi means quick and easy wireless internet access to hotspots in the home, on campus, in a local coffee shop, in the office or at a conference. bright 10.1-inch display is designed to be able to present web sites without a lot of left-right scrolling, and the 92-percent full-size keyboard is large and easy to navigate. An HDMI port also allows you to connect the Mini 10 to your HDTV for large-screen, high-def viewing. Other features include a 160 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM (533 MHz; maximum capacity), integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, three USB ports, 3-in-1 memory card reader, and up to 3 hours of battery life.
Dell Inspiron Mini IM10-2863 10.1-Inch Obsidian Black Netbook Specifications
A larger sibling to Dell’s Inspiron Mini 9, the Inspiron Mini 10 in obsidian black adds keyboard comfort and even more entertainment-friendly dimensions to the Inspiron Mini family. Like the Inspiron Mini 9 and Mini 12, the Mini 10 is a compact, easy-to-carry Internet companion that’s ideal for teens, tweens, travelers and “Tweeters” to surf the Web, chat with friends (both via text and using the integrated 1.3-megapixel webcam), stream video and audiocontent, and upload on-the-go photos to blogs or social networking sites. Standard built-in Wi-Fi means quick and easy wireless internet access to hotspots in the home, on campus, in a local coffee shop, in the office or at a conference.
Super thin and ultra-portable, the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 weighs in at just 2.6 pounds. |
The Inspiron Mini 10 features an intuitive Dell-developed custom home screen interface that is designed to make it easy to find what you’re looking for. Intuitive icons link directly to groups of similar applications, like games, Web and entertainment, and favorite web links for quick access. Plus, the home screen can be personalized, putting your favorites front and center.
A bright 10.1-inch display is designed to be able to present web sites without a lot of left-right scrolling, and the 92-percent full-size keyboard is large and easy to navigate. An HDMI port also allows you to connect the Mini 10 to your HDTV for large-screen, high-def viewing. Other features include a 160 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM (533 MHz; maximum capacity), integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, three USB ports, 3-in-1 memory card reader, and up to 3 hours of battery life.
Offering a range of bright color options, the Inspiron Mini 10 is a great travel companion. |
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It comes preinstalled with the Microsoft Windows XP Home operating system, which offers more experienced users an enhanced and innovative experience that incorporates Windows Live features like Windows Live Messenger for instant messaging and Windows Live Mail for consolidated email accounts on your desktop.
A Better Keyboard
You won’t lose any flexibility with the Mini 10’s keyboard. At 92 percent the size of a standard laptop, it’s almost as if the Mini 10’s keyboard is at full range. And with a multi-touch track pad, your fingers will have an easy time navigating. Plus, it’s spill resistant, so you can rest assured if accidents happen.
Display and Audio
The Inspiron Mini 10 has a 10.1-inch LCD screen (1024 x 576; WSVGA) with TrueLife high-gloss/anti-reflective technology, which features a sharp contrast finish that’s well suited to immersive 3D games and watching videos. Its widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio is designed to present websites without lots of left-right scrolling, as well as with a smoother line of sight. Expand your screen by connecting to an external monitor or TV using the HDMI port. This notebook has two speakers for stereo sound.
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Spec Check
- 1.3 GHz GHz Intel Atom Z520 processor
- 160 GB hard drive
- 1 GB RAM
- 54g Wi-Fi (802.11b/g)
- Windows XP Home
- 3-cell battery
- Up to 3 hours of battery life
- Weighs 2.6 pounds
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Power-Sipping Processor
Newly designed from the ground up, the Intel Atom Z520 uses a 45nm (nanometer) design structure with new hafnium-infused circuitry–which reduces electrical current leakage in transistors–to conserve even more energy and give you more time away from the wall outlet. The Intel Atom Z520 provides a 1.3 GHz CPU speed with a 533 MHz front-side bus (FSB) and 512 KB L2 cache–which uses just 2 watts of power. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system’s performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.) It supports Intel’s 64-bit computing architecture, which can allow the use of extended virtual and physical memory with compatible 64-bit software, as well as Intel’s Hyper-Threading technology for speedier multitasking.
Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
This notebook has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that’s fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks. With the integrated Bluetooth connectivity, you can communicate and synchronize with Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as PDAs and cell phones as well as use Bluetooth-enabled headsets for handsfree video chats. It comes with the following external connectors:
- 3 USB 2.0 ports (1 powered) for connecting a wide range of peripherals–from digital cameras to MP3 players
- 1 HDMI output (for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable)
- Analog video output: None
- 10/100 Fast Ethernet networking
- 1 headphone (line-out) and 1 microphone (line-in)
- 3-in-1 memory card reader compatible with Secure Digital (SD), Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC), Multimedia Card (MMC), and Memory Stick
The IM10’s ports in profile, on the right: audio jacks (line-out, mic in), HDMI, two USB, Ethernet. |
On the left side: Kensington lock, power adapter port, USB, 3-in-1 memory card reader. |
Dimensions
This laptop measures 10.28 x 7.2 x 1.1 inches and weighs 2.6 pounds.
What’s in the Box
This package includes the Dell Inspiron Mini IM10-2863 (obsidian black), 3-cell rechargeable battery, AC adapter, and printed documentation. It’s backed by a 1-year limited warranty with mail-in service. Dell provides a variety of service offerings and add-on options to help ensure devices are easy to use and maintain optimal performance, including:
- Dell Support Center: Quickly access Dell service and support from an icon on your desktop that provides automated fixes, software upgrades and tools to help keep your system up-to-date and running efficiently.
- DellConnect Remote Assistance: Dell experts help diagnose and solve PC problems via an Internet connection (available only on Windows-based systems).
Even More Storage and Access to Your Files
Dell has teamed up with Box.net to offer exclusive web-based file storage, access and sharing to Inspiron Mini users, including a free Basic plan with 2 GB of remote storage space that’s expandable to 25 GB. The Inspiron Mini 12 includes a direct link to a Dell-exclusive home page on Box.net (www.box.net/dell), providing you with an easy way to add incremental online storage space to easily manage your digital lives. Individuals can safely and securely upload files of any type to their Box, including photos, videos, music, documents and presentations, and then access those files from almost anywhere on any device.
Box.net’s world-class service requires no software to download. With its OpenBox platform, Box.net enables people to edit documents and photos directly from their web-browser and post media to their blog or social networks, further enhancing the mobility and user experience on the Inspiron Mini.
Additionally, with Dell Remote Access you can find, use and share your digital world, even while away from home. Whether you use a mobile phone with a web browser, a computer outside your home, or share files and folders with a friend; you will have the ability to access files and devices in your home from anywhere with Internet access. Here are some examples on how you could use Dell Remote Access:
- Remotely control any PC running Windows XP or Vista on your home network as if you were sitting in front of it.
- If you have a smart phone with document viewers, you can open presentations, spreadsheets, and documents.
- Take a picture on your phone and upload it to a folder on your computer… and then share the folder with a friend.
- While on a vacation, transfer pictures from your camera (using an Internet connected PC) to a folder on your home computer, so your friends and family can see your vacation in real time.
Check Out Other Dell Netbooks
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Dell Inspiron Mini 12 Netbook, Black |
Dell Inspiron Mini 12 Netbook, Red |
Dell Inspiron Mini 12 Netbook, Pink |
Dell Inspiron Mini 12 Netbook, White |
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Dec 21, 2009 23:55:30
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