Dell’s Mini 9 Netbook Goes on Sale

The Eee-like Mini 9 boasts an Intel Atom processor, 9-inch screen, and weight of only 2.28 pounds, with prices as low as $349.

Having slipped out images of a brand-new netbook in May, but not the all-critical specs on the new machine, Dell finally dropped the veil on Thursday at CEDIA. The Inspiron Mini 9 comes with specs similar to Asus’ Eee 900, but competitive pricing that will put it as low as $349.

Like many of its competitors, the Mini 9 weighs 2.28 pounds and comes with an 8.9-inch LED-backlight screen, SSD storage (4GB, 8GB or 16GB), Intel Atom processor, and built-in Wi-Fi. Options include a 1.3-megapixel webcam for teleconferencing, and Bluetooth for wirelessly connecting with peripherals, which run for $10 and $20, respectively.

Every Mini 9 also includes a subscription to Box.net, which offers up to 2GB of free online storage, and up to 25GB with a paid membership.

Dell offers the Mini 9 with either Ubuntu Linux or Windows XP, with the Windows versions demanding a price premium. The most basic notebook with 4GB of storage and Ubuntu runs for $349, while a 16GB version with Windows XP goes for $449. All variants are available in Obsidian Black or Alpine White.