Dell E and E Slim revealed, taking on Eee and Air in one fell swoop

We got a nice helping of slides dropped on our virtual doorstep this evening, fleshing out Dell's upcoming netbook -- which they seem to be calling the "Dell E." Um, Eeenteresting name choice, but that doesn't seem set in stone, and there's plenty else going on here to ponder over. Dell's breaking the Dell E into two device types, a 8.9-inch model clearly meant to take on the Eee 900, and the 12.1-inch "E Slim" which actually looks positioned to take on the MacBook Air and X300, at a mere 0.8-inches thick, though perhaps in a lower-end capacity. Even the 8.9-inch model will have some distinctions, with E Classic model for super low-end use, and E Video and E Video+ for more RAM, larger flash storage, webcams and Bluetooth in the + model. Rollout looks to be slated for August for the E, August / September-ish for the E Slim, and a followup for both of those in October of WWAN, with WiMAX after that. Dell even has a second version of both devices slated for Q2 2009, but that's all we know about those so far. Perhaps most interesting is that all of these run Linux and Windows XP, and while it's not clear if there's a full-featured Linux OS onboard, there does seem to be an instant-on, Foleo-esque Linux included on all of them called BlackTop. We're not sure if there's any relation to Splashtop, but the janky-ass interface and email / calendar / contacts apps seem to be telling us no. BlackTop will support WWAN and WiFi, and Dell plans to move the 2.0 version to the Latitude and Vostro lines in a year or two. Peep the slides below for all the gory details. Oh, and the price? Dell E starts at $299.

Gallery: Dell E and E Slim revealed, taking on Eee and Air in one fell swoop

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[Shane @ Jun 12th 2008 9:49PM]

$299? Oh snap! What to do, what to do? MSI Wind or wait? Arrgh!

[Haikibutsu @ Jun 12th 2008 10:00PM]

Ugh, stupid fanboy.

I say you wait for the Dell. I honestly haven't heard of MSI, but it looks like the Dell would be of higher quality.

[Haikibutsu @ Jun 12th 2008 10:01PM]

Clak has set his profile to private as to conceal the level of stupidity he has.

[Rory @ Jun 12th 2008 10:03PM]

Were talking about low power netbooks here, not fully fledged pcs. I'd bet that the OS decision was based on this fact, not the quality of Vista.

Enjoy your fanboyism.

[Aeqelae @ Jun 12th 2008 11:06PM]

@ Haikibutsu @ Jun 12th 2008 10:00PM

MSI > Dell. If you want to compare it at that level

MSI are a large computer hardware manufacturer and have been around for a long time.

Dell on the other hand are primarily OEM system builders.

I still would love to see what Dell bring out tho.

[d @ Jun 12th 2008 10:30PM]

Clak - just want to say, ur great. u say just what i'm thinking and stand up for the apple fanboys (like me) in the group. just to lend some support to a fellow fanboy

and i use fanboy as a compliment

[d @ Jun 12th 2008 10:42PM]

looking over the spec sheet in the gallery, I noticed a little not on OS:

"Linux (c), XP"

I love OS X because it's what I'm used to, but I've got Ubuntu for some picture and a little video editing and 3D graphics because Gimp is much free-er than Photoshop. I love it.

My 2 c's in the OS fight

[OziD @ Jun 12th 2008 11:02PM]

clak: XP is less demanding therefore better for these systems with weaker hardware.

quit being a tool.

[mmendoza27 @ Jun 12th 2008 11:04PM]

@ clak

I've been watching everyone's comments and I just gotta say, clak give it just a bit of a rest.

I mean, I've got an iPhone, MacBook Pro 17", will get another, got my parents two Macs, will be getting the 3G iPhone... I work part-time at an Apple retail store as well! I don't think it's necessary to always discredit Windows and upset people.

I've used Windows 98, 2000, XP, Vista, and others and I don't prefer Windows, but the OS isn't THAT bad. I just prefer Mac OS X, like others prefer Windows. I'm just thinking, that's why Windows users have been so opposed to Mac, they think we are stuck up and obnoxious, which isn't necessarily true. I'm a fanboy just as much as the next Apple user and you don't have to post about Apple in EVERY article throughout the day.

My .02, of which you probably don't care, which is cool with me too.

[OziD @ Jun 12th 2008 11:11PM]

your girlfriend sounds like a real bitch if she's not going to put out because you bought her (a very nice) computer.

[0megapart!cle @ Jun 12th 2008 11:16PM]

clak, you do realize what an unbelievable idiot you are? The Macbook Air has a base price of $1700, and a Core 2 Duo on board, so of course it can run the OS it was built for rather well, it would be an unbelievable failure if it couldn't. You try to run Leopard on a 4-year old Mac (The Atom has the performance of the 4 year old single core Pentium M), and you will find the exact same results as running Vista on an Atom machine: lackluster performance.

[Wii60 @ Jun 12th 2008 11:26PM]

Dear commenters at engadget,

Please stop feeding the troll. Whenever you see this guy post, just reply saying "Do not respond to the troll, just give him a negative and move on."

[Haikibutsu @ Jun 12th 2008 11:32PM]

I am a mac user, and Clak isn't my hero. Idiots like clak make mac users look stupid

[Jherez @ Jun 12th 2008 11:49PM]

Sigh....you know Clak, I like many others try to ignore you but i find it hard to do. I mean, honestly, do you really feel good trolling on almost every damn topic? You come with the most inappropriate which most of the time are NOT even related to the topic. *Unlock your profile if you say this is wrong, or I could use google search to find an article but that's a hassle, most of the regular readers know what I'm talking about. Give it a rest please, everyday I come hear and you stain my eyes with your garbage, it's tiresome, it's played out, if you want attention go out in the street and streak or something. We get it, you're a devout, (for the lack of a better word) Apple fanboi, give it a rest, we understand. Sincerly, Jherez!!!1one1eleventy

[Daza @ Jun 13th 2008 12:02AM]

Is it possible to block or ignore a user on Engadget? Or can everyone just start flagging his comments for review so the moderators get pissed off and ban his account once and for all?

[Jherez @ Jun 13th 2008 12:02AM]

Hey you watched There Will Be Blood, awesome movie, but...no. To each his own, some prefer OSX some prefer Windows. There is no need for war and constantly breathing air into the fire does not make sense.

[Tony @ Jun 13th 2008 12:10AM]

@ Clak

Haikibutsu doesn't need to go on to your side, or suck up to the MS fanboys either. He is on his own side, the same way you are on your side. Those of us who live in reality know that there are always more than two sides of the story.

Your pathetic "excuse" (if it can even be called that) for trolling is, well, pathetic. If you truly felt the way you did, you would lead by example, and not by trolling. Save what little dignity you have left.

[Jherez @ Jun 13th 2008 12:12AM]

I don't think it's wise for you to be saying you're going to drink another man's milkshake.......

[Nohone @ Jun 13th 2008 12:41AM]

@Daza

Sorry, no, the admins will not ban him. I have had a couple accounts deleted simply for pointing out what a fanboy clak is, or correcting when he makes some claim about a Microsoft product that is simply not true. I never used any "offensive" language or anything like that, simply deleted for pointing out the flaws in his arguments.

Meanwhile he spams, makes threats, uses language some may find offensive (I just laughed it off when he talked about the things he wanted to do to my mother) - all against the TOS of this site - and nothing happens to him.

Of course, it is also obvious that the people who run this site would rather encourage him (like one writer did the other day), tell people if they do not like it they should leave, be flippant in nearly every non-Apple post (and never like that in an Apple post). So no, they will not run him off, why would they when they support him?

[Jherez @ Jun 13th 2008 12:54AM]

@ Nohone, I would love to see the link for that comment. Please don't delete me mighty overlords.

[cj @ Jun 13th 2008 12:56AM]

@Clak
I respect u for showing that much perseverance and w/e characters that takes u to endure 5 million low ranked comments, but I really think it's time to stfu.

[nerdtalker @ Jun 13th 2008 1:07AM]

@Clak,

I can't figure it out. Either you're the biggest attention whore I've ever seen on the internet, or you just don't know when the hell to shut up. Seriously. I think it's to the point that people are voting you down every time they see your name (I know I am) because they're so tired of it. I mean, for crying out loud, watching you argue here is like watching someone you hate being stoned to death; you aren't sure whether you want to believe person is fighting back because they were caught "in the wrong," or pick up a rock.

Moreover, seriously just THINK before you open your mouth. Vista, on an Atom? Are you batshit insane or just fucking stupid? You'd think that with the frequency you post on engadget that SOME of the information actually presented here would soak in. Information like, oh, the fact that Atom's slower in-order-execution and much lower power consumption and smaller TDP make it perfect for small-form factor "netbooks" or whatever the hell we're calling them now. Throwing Vista on that thing makes about as much sense as tossing a Snow Leopard beta on your Apple ][e, so don't get all smart about it.

BTW, perhaps you should show your girlfriend how you get gangbanged by your own idiocy everyday here in the comment section. I'm sure you'll score way better than you did with the Lenovo X300 affair, you pussywhipped fuck.

[mmendoza27 @ Jun 13th 2008 1:20AM]

@clak

I actually choose to disagree, you say Windows fanbois HATE us Mac users. I know many Windows users, they don't hate me, it's just a matter of preference. I don't see why things have to be good side/bad side.

What about Linux users? Where do they fit in the picture? Different people have different needs, that's all. I honestly feel that with Boot Camp and Parallels, there is no reason not to go Mac now, but I know people who are in a money crunch feel differently.

It's no use, I won't get through to you, I'll just skip over your comments, again, not like you really care, that's cool.

[eggothewaffle @ Jun 13th 2008 2:48AM]

Poor Shane (and Shane's inbox) :(

[Nohone @ Jun 13th 2008 3:18AM]

@Jherez

I made this comment in the article http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/29/vista-prices-officially-go-down-but-will-consumer-interest-go-u comparing how they reacted to the drop in price of the iPhone to the drop in price of Vista. It was not the best example of them deleting posts, but it is an example of how they selectively delete posts, my account, and even blocking my IP address until I refreshed my IP allowing me to post again. And yes, this was all toungue-in-cheek to criticize Engadget:

----------------------------------------------------------

Apple dropps the price of iPhone.
Engadget: Steve, let me suckle at your teat even more. Thank-you for your generosity, we did not deserve it because we would be happy to pay your grossly inflated prices on products like the Mac Air, and we are not worthy of you infinite wisdom and genius. All hail the Magnificent, All Powerful, and Wonderous One.

Microsoft drops the price of Windows.
Engadget: I really hate reporting this, but we have to "report" with some air of fairness, so here it is. But don't worry, we will try to make as much fun as possible.

My first version of this was better, but when I tried to sync my Touch a new version of iTunes was automatically installed, which shut down my browser losing what I wrote - without asking. Ahhh, those great, well designed Apple products deciding what is best for me rather than doing what I want. And now it wants to reboot.

----------------------------------------------------------

Now compare that to what clak, iEye, and others say over, and over, and over, and ... towards people that use Windows, and tell me which is worse.

Yes, I did criticize Engadget and how they seem to be one sided, but it is nothing compared to what others may say.

Hopefully you read this before they delete and block again.

[JohnPQ @ Jun 13th 2008 3:32AM]

I'm glad that Apple doesn't make these. If they did, it would cost $1500. Take OS X and shove it Mr. Jobs. It's good, but not good. In fact, many are calling your Leopard... Apple's Vista. Tiger was way better.

[RichardBronosky @ Jun 13th 2008 8:28AM]

VGA? Boo!

If only this thing had a DVI port instead of a VGA port, it would be the perfect MID.

For those of you who don't fully agree, http://www.bronosky.com/?p=54

[RichardBronosky @ Jun 13th 2008 8:42AM]

@JohnPQ,
No one who uses Leopard is calling it Apple's Vista. I'm a MySQL DBA. At MySQLConf you see more Apple's than all other computers combined. Same thing at RailsConf, Web2.0Conf, etc. Unix geeks love Apple and Leopard. Leopard is the best Unix-lover's OS from Apple yet. Until Linux gets its laptop video and power management issues settled, I see Apple being the king of hill.

People who user MSFT Office, Outlook, or Lotus Notes for a living or those who develop in Visual Studio, or MSFT SQL prefer a MSFT OS. The rest of the tech business prefers Apple.

I personally don't like trading my freedom for a fully functioning laptop, but with the current state of Linux, that's where we are.

[Ace b @ Jun 13th 2008 9:25AM]

I'm really beginning to think that clak works for engadget to get post numbers up cause whenever he starts something the topic gets at least 30 more extra post.

[nikster @ Jun 13th 2008 12:02PM]

clak's outbursts are at least entertaining, while the constant whining from the windows fanboys about how engadget is oh-so-biased towards the fruit company and how others who happen to prefer the fruit company's products (because they are better) are only buying them to appear "hip" and actually are totally wrong - the constant whining is extremely boring, it's like a broken record.

So in some sense clak is maybe keeping a balance there. However, clak, I know way more about your girlfriend now that I am comfortable with so I would like some restraint in that area.

Fanboys, especially Windows fanboys, remember this: Truly happy are those without resentment.

[ChrisMizzleInfo @ Jun 19th 2008 7:48PM]

How terrible is it for a site to have a reader like me simply stop clicking on his Engadget feed just because he knows the topic WILL NOT BE DISCUSSED. Instead all we get is clattering and raised voices between fanboys.
You here that Engadget? You're losing readers.
Start shutting or curbing some minor annoyances for all of our sakes, please?
You know what the right thing to do is.
All we ask for is a little parenting.
This is your site.
Take charge.
:)
Love, ChrisMizzle

[roulette843 @ Jun 12th 2008 9:51PM]

Everyone's just eeeeeager to copy Asus, now, aren't they?

[LordFarkward @ Jun 12th 2008 9:53PM]

replace "copy" with "taking away business from"

if they're copying they would've charged $599 for it

[Chuckles McGee @ Jun 12th 2008 9:56PM]

Of course, with all those eeearnings.

[d @ Jun 12th 2008 10:24PM]

interesting name. Slim implies less features but smaller form factor, more like an eee (well, not really with that bezel) not a higher end machine

[Ayman @ Jun 13th 2008 1:03AM]

d
Slim implies thinner Laptop not less feature
if it was called Light, Feather, Express, Cheap, .... then it might mean less features

Though it does have less features

[KarlW @ Jun 13th 2008 7:03AM]

No, it's an editorial error. The actual name is 'Deli' - it doesn't have an internal CD drive, but it dispenses hot dogs and chinese food!

[Dominic @ Jun 12th 2008 9:53PM]

Is that a jailbroken iphone in slide 4? Wow Dell..they seemed to have rearranged all the icons, plus there are some unfamiliar ones...can anyone tell what they are? Slingbox maybe?

[MacFan @ Jun 12th 2008 10:04PM]

One of them is the ziPhone logo.

[Sean @ Jun 12th 2008 9:53PM]

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the execution of the Eee PC that we've all been waiting for.
I'll take a red one.

[d00b @ Jun 12th 2008 11:25PM]

The $299 Dell E Classic config isn't that practical, with only a 4G SSD which limits you pretty much to web browsing. If you need to get a SDHC card to supplement storage, then you might as well get the 8/12G config, which presumably will be +$50/100 to the price. The keyboard is also an unknown, if the F-key-less layout seen in the earlier prototype will indeed be in the production models.

The MSI Wind at $399 sports a 80G HD (vs presumably 12G SSD at same price point), a decent KB, and larger LCD. Its main weakness will be the wimpy 3-cell batt at that price point. That, and it doesn't have a CHEERY CHERRY REDD color!

Tough choices.

[Wii60 @ Jun 12th 2008 11:46PM]

I had one day left to return my Eee. I saw this article and sent it straight back to amazon. In august, I'll have a better laptop

[kaiz3n @ Jun 13th 2008 10:04AM]

I would take Asus over Dell anyday

[KEROLiUKAS @ Jun 12th 2008 9:55PM]

Seems nice...

Only 3 problems:
1. It's a dell.
2. More waiting for release
3. It's a dell.

[[e-mail] @ Jun 13th 2008 4:33AM]

you forgot to mention the worst about them...

they are Dells =P

[finnith @ Jun 12th 2008 10:06PM]

I know that you have had bad experiences with Dell before Keroliukas, but seriously, you are acting like a troll. It would be a lot better if you vented your hate more constructively.

[KEROLiUKAS @ Jun 12th 2008 10:07PM]

true dat.

What I'm trying to say is that I'm tired of waiting for more 'netbooks' to come out...I think i'll just go with the Wind, had enough waiting.

[El Taco @ Jun 12th 2008 10:09PM]

you fail.

Dell actually has some pretty good computers for a good price. I don't see why some people hate Dell so much?

[Rick @ Jun 12th 2008 10:10PM]

What is wrong with a Dell? A heck of a lot better customer support than Lenovo or Sony.

[finnith @ Jun 12th 2008 10:16PM]

Well Keroliukas I'm glad that you actually have common sense (unlike clak+iEye) but you could have just said that.