Dell E-series netbooks to include 10-incher? Today we hope to find out.

It's time for more Dell E-series netbook rumors, you ready? According to DigiTimes and its industry sources, Compal Electronics is slapping together both 8.9-inch and 10-inch E-series netbooks for Dell. Previously, we've only heard mention of an 8.9-inch E and 12.1-inch E Slim. The 10-inch E is scheduled for an October product launch while the 8.9-incher was previously rumored for August. Interestingly, Dell expects the 10-incher to experience almost twice the demand of the 8.9-inch model (assuming a sole-source manufacturing deal) based on Compal's monthly production estimates of 400k-450k and 250k units, respectively. There's a Dell press event later on today where we might just bring all these Dell netbook rumors to rest. Stay tuned, as they say.

[Flashpoint @ Aug 12th 2008 3:33AM]

These DELL models are good for students but, damn, do they scream BULKY !

[lu1de @ Aug 12th 2008 3:58AM]

oh shut up

[crsh @ Aug 12th 2008 10:05AM]

Hrm.. perhaps you should look at the Wind and Eee models, they aren't paper thin; most of the bulk comes from the battery pack as well.

W/ regards to the article, 10" would be best IMO; 8.9" means the keyboard will be too small, and 12" is nice but starting to kill the whole ultra-light netbook idea.

[mojohat @ Aug 12th 2008 9:16AM]

I'm surprised no one posted anything about the new Latitude E series that came out today. Lol!!!!!

[bootleg16 @ Aug 12th 2008 3:35AM]

time to throw away my ee

[rock99rock @ Aug 12th 2008 12:45PM]

Just got done with the webcast of the conference, no mention of this device

[Vinn @ Aug 12th 2008 3:37AM]

I'm dying to get my paws on one of these. My old little Toshiba Portege 3020CT needs replacing BADLY.

[Matthewmongan @ Aug 12th 2008 3:53AM]

let me guess, you added that comment from a MSI wind.

[Gunn @ Aug 12th 2008 3:52AM]

Less plastic toy-like feel.
SSD just large enough for Lunix.
'Typable' keyboard.
A not TOO small screen.
Dell's reputable service.
... Just what I'm expecting from a netbook.

[Lazarpandar @ Aug 12th 2008 4:10AM]

I lol'd at lunix

[Jon MacDoanld @ Aug 12th 2008 7:23AM]

lawl! me too.

[ryan @ Aug 12th 2008 8:02AM]

http://lng.sourceforge.net/

[David @ Aug 12th 2008 11:05PM]

How the hell can you know if it has a plasticky feel or not.

You've never held one -- no one has.

You've probably also never held an Eee or an MSI WIND.

Your comment is worthless.

[WaterBottle @ Aug 12th 2008 3:53AM]

He is correct.

[Evangelion @ Aug 12th 2008 3:57AM]

Needs more cowbell. =]

[Thomas Ryan @ Aug 12th 2008 4:24AM]

Did anyone else notice the DELL logo is upside-down when it is open?

[Aarun @ Aug 12th 2008 4:23AM]

That's interesting. Never noticed it before, but I just checked and all other Dell laptopts have the logo right side up when open...Photoshop mock-up error perhaps?

[L @ Aug 12th 2008 4:30AM]

Looking forward to the announcement...

[L @ Aug 12th 2008 6:04AM]

...which starts in about 6 hours.

Just found that out and figured that maybe somebody else would like to know as well...hence the lame self-reply :D

[tiuk @ Aug 12th 2008 12:41PM]

Thanks, I was wondering that.

[lee @ Aug 12th 2008 4:40AM]

does anyone know how much these are expected to cost, should be very cheap if they expect to sell so many of them...

[gabe @ Aug 12th 2008 4:52AM]

i want to buy something light and small - should be cool - but im waiting for USB 3.0 around the corner

[L @ Aug 12th 2008 5:25AM]

Why would you need USB3.0 in a netbook? These things aren't exactly meant for video editing, you know...

[Skyride @ Aug 12th 2008 6:46AM]

USB 3.0 is years off. Your wasting your time waiting for it.

btw, L, anyone who does video work will tell you that firewire just eats USB for video editing.

[L @ Aug 12th 2008 7:23AM]

Yeah, I know about FireWire.

It's just that I don't see much other immediate use for USB3.0 - OK, faster file transfers to/from external HDDs, but imho for now that's pretty fast enough already with USB2.

[ncmach1 @ Aug 12th 2008 6:07AM]

Bring them on !!!!!!

I want to get rid of this battery dying 900.

[acquadiparma @ Aug 12th 2008 7:30AM]

4-5 hr battery life please?

[atbnet @ Aug 12th 2008 8:19AM]

I had read earlier that the 3 cell will get 4.5 hours and the 6 cell is aiming at 9 hours.

[crsh @ Aug 12th 2008 12:14PM]

4.5 hours on a 3-cell battery? That's not going to happen.

[Joey @ Aug 12th 2008 7:56AM]

They need to price this at around $600 or less. Not $1000+.

I don't care how new or how cute they have to redesign the hardware so it fits into it, make it affordable and I'll buy one.

[RD. @ Aug 12th 2008 9:03AM]

I'm sure they'll price it at about $400 plus an extra $400 required for Completecare warranty.

[L @ Aug 12th 2008 9:06AM]

The 8.9" variant (or at least the cheapest model out of it) is said to start at $299...so where does that $1000 or $600 come from?

And fit what into where?

[atbnet @ Aug 12th 2008 9:14AM]

Are you talking about the 10inch model? Because the Dell E is supposed to start at $299.

[Joey @ Aug 12th 2008 9:24AM]

What I mean was that there tend to be (or used to) that whenever they make a newer, smaller hardware, manufacturers tend to make it cost 2x as much.

A prime example is laptop VS desktop...

I need to buy a new laptop but I can't spend more than $500 or 600 at most. College sucks money...

Anyway, before the term "netbook" was tossed around, those little 10 inch laptops cost a lot. They were also less powerful and of course smaller.

Again, the only reason why I think manufacturer's sell it at a rip off price is because "it's specially designed and made smaller so we have to rip you off..." kind of reason.

Such as a Macbook Air... I bet it costs no more than $400 worth of hardware. But because "we had to design a special CPU, a special mobo, blah blah blah..." we want to rip you off like there's no tomorrow!

[Mike Cerm @ Aug 12th 2008 9:35AM]

The price is rumored to be as low as $299. Like the HP mini-note, there will probably be many configurations. $299 will probably get you Linux, 512MB of RAM, and an 8GB SSD. If you want XP, more RAM, larger hard drive, and Bluetooth, etc, it might be around $500.

Most of the "netbook" manufacturers are shipping with custom Linux distros. I wonder what Dell will do, as they already have a relationship with Ubuntu, and if they will ship with full Ubuntu, or something lighter.

[Al @ Aug 12th 2008 8:50AM]

I wish they made a one look more like their Vostro line. On another note I wish all netbooks came with 1 firewire port.

[pbrooks100 @ Aug 12th 2008 8:54AM]

Does it play the blues?

[kal326 @ Aug 12th 2008 9:27AM]

Yeah, I get that a lot too. Everybody wants to see my 10 inches.......





.........of netbook goodness.

[anon @ Aug 12th 2008 9:35AM]

Competition is good. Glad that this option is finally arriving soon. I am most interested in the Dell and the Lenovo at this point.

Dell, please add a row of keys at the top of the keyboard that can be assigned arbitrary functions and could be widely employed for various uses by applications. You should call them function keys and differentiate them by placing an 'F' in front of a number. Example: F4. That would be really something. I suppose one can dream.

[Nick @ Aug 12th 2008 10:36AM]

I'm just getting one of these just because I sold off my Inspiron 2650 which was a pain in the neck..

This should be interesting, despite all the things that deteriorate it as a regular notebook, I'm still excited about it, at least it'll out perform the Inspiron I had. I just hate how the month of August is going slowly for me, due to the all the waiting.. Why can't it just go by so I can get my Damn Dell?

That press conference better be only good news. I'd hate to hear "minor delays". Despite all this, it should prove nicer than the bland black, and white colors of the Eee.

Cheers,
Nick

[SouthEastBeast @ Aug 12th 2008 11:36AM]

10 divided by 2 maybe! woot

[SouthEastBeast @ Aug 12th 2008 11:38AM]

uhhh Linux with no f1-f12 would kind of suck imo. Oh well if they are actually sold for advertised price of $300 (f you asus!!!) then I will buy one, plus I can get cool dell colors zomg.

[rock99rock @ Aug 12th 2008 11:39AM]

So if I post in this section too, do i qualify?

[L @ Aug 12th 2008 12:16PM]

Today's announcement doesn't seem to be about netbooks (unfortunately, imho)...

[michaelportent @ Aug 12th 2008 12:40PM]

Dell kept talking August on this series. Now I'm considering just getting a 14" Inspiron with a ton more power instead of the netbook. I know it's apples and oranges, comparison wise, but I'm sure them delaying this for its target market is actually upselling people on more Inspirons.

[Mile @ Aug 12th 2008 1:14PM]

10 inch for me. Or that new 12 inch, 2.2lb E4200. Schweet.

[Valgas @ Aug 12th 2008 1:46PM]

ok the 10 incher will have the HDD right?

[mickeyMoo @ Aug 12th 2008 6:05PM]

My 6Cell Wind arrives today - ON TRUCK FOR DELIVERY - extra ram, Atheros card, 320GB SATA drive on the work bench - DAMN you UPS - DAMN YOU TO HELL!

(dual boot hackintosh here I come - but that Dell looks really sweet, especially if they can bring it in decently specced for under $500)

[sygyzy @ Aug 15th 2008 4:50AM]

It's midway through August. What's taking so long. I want to buy a notebook!