Dell Mini Inspiron caught running Ubuntu in the wild
By Nilay Patel 
posted August 22nd 2008 5:34AM
posted August 22nd 2008 5:34AM
posted August 22nd 2008 5:34AM
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does it have a dual core cpu??
No, the Atom processor uses Hyperthreading.
Dual core Atom is slated for this year though, hopefully with a less thirsty new chipset as well!
The model of Atom that Dell's using evidently does hyperthreading, but not all Atoms do. This is the first netbook I've seen with hyperthreading enabled.
what the hell? why on earth does it show 2 processors?
I know my dual core shows up as two processors. Atom is only 1 core though.. ???? Very weird.
ahhhhh makes sense now...
but i though hyperthreading only worked on xp (and i guess vista now)?
I hoping this thing is good when it comes out, I've been trying to decide this and the Aspire One. I'm liking the inclusion of the Ubuntu obviously, but I wish there were more Linux distribituions getting all the attention, not just Ubuntu.
Anyway, it's looking good.. Can't wait ^_^
Please please please release it today!!!
This version with the gray and black interior is much better looking than the glossy all black interiors in the last set of spy shots. I hope this is at least amongst the versions they release. Still looks a bit cheap and plasticy though -- the S10 wins out on looks. That's very important when you're as superficial as I am.
it's not just that... i've worked with dell laptops before and noticed that they generally are quite poor quality and also the dell support is practically inexistent...
if any other brand had ubuntu, i'd buy it, but i really don't want to buy a dell...
With the atom processor Intel reintroduced HT-technology, that is why it looks like it has 2 CPU's.
my iphone has 2 dead pixels
My caterpillar has rigor mortis
My wallet has kidneys.
My Grandmother is under the wastebasket.
My hovercraft is full of eels
You are the fruitcake in my Grandma's stocking.
My air conditioner has the clap.
my clap has a fungi
My fun guy has a hang nail
My hanging nail has a picture of your mom
My picture of your mom has two guys and a face mask
My face mask has a stain...
what about the 12 inch model?
What about her?
Oh Snap !
Yes, where's the 12-inchers for normal-handed people? aaaarrrrrgggggggh!
Why has it got the windows key? If it comes with Linux it should not have it.
In Linux (or at least Ubuntu) the Windows key is the Super key.
Cristian, you're not serious I presume?
Both Asus Eee and Acer Aspire One haven't got the Windows key, instead the have got a nicer non Microsoft shit.
Its called the super key in ubuntu and it does still have function
GNOME is so ugly, wish Ubuntu came with KDE by default.
Then u mean Kubuntu....KDE
Forget about the gnome, the 910 is extremely ugly when compare to it.
Say what? If you are talking about KDE3.5, then Gnome looks way better than KDE3.5 - full stop. If you mean KDE4.x, then it's not stable enough for common usage yet.
Gnome looks fine.
(Disclaimer: Currently running Arch/KDE4.1)
The default panel on KDE 4 would probably take up half the screen on these things, and it's also still very buggy.
Gnome + Compiz + awn + Emerald look very nice, just as long as you've got decent video drivers, but I think these all use Intel chips, so that shouldn't be a problem.
Should I unbox my new Eee 1000h and use it or sell it and buy this Dell?
Get Acer One instead
I would try to return it but don't expect to have any luck with that. The Eee is my last choice because Asus has agreements with all their resellers to not accept them back under any circumstances. You have to go to Asus directly, if you have any problem, even if you've only had the device for 24 hours. Asus customer service is horrible. I've dealt with Dell before -- 1,000 times better!
At this point, the only reason to go the "Eeeasy" way is for the SSD, hence my decision to go with the 1000. I haven't seen many competitors with SSD which may be the only reason the Eee survives (and rabid Eee fans - please don't bite me!)
I couldn't help but think that this thing could have sported a fuller keyboard(like the mini note) without compromising the F1-12 keys if they used more of the sides and the back.
I made a comment about the misplaced right shift key a few days ago and got hammered for it. Apparently I'm the only person who uses the right shift key. However, with their misplaced right shift key AND the lack of the F keys, I think it's pretty safe to say that Dell really cut a few corners too many with the keyboard.
It's really a shame, because the keyboard on the XPS m1210 is perfect. They should have just shrunk that a little bit.
It appears that the smaller keyboard has a purpose: It looks like Dell has used that extra space to include a 6-cell battery that doesn't hang off the back. It appears that way from the pictures I've seen, and if that's the case, it's not the worst compromise in the world. Most netbooks come with 3-cells. On the ones that do have 6-cells, the battery hangs off the back or the bottom, and adds to the size and weight.
Agreed. Seeing that keyboard makes me glad that I didn't wait for this and went with the Aspire One. Acer have the best compromise so far with a flash based device, full sized keyboard and very fast boot. Where they don't score so well is battery life with the battery that comes with the machine, but that's not a killer. The ridiculous small right shift key on the Dell and the complete lack of one on the Asus renders these machines useless if you want to any sort of typing.
I also wonder about Gnome. The Aspire uses xfce which is much more lightweight and presumably helps with the general speed of boot an execution. Does anyone know how the Dell performs in terms of boot time and general performance. That's one area where the Asus and the Acer score particularly highly.
I wish people wouldn't get into playground slanging matches about Gnome versus KDE. Neither looks horrible, they both look good and make XP look well dated these days, it's just down to a matter of taste which you prefer. The beauty of Linux in a nutshell: freedom and flexibility.
Aspire one is not perfect (purely on battery life), but it's still the best of the bunch for me.
I think it's ugly on the inside. It still looks like a prototype. The silver power button? Maybe an Alpha Test or Beta Test model, but if that device looks like that on the inside - I think I'm looking for an Acer or the original Asus EEE
If they expect to sell any of these they had better get on the ball & announce the true release date. The rumor mill seemed to indicate that it would be released today, & I"m sure a lot of people are putting off purchasing a netbook in hopes that this is in fact true. The College crowd can't wait much longer & it's not serving Dell to no say a word. I can't figure out why dell hasn't taken advantage of the excitement that seems to be in the air & announce an offisical release to market date.
Totally agree. I've been putting off a decision on which to buy until this is released. I'm getting a touch impatient!
I dont like how this netbook looks too (@k2001)....looks cheap quality...rather ugly-ish...
No F1 - F12 keys and wasted space underneath the hinge/top of keyboard (could have been used for short keys wifi swtich etc) = FAIL
I agree !
I might be seeing things, but isn't that huge space above the keyboard being used by the battery? I don't think the space is being wasted....
It clearly has Function keys already, and the "F1" and such keys are at the top, activated with the Function key. How can you guys not see that?