Dell's Mini 12 netbook is ready for US orders, ships in December

It was bound to happen sooner or later. We received the birth announcement, we read the reviews, and it looks like Dell is finally set to unleash the Mini 12 upon us lowly North Americans. The 12-inch netbook is pretty much what we expected specs-wise, starting at $549 for a 1.33GHz Atom processor, 1GB of memory, 40GB hard drive and standard 3 cell battery. Perhaps $758 is a little steep for a netbook, but if you're game the top-end machine sports a 1.6GHz Atom processor, 80GB hard drive and a 6 cell battery. All configurations should be shipping with Windows Vista Home Basic starting sometime in early December.

[Via Electronista]

[Flashpoint @ Nov 13th 2008 12:34PM]

I think the term "netbook" should include a specific price - under $400

Otherwise, you'd be able to include mini Sony Laptops that cost upwards of $2000 in the "netbook category"

[Danny F. @ Nov 13th 2008 12:47PM]

Agreed, plus at 12 inches it weighs in as one of the largest. A minimum of under 11-10 inches should be considered a netbook. This is just a cheap laptop.

[nerdtalker @ Nov 13th 2008 12:59PM]

I agree with you for once, Flashpoint. There's no point in even calling it a netbook if you've already exceeded the $400.00 mark. At that point, you're better off buying a _real_ notebook and not dealing with marginal performance later on. It's like the worst of both worlds.

That's the thing, it seems like no netbook yet has quite matched initial offerings; cheap (300 bucks), small (sub sub SUB 10"), and good battery life.

[mabhatter @ Nov 13th 2008 1:07PM]

A refurb/clearance Macbook 2.1 C2D goes for $850 now... anything not several hundred dollars less isn't a netbook.

[Ellianth @ Nov 13th 2008 1:20PM]

At this rate we're inline for some 15", 17", $1500, 'netbooks' by Christmas.

[Matthew C @ Nov 13th 2008 8:58PM]

http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/13/dells-vostro-a860-yours-for-a-song-and-379/1#c15595323

um... hello dell, your offering another laptop with twice the specs at half the price - really?

[Daza @ Nov 14th 2008 9:44AM]

This really just a cheap, low performance 'ultra portable'. I seem to recall that before the netbook craze started anything around 11" or 12" size was an ultra portable. This is an ultra portable. Perhaps if it was really cheap, $400 - we may call it a netbook, but at the given price it's pushing the envelope of the netbook category.

That said, it will probably fall by a few hundred rather quickly.

[ultimus @ Nov 13th 2008 12:36PM]

but if you're game the top-end machine sports a 1.6GHz Atom processor? hmmn..

a little overpriced?

[ultimus @ Nov 13th 2008 2:07PM]

A. but if you're a gamer, the top-end machine sports a 1.6GHz Atom processor

[ultimus @ Nov 13th 2008 2:07PM]

B. but if your game is to get the best, the top-end machine sports a 1.6GHz Atom processor

[ultimus @ Nov 13th 2008 2:07PM]

C. Joe doesn't know how to game

[ultimus @ Nov 13th 2008 2:08PM]

D. None of the above (please specify)

[dave @ Nov 13th 2008 3:09PM]

You just lost the game

[RD. @ Nov 13th 2008 5:56PM]

the best part is that they'll blame the economy for poor sales......

[StalematE @ Nov 13th 2008 12:37PM]

dude... way too expensive.

[JohnTitor @ Nov 13th 2008 4:47PM]

kinda misleading though, if you choose the last bundle, you get everything with a promotional discount, and the middle one at $600 is real sweet spot for a laptop that's half Eee and half Air.
http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop-inspiron-12?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
also be sure to look at the picture on the top corner that shows it clearly running the unavailable Windows XP

[bob sakamano @ Nov 13th 2008 12:41PM]

I say we call this a netbook, but just declare it a "high end" netbook... just like some laptops are high end and a lot more expensive than others when you have primo specs for the genre

[bob sakamano @ Nov 13th 2008 12:42PM]

of course the problem you run into with a high end netbook is that you in most cases are better off just going with a regular laptop, it just depends on user preference as all product purchases do

[Drewsky @ Nov 13th 2008 12:42PM]

Vista on a netbook with 1.3ghz atom processor...man that is going to be SLOW! I have eeePC 901 with 1.6ghz atom and a the Xandros distro that is tweaked for the processor and it is "ok". Vista can be alright if you have some good specs, but it will be a dog on slower hardware.

[Flashpoint @ Nov 13th 2008 12:56PM]

I'm more worried about Vista on 1GB RAM

This thing would be better running Windows XP. In fact, Microsoft would have been alot better off if they'd waited a year or two to introduce Vista.

I have Vista on my dv6835nr and I enjoy it. But one thing is clear. If you have a low powered CPU or not enough RAM, Vista isn't fun.

[Chris Riccio @ Nov 13th 2008 3:13PM]

I always have to reply to these comments about running Vista on netbooks w/ 1GB of RAM. I have Vista Ultimate x86 on my Aspire One w/ 1GB or RAM and a 1.6GHz Atom and It runs beautifully, Aero and all. Honestly, I don't thing people that make comments like this have any actual experience with such a setup.

Now, that being said. I can't comment on how it would be like on a 1.3GHz Atom... This (net?)notebook, with a 1.3GHz Atom starting at $549 is almost laughable.

[Dopefish @ Nov 13th 2008 3:53PM]

If you remember though, Microsoft set the limit on their XP licenses for netbooks including a 10 inch screen limit.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/10/microsofts-xp-for-low-cost-pcs-defines-some-boundaries/

So the only way they could have put XP on is if they forced you to get a Vista Business license (which comes with XP pro license thrown in)

[JohnTitor @ Nov 13th 2008 4:37PM]

on the flipside you could get OS X86 on this with almost if not 100% compatibility

[patrick @ Nov 13th 2008 12:47PM]

That's just stupid. It's dell plain jane fugly and way too spendy given the specs.

[no_to_co @ Nov 13th 2008 12:48PM]

I only need a notebook for cursing the internet. I think the only taxing thing it will ever do is play youtube clips. Do you guys still think that I will notice performance issues under Vista wit the 1.3 chip?

[Flashpoint @ Nov 13th 2008 12:57PM]

CURSING the internet?

GODDAMN YOU !

[Danny F. @ Nov 13th 2008 12:49PM]

The Asus n10 is a high end netbook. This is just a cheap laptop at 12inches - 2 inches too big.

[JohnTitor @ Nov 13th 2008 5:40PM]

well this of it like this, the HP dv7 and Dell studio 17 are just 2" bigger versions of the same hardware of 15" versions

[Mario @ Nov 13th 2008 12:51PM]

Twelve inch screen?

They are really stretching the definition of "netbook" with this.

I think they should define it in an objective way, something like "a netbook is a laptop that is smaller than A4 and less than $xxx".

Otherwise, the screen-size-war will inevitably result in 15" laptops being called netbooks.

[fieldcar @ Nov 13th 2008 12:52PM]

I just ordered an Acer Aspire AS4530 from newegg for $450, while its not a netbook, its much more capable than both of these. I have a feeling that the novelty of a netbook would wear off for me soon after realizing its limitations. I was at best buy last night putting around on one, and while it seems like fun, it would mean no gaming, no mobile music production, no DJ'ing, and no HD video.

[Nick @ Nov 13th 2008 1:22PM]

The eee PC 1000HA has demonstrated an ability to play back 720p HD content quite nicely...

[Nick @ Nov 13th 2008 1:26PM]

...and I've done plenty of mobile recording on my Inspiron with an Intel M processor at 1.6 GHz and 1 GB of ram running Cubase 3...not that I'm saying this thing could (Vista bog down), but I'd definitely be curious to find out if the eee can...

[fieldcar @ Nov 13th 2008 2:00PM]

@nick: yeah, i've heard a few of them can do HD vid. I didn't get to sample it because best buy had a 80kB/s connection (buffering 44mins remain...lol). The price of the eee PC 1000HA makes it hard to justify over what I just ordered, although, I was impressed at how zippy everything felt for such a small machine. As for music production, I don't doubt it can do a good job as a sampler, but when VST plugins come into factor, things get pretty demanding.

[Arthur @ Nov 13th 2008 12:53PM]

Hold on a sec, TWELVE inches? hardly a netbook. My Acer Gemstone is 14 inches, this is just two inches shy.

Can we please keep the Netbooks down to less than 10 inches? The 8.9" form factor is just about perfect.

[Flashpoint @ Nov 13th 2008 12:59PM]

Netbooks should be:

[absinthe party @ Nov 13th 2008 1:01PM]

I'm on the edge of my seat, Flashpoint. Don't let me down.

[liv @ Nov 13th 2008 1:41PM]

c'mon Flashpoint, you can say it... c'mon!

[timmy @ Nov 13th 2008 1:53PM]

Some call 911, i think he died before he could finish this post!!

[r3loaded @ Nov 13th 2008 2:10PM]

The real Flashpoint just came along and killed the imposter who'd been recently posting highly-ranked posts under his name.

[Flashpoint @ Nov 13th 2008 6:02PM]

I was going to say, Netbooks should be:

[Flashpoint @ Nov 13th 2008 6:03PM]

less than $400
less than 4 lbs
less than a 10" screen

[Kiki Sarusi @ Nov 23rd 2008 5:44PM]

absinthe party, liv and timmy....

I'm sitting here on 2am laughing with tears running down, trying not to wake up my gf.
That was great. thank you.

[Qasim Riaz @ Nov 13th 2008 1:06PM]

Dell might have been amazing in the early 2000's but their standard has gone down significantly. I recently paid close to a grand on a Studio 15 laptop. Let me tell you, You'd be better off spending that money on an Apple computer.

The speakers on this, were crap. The eject button keeps coming on and trying to eject a fantom disc. After several tries the Dell service department failed to diagnose an issue that 70% of the user base is having.

Upsetting is the fact that cheap netbooks keep popping up without the need for improving the current line-up. Same as the case with Vista.

Honestly why can't manufacturer's just try to improve their products rather than trying to throw out as much garbage consumers are going to buy. Use that revenue and do some R&D.

[ethana2 @ Nov 13th 2008 1:21PM]

$1K spent on a Studio 15n: 1920x1200 LCD
$1K spent on a macbook : 1280x800 LCD
You get about 225% as much for your money from Dell with screen resolution. The other specs are probably less ridiculously different, but for me, screen resolution is one of my main considerations, if not THE main consideration.

If you want a 1920x1200 screen on a mac laptop, you're looking at around $2000 or more. I haven't seen a hardware vendor that matches apple for innovation yet, but there's got to be one that matches them for build quality.

[ack154 @ Nov 13th 2008 1:27PM]

Macbook: 13.3" screen, 4.5 lbs+.
Studio 15: 15.4" screen, 6.1 lbs+.

Ya, that's why you get the resolution you do. You don't buy a 13" laptop expecting a gigantic resolution. That's why you buy a 15" laptop. Two different markets, IMO.

[bioadam @ Nov 13th 2008 1:13PM]

Don't be a 12" hater. A 12" netbook makes sense to anyone with hands and eyes. My problem with Dell's 12" netbook is the price. $1300 gets you a refurbished MacBook Air that is just as svelte but provides a much better return on investment (in either years of usability or resale value).

[ethana2 @ Nov 13th 2008 1:22PM]

I'm seeing $1800 for the refurbished MBA..

[ack154 @ Nov 13th 2008 1:30PM]

You're looking in the wrong place. The $1800 one is the SSD option.


Refurbished MacBook Air 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

13.3-inch glossy widescreen display
2GB memory
80GB 4200-rpm PATA hard drive
Built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi2 and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Built-in iSight Camera

$1,349.00


Refurbished MacBook Air 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

13.3-inch glossy widescreen display
2GB memory
80GB 4200-rpm PATA hard drive
Built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Built-in iSight Camera

$1,499.00

[ethana2 @ Nov 13th 2008 2:23PM]

Yeah sorry, I see that now.

[MarsDTA @ Nov 13th 2008 1:14PM]

This is way too expensive. I just recently bought my sister a inspiron 13 for school. it has 3 times the ram and hard drive space, way better processor, 12 cell battery, and a dvd-rw drive for only 699