DellMini10v
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Hackintosh-friendly Dell Mini 10v discontinued
The Dell Mini 10v, choice of netbook hackintosh owners everywhere, has apparently been discontinued as of a week ago. I discovered that today when I couldn't find any on Dell's site, and confirmed it with a live chat with a support representative who told me it was discontinued last week. A message was left for Dell's Media Relations team but was not immediately returned. Dell's naming system is confusing, so it would be easy to see the "Mini 10" and think that it is available, but the "10v" has a chipset that works with Mac OS X; the regular Mini 10 does not. Coincidentally, last night I setup my first Dell Mini 10v running Mac OS X. I had my Snow Leopard DVD, the free Netbook Installer application, the instructions from Gizmodo, and an 8GB USB thumb drive; setting this up could not have been any easier. The results are pretty cool, if you are willing to accept the obvious tradeoffs inherent in a netbook. Today I even ran Software Update, and have the beast running 10.6.3 without a hitch. As of this writing, there are still a few refurbished models available at Dell's outlet. Although the Mini 10v has been a hackintosher's dream machine, I have no doubt that other computers will come along which prove equally as hackintoshable (I realize that these are made-up words). Update: A Dell spokesperson tells TUAW that the product was naturally end-of-lifed. Intel launched its Pine Trail Atom processor last year; Dell will be refreshing the mini line with that updated processor. The spokesperson could not clarify the degree to which updated units would be Hackintoshable.
Join us Friday at 2 ET for a TUAW Hackintosh Clinic
Did you get in on the recent Dell Mini 10v hackintoshable laptop deal? (Even if you didn't, that $279 regular pricing is still a pretty darn good deal.) Now that Black Friday minis are showing up at the door, TUAW is holding a live Hackintosh clinic to offer peer support and insight. Join Joachim Bean (our newest Hackintosh expert) and Erica Sadun (who has been known to dabble) on Friday, 10 December at 2 AM 11 December at 2 PM Eastern time to chat live. Lend your expertise or ask your questions during this informal peer clinic.
Chrome OS hacked for Dell's Mini 10v, WiFi and all
If you've got a Dell Mini 10v and you've been hankering to take Chrome OS for a spin in its proper environment -- a netbook, that is -- today just got a lot more interesting. One helpful tinkerer over at Dell has hacked up a USB-bootable version of the as-yet unfinished (and still quite rough) Chromium iteration of Google's OS with a working WiFi component. As you'll recall, in our tests wireless wasn't happening, but that's all changed now... for 10v owners at the very least. It looks like there are still some kinks to be worked out, and you'll be cruising into the OS on a Dell Gmail account, but at least you'll be able to walk around your house while screaming "I'm using Chrome OS!" unburdened by pesky wires or meddlesome sanity. Check out all the info at the source, and prepare for a crazy Friday night of netbooking.
Dell Mini 10v reviewed with Ubuntu Moblin Remix
Dell's "highly experimental" Mini 10v with Ubuntu Moblin Remix may not be ready for the mainstream just yet (though it is on sale to everyone who dares), but it's more than ready for the enthusiasts over at ArsTechnica. After purchasing a $299 base unit, they proceeded to take a closer look at just how Moblin fared on a netbook -- probably because the actual hardware specifications are the same as always. Reviewers noted that the UI they were graced with looked an awful lot like the shell they saw back in May, though this build was decidedly more stable and "complete." That said, they still managed to uncover a few bugs, and they were indeed saddened to find that the integrated web browser was downright "weak." All told, critics were impressed with the progress on Moblin, but they still proclaimed that it has a long ways to go before it'll be "ready for regular users." If you've been thinking about exiting your comfort zone and picking one of these up, you owe it to yourself to give that read link a tap.
Dell's Mini 10v gets unboxed, cracked wide open, fitted with OS X
Not that Dell's other Mini machines aren't perfect candidates for creating your own hackintosh, but it's stellar to know that the outfit's newest member is as well. After going on sale earlier this month, the Mini 10v has been procured, unboxed and dissected, all in the name of unabashed discovery. Interestingly, it seems as if the RAM slot requires that the keyboard and motherboard be lifted for access, but for even the mildly seasoned computer user, that's absolutely nothing they can't handle. If you're into hardcore, uncensored splayings of newfangled netbooks, the read link is where you need to be, holmes.[Via MyDellMini, thanks Erik]
Dell's Mini 10v shown running a plethora of operating systems, Android Cupcake among them
Need some further proof that Dell is working on an Android-powered netbook? How about a video featuring Doug Anson, Dell's Technology Strategist, sitting next to a Mini 10v that's running Android? And it's not just any flavor of Google's OS -- oh no, this is the frosting-covered goodness of Cupcake. Sadly the demonstration is nothing more than showing the desktop with that big, iconic clock, but it's proof enough that Round Rock's finest are working on something special. Also shown are 10v's running standard Ubuntu and the Netbook Remix, but they don't taste nearly as good. Video after the break.[Via Pocket-lint]
