After reviewing a spate of netbooks recently which came loaded with the Windows 7 operating system, it was a surprise to see back to the old world charm with a netbook still loaded with the Windows XP. Why, is something which completely flummoxed me. However, I am assuming people out there still love XP enough for Dell to actually make a netbook which comes with one.
I also began thinking of the old world, like floppy drives, CRT televisions, tube tires…but before I go bonkers, let me get back to the Dell Inspiron Mini. How good is the old charm in Windows 7 world? Let?s find out?
The Inspiron Mini is what the traditional netbook was meant to be. It has a 10 inch screen, a built in webcam, hard working specs and is dressed in a glossy finish. I hate glossy gadgets, and have shouted myself hoarse. But manufacturers believe that glossy gadgets in a dust laden country like ours is a good idea.
The lid is glossy black, making it prone to scratches, fingerprints and dust. The area around the touchpad, usually used for resting the palms while typing, has a matte finish with an imprint design.
What completely perplexed me is the fact that Dell decided to put white trousers on the Inspiron Mini. By trousers, I mean the base. Assuming that the base will sit on various tables and surfaces?some less clean than others, the white will quickly turn black and your happiness will quickly turn to grumpiness.
In terms of usage, the Mini is a comfortable machine to use. It doesn?t heat up a lot, making it comfortable for use on the lap. The keyboard has a nice solid feel to it, and the touchpad is quite responsive, albeit feels a bit small.
Powered by the Intel Atom N450 processor clocking at 1.6GHz and 1GB RAM, it will offer basic netbookish performance. Don?t expect anything more than the grunt to browse the Web, watch a movie, listen to some music, edit a presentation and browse the Web some more. Any games or 3D dependent applications will not work.
The PC Mark score of 1544 indicated a typical netbook performance, for the usage pattern I mentioned above. However, if you need this machine for use while on the move, the 6-hour battery backup will impress you.
The Inspiron Mini with Windows XP is like using a fat CRT monitor in the age of flat panel monitors. However, the price of Rs 17k for this netbook assures you will buy this only if you really really love Windows XP. Because for about Rs 18-20k, you will get the latest Windows 7 netbooks. MSI Wind U135, HP Mini 210 or the Lenovo Ideapad S10-3 are some other options.
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