While Dell have proved very popular among the netbook world and bringing a high level of customizations to netbooks, it seems CEO Michael Dell doesn’t actually like the portable devices. He claims that users aren’t very happy with them. He also said that it may be cute and light but, after a day or two, users will want to revert back to a regular 15 inch netbook. He describes netbooks as being good for specific markets, such as schools.

Dell have released several different netbook models, with the Dell Mini 9 proving the most popular, especially amongst hackers and modders. Liliputing comment that it’s “kind of funny” considering that while Michael Dell isn’t impressed with netbooks, the company is creating innovative and top class designs to their netbooks.

A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

Dell CEO disses netbooks

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A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

Dell Mini 9 modded into tablet

My Digital Discount are offering up an 8 cell battery giving up to 10 hours of battery life for the Dell Mini 9 and Vostro A90. As standard, the Dell Mini 9 features a 4 cell battery, so this battery from My Digital Discount should give you up to twice as much battery life. One thing the company has noted on the battery, is that the BIOS needs to be A04 or earlier, other wise there may be problems recognising or charging the battery. However if that isn’t a problem for you and your BIOS is an earlier version, the great news is the extended life 8 cell battery will only set you back $65.

The battery is available via MyDigitalDiscount of through their eBay store.

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A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

Third party produce 8 cell battery for Dell Mini 9 and Vostro A90

Well, it looks like Dell is having a hard time disposing its remaining stocks of the supposedly-phased-out-now Mini 9 netbook. The last time we heard, Dell was offering it last month but only for four days. But apparently sales must have been to slow as the Mini 9 shows up on Dell’s online store again.

Just in time for the start of the classes in the U.S., you may want to  score your kid one of this 8.9-inch netbook from Dell which is currently selling for $299. And for that price you still get the standard Dell Mini 9 specs  Intel Atom N270 CPU, 1GB RAM, 8GB or 16GB SSD, Wi-Fi, and the rest of the Mini 9 specs.

If you’re really serious about getting the Dell Mini 9, this is perhaps your last chance, so you better check Dell’s online store now.

via Engadget

A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

Dell Offers the Mini 9 Netbook Again

SSD producers, Active Media, have a range of 16GB, 32GB and 64GB SSDs that fit many netbook models. The company have created a video guides on how users can upgrade their SSD. The company has focused on showing how to do the procedure on the Asus Eee PC 901 and the Dell Inspirion Mini 9.

In the videos, the company shows how to open the netbooks to get to the SSD card and replace it. Unfortunately, instructions aren’t included for how to backup your data on to the new SSD and so you may need to re-install the OS along with backing up your files before hand and then moving them onto the new SSD.


Asus Eee PC 901

Dell Inspiron Mini 9

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A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

Video guide to upgrading your netbook SSD

If security is one of your top priorities, this fingerprint scanner hack, could be for you. If you can’t afford, or don’t want to buy another netbook but, want your files more secure than password protected, or encrypted and own the Dell Mini 9, you can add a fingerprint scanner to it yourself. This is exactly what MyDellMini forum member, Rich2871 did.

He took a USB fingerprint scanner and connected it to an internal USB adapter. While he was in there, he added 4 other internal USB ports as well as a 64GB SSD. After that, he carved a piece of plastic out on the case to make room for the fingerprint scanner.

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A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

Dell Mini 9 Hack adds Fingerprint scanner

The cost of the new 2GB option will be an extra $75 on the regular price of a Mini 9 and the 64GB SSD configuration will set you back an extra $150.  The pricing seems a little high and as Portable Monkey point out, if you are able to do the job yourself, its possible to add the extra RAM for less than $75.

There are restrictions on the Windows XP versions of the netbook that mean it isn’t possible for Dell to sell a unit with any more than 1GB RAM installed and no higher than a 16GB SSD or 160GB HDD installed either hence, no extra goodies for the Windows versions of the Mini 9.

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A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

Dell Mini 9 Gets 2GB RAM and 64GB SSD Options

Via: Crave

A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

Dell Mini 9 goes 3G in North America

The Vostro A90 is a re branded Dell Mini 9 which is available in black. Previously no release date or price was announced, but the Vostro A90 has now been released in the UK. It’s available on the Dell website from £235, which is approximately $349.

This makes it cheaper than the Dell Mini 9, which retails for £269. However when the Vostro became available in Japan, the price was significantly higher at a price of about $998. The Dell Vostro is also available in Germany for 329 Euros. There’s no word yet on whether the netbook will reach North America.

Via: Liliputing

A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

Dell Vostro A90 available in the UK from £235

Deldotb has got a touch screen to work on his Dell Mini 9. One of the USB hubs is used for this hack as he couldnt find which extra points on the motherboard to use. He hopes that when he posts the directions to install this hack that someone will be able to develop the hack more.

[i]udev[/] also needs to be restarted from a shell after starting Ubuntu which may be due to a driver needing to be installed. Apart from these two problems, Deldotb purchased a touch screen from eBay, which works well.

Deldotb intends to post the installation directions up in the next day or two. You can view the video of the Dell touch screen 9 in action below.

Via: JkkMobile and MyDellMini

A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

Dell Mini 9 gets hacked for touch screen