Slim Dell netbook this. If equal with other netbook, MSI Wind U100, for example, Dell Inspiron mini 12 this really looks thin. Thickness is less than 1 inch, precisely 0.9 inches. In fact, the size of screen-and-all body of about 2 inches more relieved than Wind U100. Yes, Dell Inspiron mini 12 showcase 12-inch screen, which is still rare netbook carried by other brands.
Despite similar body-thin Apple MacBook Air-Dell Inspiron Mini 12 does not feel or frail impressed. It feels comfortable. Well, both in hand and carry. Indeed, the wider size of the average netbook cause can not be easily inserted in the handbag.
However, slimp and also light in weight the Dell netbook is comfortable to carry, take anywhere. Not slippery, as the surface of the back of the netbook is a bit rough. To make it easier to carry, Dell also supplies a black bag which is quite interesting.
No mini-12 also stout, with a cover colored white glossy that is not too diligent collecting fingerprint impressions. Black accents appear on the way to the back of the unit that was prominent, near the hinge, adjacent to the location of the battery. This battery is 12 mini black, in contrast with the white casing over the milk. In the jet black color, but this does not present glossy a tiny LED will light up white when switched on or netbook battery charged back.
From the completeness of features and, in fact mini-12 not far different from the netbook other brands that we are testing. Like a modern netbook, 802.11g wireless functionality is supported in the netbook screen is 12 inches. RAM, for example, still 1GB, but unfortunately can not be upgraded.
Then, especially in the Dell Inspiron mini 12? Let's see one by one.
SCREEN
12-inch screen with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, of course, is a specialty Dell netbook this. Roomy screen resolution and make use of netbook more fun when we surf in the virtual world. Two web pages side by side can be opened and read with quite comfortably. However, the letters look smaller, less suitable for those who have started to crash because of the vision that go old age.
Views on the screen looks very bright (too bright even on the maximum setting), and perspectives horizontal good enough. Views can still see quite comfortable with the direction of the side. However, there are quite a good idea to push back the screen so that the rebound effect is not felt, too.
At the top of the LCD screen, as usual, present a 1.3 megapixel Webcam.
PANEL KEYBOARD
With a more physical width of another netbook, not strange when the keyboard is also 12 mini-sized more relieved (92 percent of normal keyboard). Distance inter button wide so that makes us comfortable and the dancing-bear finger finger on it.
Dell includes six key functions self-F11, F12, Home, Del, Insert, End-placed in the top right-hand side. In addition, there are 10 other function keys (F1 - F10), which the features, such as Bluetooth and contrast. Fn key is placed in its own down the left side.
Under the panel keyboard appear an touchpad is also quite wide, complete with left field and right click. Touchpad is quite responsive. However, perhaps because of the wide size and location that fit under the keyboard plus breadth palmrest, sometimes we do not get the desired response from the touchpad surface is quite fibrous. Because cursor can move suddenly because of the touchpad accidentally jog with a wrist that we small. However, for those who big hands, so this problem can not happen.
Oh yes, different from the other vendors, Dell chose to put a speaker on the panel aft of the keyboard. Unfortunately, the quality of voice is less strong despite already set up to maximum volume. However, the size for a netbook that is used in private, may have sufficient volume.
Another panel at a different location is the key on / off. When most vendors netbook-notebook-and also put it on the right side up, not so with the Dell. Vendors prefer to install this button on / off his super tiny is on the left side up, with panel speakers.
Right, left, HOME, Back
Now let us habituate each side of the netbook. On the right side appear in series from front to back a half-card reader 3-in-1, a headphone jack, microphone jack, one USB port, and one LAN port.
The placement of the USB port on the way back, according to us, simply because it is less fun when the netbook (although this is usually not recommended because the netbook radiate heat enough sting) than if it is on the way forward as in most other netbook.
On the left side are two USB ports, VGA-out port, and security holes (Kensington lock). Easy way to do smoth, two USB ports that row were in the middle of the unit, with initial board keyboard.
Meanwhile, the back and front of the net this netbook, alias does not show anything.
In addition to the placement, completeness of this property with the exact same average netbook others.
During our life, even down to the back of the display unit is close to the battery felt a bit hot. However, the keyboard and touchpad are not affected, alias still be comfortable. The bottom of the netbook was only slightly warm. Could be wide surface netbook plus the combination of low power processors successfully influence the spread of this summer.
DIFFERENT PROCESSOR
However, if we look more carefully, particularly in the section, you'll see something different. First, the mini-12 is not using the processor Intel Atom N270 1.6 GHz as the other.
Pakage that with the Intel Atom 1.6 GHz clock speed, but different type, that is, the Z530 (Silverthorne). This processor is designed for the smaller size. Than N270, the size of Silverthorne CPU nearly half (13 x 14 mm) and charged a lower consumption (2 watts vs. 2.5 watt owned N270).
Processor is a bit saggy with Microsoft Vista by the bundle Dell. Booting takes 1.5 - 2 seconds. Intel GMA 500 chipset seems less suitable for gaming, including a lightweight. See 3DMark 2003 score is the only 382. Meanwhile, failed to run 3DMark06.
Bundle SOFTWARE
Mini 12 that we tested comes with a 80GB hard drive with the ATA be partition into two. The first (C:) the size of around 64.7 GB contains the operating system, while the D: for Recovery (9.76 GB).
By default, Dell bundle MS Windows Vista. In the test unit we received, some of the software already installed the default Windows: Media Player, IE, Calendar, Defender, Live Messenger Download, Mail, Meeting Space, Movie Maker, Photo Gallery, and Update. In addition, included a CD McAfee Security Alert, a CD Application (to reinstall WebCam Central Software), and a CD Driver and Utilities (for re-installation and Computer Software).
O yes, to be more friendly when used, include the Dell Dock on its desktop. Panel icon row this exhibit large-size-similar shortcut on the left side of the screen edge. However, this location can be moved with a drag and drop from the desktop or the Start Menu.
BATTERIES
Mini 12 comes with a standard battery pack Li-Ion 3-cell. Not included in the battery capacity rating. However, according to Dell, the battery is able to stand up to 3 hours of use.
Claims that may be true, but there are conditions that must be fulfilled. Netbook that must be set first so that lower performance. Simply because of how easily can be arranged through the property of the Windows Power Options (Current Power Plan). If you want to survive long battery, we have to lower the performance, choose the alias Power Saver mode. However, if the performance, choose the High Performance enough battery power drain. Balanced or choose, to balance the power of resistance and battery performance.
When we use the Balanced mode for typing this review while listening to MP3 songs that are in the hard disk Mini 12 through Windows Media Player, battery surrendered after 2 hours 10 minutes 4 seconds. Actual remaining 10 percent, alias 12 minutes, but the netbook is insistent request power immediately charged back.
Tests through the Battery Eater 05 reveal endurance 1 hour 45 minutes 56 seconds on Balanced mode. Other programs, Battery Meter nonstop video of torque, the endurance record about 14 minutes longer on Balanced mode: 1 hour 59 minutes 42 seconds. However strange, if modusnya revealed to Power Saver, a battery endurance to 1 hour 48 minutes 45 seconds.
Batteries need to own this time 1 hour 51 minutes 55 seconds to back to 100 percent. Oh yes, unlike most netbook, Dell does not package battery indicator back independently.
Indicators for battery status indicator one the netbook (on / off), located in the top right-hand side, right near the hinge. Although the small size, but as bright white lights, this indicator is quite easy viewing in any position when the casing netbook-opened and closed, provided we know where to find it. When battery power is weakening, the indicator will change color to red, and die when power runs out.
Slot SIMCARD
Behind the battery, nearly invisible, present a slot SIMcard. Yes, this mini-12 will be able to invite you to surf the Internet via modem 3G HSDPA wireless broadband modem that is built-in. So to enjoy the Internet's GPRS or 3G mobile operator, we push to stay in the SIM card entry operator and a few settings (depending on operator).
Unfortunately, in our test unit, the available slots SIMcard this simply an example. That is, slot available, but not yet functioning. SIM card even without incoming and outgoing bitten by peripheral slot. Consequently we can not world may. However, according to Dell, on the version of the netbook slide began in February this future facility will be used.
Weight
Despite wide-screen, 12 inches, this mini-12 was not heavy. By default (plus 3-cell battery), weight only 1268 kg. When the battery removed, weight to be 1.1 kg.
Dell appears mature enough to prepare its netbook so comfortable and convenient to carry anywhere. For other than mild, adapter that integrates with the cable was also light and pretty. This adapter looks similar to the phone adapter although quite large. Unfortunately only two legs, so we have to bring converter.
This adapter bobotnya 178 grams. If we all take, (netbook + 3-cell battery + + converter adapter), Dell Inspiron Mini 12 was still enough light carry with a total weight of 1,862 kg.
Dell Inspiron Mini 12 is the difference with other netbook. More sparse, but the keyboard and the screen width. Slim fun-time was taken, despite the wider size sometimes feel a bit disrupt. However, this pay settled with the enjoyment of wide-screen look and act on its keyboard that is also wide.
There is a slot SIMcard, in addition to feature wireless Wi-Fi 802.11g, will support the continuity of internet anywhere, anytime. In short, this netbook is really suitable for those who like the practicality, beauty, and puspose, averse and heavily burdened the netbook.
Better netbook if this does not bundling with Vista (although we can only do downgrade to XP). For the Z530 processor that uses less support Vista, let alone its RAM can not be upgraded. In addition, other alternative operating systems may be able to reduce the price netbook that this is quite expensive.
If the proposal may be, it's good location that is now demanding SIMcard release the battery moved to another location is more accessible. For example, to the right-hand side, in parallel with the card reader slot. Another proposal, its hard drive replaced with a more tracks and large.
PLUS: wide screen and keyboard; physical thin; SIMcard slot; light.
MINUS: mono speaker; price; SIMcard slot on the back of the battery; minimal LED indicators; RAM can not be upgraded.
SPECIFICATION Dell Inspiron Mini 12
Processor: Intel Atom Z5301, 6GHz (Level 2 cache 512KB, 533MHz FSB and support Hyperthreading)
RAM: DDR2 1GB SODIMM (maximum)
Chipset: Intel Poulsbo
Graphics card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 500
Sound: Poulsbo Intel High Definition Audio Controller
Harddisk: Samsung 1.8 "HS092HB jubilee ATA-100 3600rpm 80GB
Optical drive: No
Facilities: LAN, Wi-Fi 802.11 g, Bluetooth, 3-in1 card reader, 3 USB, Web 1.3 MP camera, VGA port, 10/100 Ethernet port, mike jack, jack headhone
Display: 12.1 "WXGA 1280x800 pixels
Operating System: Windows Vista Basic SP1
Battery: Li-Ion 3-cell 26WHr
Dimensions: 29.9 x 22.9 x (2,2-2,4) cm
Weight (including 3-cell battery): 1, 268 kg
Warranty: 1 year (batteries, spare parts, freight)
Web site: www.dell.com
* Price range: 699 U.S. dollars
