Dell Inspiron Mini 10v Netbook Computer (Intel Atom N270, 120GB HDD, 1GB)
Manufacturer: Dell, Inc. Part number: DNDOFM3
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Dell's Mini 10v keeps a lot of the features of the more expensive Mini 10, while dropping the price below $300. It's one of only a handful of $299 Netbooks that doesn't look and feel especially cheap.
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Where to buy
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CNET editors' review
Dell Inspiron Mini 10v Netbook Computer (Intel Atom N270, 120GB HDD, 1GB) price range: $279.00
- Reviewed by: Dan Ackerman
- Reviewed on: 08/17/2009
- Released on: 07/01/2009
The good: Same basic chassis as Dell's more expensive Netbooks; very low entry price.
The bad: Limited configuration options; inset screen is not as nice as the Mini 10's edge-to-edge glass.
The bottom line: Dell's Mini 10v keeps a lot of the features of the more expensive Mini 10, while dropping the price below $300. It's one of only a handful of $299 Netbooks that doesn't look and feel especially cheap.
The "v" in the Dell Mini 10v's name is seemingly there to indicate value for thrifty Netbook shoppers. The system is in many ways hard to distinguish from its more expensive cousin and is one of the better under-$299 Netbook packages we've seen.
It does, however, lack the high-end configuration options of the regular Mini 10, including a higher-resolution screen and mobile broadband antenna.
Our $334 review unit adds a larger 6-cell battery, and there are also CPU and hard-drive upgrade options, but no way to get the higher-resolution 1,366x768 screen, HDMI output, or mobile broadband options available in the Mini 10. But if you're fan of the wide flat keys and reasonably slim design of the Mini 10, the less expensive Mini 10v version offers the same basic look and feel for less.
| Price as reviewed / Starting price | $334 / $299 |
| Processor | 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 |
| Memory | 1GB, 533MHz DDR2 |
| Hard drive | 160GB 5,400rpm |
| Chipset | Mobile Intel 945GSE |
| Graphics | Intel GMA 950 (integrated) |
| Operating System | Windows XP Home SP3 |
| Dimensions (WD) | 10.3 x 7.2 inches |
| Height | 1.0 - 1.9 inches |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 10.1 inches |
| System weight / Weight with AC adapter | 2.9 / 3.4 pounds |
| Category | Netbook |
Like the Dell Mini 10, the Mini 10v is not as streamlined as Asus' latest Netbooks or the minimalist HP Mini 5101. Instead Dell's Mini line takes its design cues from the bigger laptops in the Inspiron family, with similar rounded edges and shiny surfaces.
Unlike Dell's older 9-inch Netbook keyboards, there are no missing keys or major space compromises, and important keys, such as the shift, tab, and control keys, are relatively full-size. The wide, flat keys go nearly edge-to-edge, but the long, letterbox-style touchpad has to squeeze its mouse buttons directly into the lower left and right corners of the pad. It's far from our favorite Netbook touchpad, but better than the similar long touchpad with buttons on the far sides found on HP's Mini 110.
The 10.1-inch display on the Mini 10v is a standard 1,024x600 one, so if you want a more HD experience, you'll need to trade up to the Mini 10, which offers an option for a 1,366x768 screen (which we liked a lot). The inset display on the Mini 10v kept glare down, but this is still a very glossy screen.
| Dell Inspiron Mini 10v | Average for category [Netbook] | |
| Video | VGA | VGA |
| Audio | headphone/microphone jacks | headphone/microphone jacks |
| Data | 3 USB 2.0, SD card reader | 2 USB 2.0, SD card reader |
| Expansion | None | None |
| Networking | Ethernet, 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, | Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Optical drive | None | None |
While the Mini 10 has an HDMI port, with the less expensive 10v you're stuck with a basic VGA output, plus SD and 3 USB ports. Trading up to 802.11n Wi-Fi is a $25 upgrade, and adding Bluetooth is $20.
Dell's reputation for offering highly configurable systems is well-earned, and even though the 10v doesn't offer as many options as the regular Mini 10, you can still swap in a larger 160GB hard drive for $25 or a slightly faster Intel Atom N280 CPU, also for $25.
Like most of the Netbooks we've reviewed, the Dell Mini 10v uses the 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor (although one interesting exception is the non-v version of the Mini 10, which uses the Atom's Z530 alternative). Its performance was exactly in line with typical Netbooks, and it works well for basic Netbook tasks, including Web surfing, basic media viewing, and working on office docs, which is what these low-cost, low-power systems are primarily intended for.
 Juice box |
|||
| Dell Inspiron Mini 10v | Average watts per hour | ||
| Off (60 percent) | 0.90 | ||
| Sleep (10 percent) | 0.86 | ||
| Idle (25 percent) | 5.7 | ||
| Load (5 percent) | 14.18 | ||
| Raw kWh | 24.18 | ||
| Annual energy cost | $2.74 | ||
The Dell Inspiron Mini 10v ran for 5 hours and 45 minutes on our video playback battery drain test, using the included 6-cell battery. That's very impressive, even for a low-power Netbook. However, the battery is especially bulky and sticks out from the bottom of the system, raising up the rear end. A smaller 3-cell battery is what you get in the base $299 configuration.
Dell offers an industry-standard one-year parts-and-labor warranty with the system. Adding on-site service (after what the company calls "remote diagnosis") seems reasonable at $19, and moving up to two years is a $59 upgrade. Online support is accessible through a 24-7 toll-free phone line, an online knowledge base, and driver downloads.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Find out more about how we test laptops.
Dell Inspiron Mini 10v
Windows XP Home Edition SP3; 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270; 1024MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz; 256MB (Shared) Mobile Intel GMA 950; 120GB Western Digital 5400rpm
Dell Inspiron Mini 10
Windows XP Home Edition SP3; 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530; 1024MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz; 256MB (Shared) Mobile Intel GMA 950; 160GB Western Digital 5400rpm
Lenovo Ideapad S10-2
Windows XP Home Edition SP3; 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270; 1024MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 128MB (Shared) Mobile Intel GMA 950; 160GB Western Digital 5400rpm
Asus Eee PC 1005HA
Windows XP Home Edition SP3; 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280; 1024MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz; 224MB (Shared) Mobile Intel GMA 950; 160GB Hitachi 5400rpm
Acer Aspire One AOD250
Windows XP Home Edition SP3; 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270; 1024MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz; 224MB (Shared) Mobile Intel GMA 950; 160GB Seagate 5400rpm
HP Mini 5101
Windows XP Home Edition SP3; 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280; 1024MB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz; 224MB (Shared) Mobile Intel GMA 950; 160GB Seagate 7200rpm
User reviews
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Yes, Windows 7
by blogasur on August 3, 2009
Pros: Windows 7 runs like a champ, and I upgraded to 2gbs RAM. Now I don't need a Kindle, a laptop bag or a huge AC adaptor. This thing fits in my glove box, runs (at least 4 hours with the upgraded battery) and after 1 week I can type just fine.
Cons: If Hulu ran smoother......
Summary: Small, light, long battery life, upgradeable RAM
Summary: Small, light, long battery life, upgradeable RAM
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Nice little Netbook
by EvilTwin on August 20, 2009
Pros: Small size, long battery life, huge hard drive, decent performance for standard office applications, web camera (I don't use it but its there), built in wireless, 3 usb ports
Cons: Keyboard is still a bit small for the average touch typist, funky screen resolution makes loading some applications difficult.
Summary: Overall its a nice little machine. Bought to take notes in school, its a good little machine for surfing the web if you don't mind the smallish keyboard. With ...
Summary: Overall its a nice little machine. Bought to take notes in school, its a good little machine for surfing the web if you don't mind the smallish keyboard. With the 6 cell battery, should last all day long for note taking purposes. Good machine to take on an airline too, less bulky but you are never going to watch movies on it.
Bought mine as a refurb from the Dell outlet store with 15% off and free shipping for around 250 out the door with the 6 cell battery and 160GB hard drive. Can't beat that with a stick. Supposedly can be upgraded to 2 gb but its not advertised and you have to open it up from the top to get at the sodimm module.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Well worth the price
by man4jc on November 23, 2009
Pros: Price, OS, convenience
Cons: Attracts fingerprints rather easily (as most do).
Summary: I really like this netbook !! I don't know why I have read so many reviews bashing Dell. I have owned many Dell computers and have had NO PROBLEMS with ...
Summary: I really like this netbook !! I don't know why I have read so many reviews bashing Dell. I have owned many Dell computers and have had NO PROBLEMS with any of them. The portability, price, and service are exceptional. I really like the keyboard size. If you order from the Dell website, you can get this netbook with a 160GB HD for the same price as the 120GB HD, you just have to wait a little while longer to get it (about an extra week or so). It does attract fingerprints easily, but I haven't seen a netbook yet that doesn't. As the CNet review states, it does feel far more solidly built than most netbooks in this price range. If you are looking for an inexpensive but well-built netbook, you can't do much better than the Mini 10V.
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It's the service-
by cajungenes on November 19, 2009
Pros: The computer is ok. We use it to google things as we watch TV. We also use it like a Dictionary when playing scrabble. It's lite, portable and cheap.
Cons: It's slow and the battery life is short. It won't let you switch to AC until the battery goes DEAD. Then there's Dell's Service Dept. It is horrible. I dropped it and had to send it in to be repaired. THREE TIMES before it was fixed! I hate Dell.
Summary: It's not a bad computer, for the money, IF you didn't have to deal with Dell's Service Dept.. But, you do. You will get someone in India ...
Summary: It's not a bad computer, for the money, IF you didn't have to deal with Dell's Service Dept.. But, you do. You will get someone in India that thinks they speak good English, but you won't be able to understand them and you won't get good service. I have nothing against the people of India, I'd love to go there someday. But, when I have a computer problem and I need service, it would be nice to be able to communicate with the service technician.
Then once they get the computer at the Dell Service Center with a WRITTEN explanation of the problem, so the language is not an issue, and it STILL doesn't get repaired properly. Not once, but THREE times for the same problem? That's absurd. It took almost six months of the twelve month warranty to resolve one issue. Then they wanted me to renew the warranty at almost the cost of the computer. NOT. I will not be buying another Dell computer. I will spend a few dollars more and get a quality machine. You really do get what you pay for. -
Is it big enough
by bdepot on July 30, 2009
Pros: As good as a laptop, easy to read, typing is smooth and uncramped.
Cons: Battery life is not as good as expected but seems to be improving ...first charge 1.5, second 2.5hrs. Adapter housing thin and cheap.
Summary: Does what is intended e-mail, first day had blue screen with mem error using free sound recorder. Not sure yet if the purchase price might have been better spent on ...
Summary: Does what is intended e-mail, first day had blue screen with mem error using free sound recorder. Not sure yet if the purchase price might have been better spent on something bigger TIME WILL TELL
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Dell, Inc.
- Part number: DNDOFM3
- Description: Marketing description is not available.
General
- Notebook type Budget
Processor
- Processor Intel Atom N270 / 1.6 GHz
RAM
- Installed Size 1 GB
- Technology DDR2 SDRAM
Storage
- Hard Drive 160 GB - 5400 rpm
Display
- Display Type 10.1
Video
- Graphics Processor / Vendor Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950
Battery
- Battery capacity 24 Wh
Operating System / Software
- OS Provided Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP3
Sustainability
- Greenpeace policy rating (Sept 2009) 4.7
Manufacturer info
- Dell, Inc.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Dell, Inc. products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://www.dell.com/
- Address:
One Dell Way, Round Rock, TX 78682 - Phone: (800) 274-3355
- Email: LB_Order_Questions@dell.com
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