My new netbook

I recently purchased a Dell Inspiron Mini 10v netbook. I've been using it a lot these last few days, and except for a few small inconveniences I'm quite pleased with it. It's been a good worthwhile investment.

At the beginning the netbook was marketed as a terminal for the web. Everybody was mesmerized by the idea of the cloud like not actually possessing your own data was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Well, though I use a handful of cloud apps, my Dell Mini remains a smaller cheaper laptop. I use it as a secondary computer, it grants me the portability of my data. I occasionally take it with me to school if I have use for it, or I bring it home to Baia Mare whenever I come back for a weekend. It made my life a bit simpler, and overall I really enjoy using the little fella.

It has a few shortcomings though. A netbook's screen is small. At a resolution of 1024x600, there's a lot of info crammed in a small amount of screen space. Also it warms up quite a bit every now and then (especially when it's turned on and the battery is charging).

I use both Ubuntu Netbook Remix and Windows XP. Installing XP was a quite troublesome but I finally managed to do it using this guide. Still, I had to both modify the boot.ini file after installation and to change the drive letter of the main drive (after the install it was labeled E:\ instead of C:\), a process which was a bit tedious. Also downloading the drivers for the Mini was an EXTREMELY long and annoying process. I don't know what servers Dell can afford, but really -- I felt like I was back in the Dial Up era. Downloading the drivers was even more bothersome that installing XP. Finally, after a lot of struggle I managed to get a decent XP installation, with everything working but the function keys for wireless and external monitor.

Installing Ubuntu Netbook Remix was a far easier task. The default USB creator from the .iso file didn't work in my case but Unetbootin did the trick fast and with no problems. After the install all I had to do was enable the proprietary Broadcom drivers and remove and add a few programs. For instance I much rather Dropbox instead of Ubuntu One, and I find Pidgin to be highly superior to Empathy. Also I installed Google's Chrome browser, since it became quite stable on Linux, though Firefox remains my main browser (in spite of the fact that its user interface take a lot of precious screen space -- luckily there's still F11). Installing programs was both fast and easy, though I still prefer Synaptic to Ubuntu's own Software Center.

An Ubuntu Netbook Remix screenshot

I really do like UNR, and it was pleasant to see that at least with the Dell Mini Ubuntu was a bit compatible. On my desktop the microphone doesn't work at all, the webcam is glitchy, I had to do dirty terminal work to get the sound to work, and the system is sloooow. It does it's best to maximize screen estate. Getting multiple desktops was a bit bothersome, but manageable nonetheless. On the dell mini pretty much everything works except the function keys for the wireless connection (not a big nuisance, really).

So how about the laptop? It's worth the price, if you ask me. Yes, it does have its quirks. It heats up a bit too much after a few dozen minutes of use, though it remains quite usable. Battery life isn't much and also the touchpad is a bit imprecise. And the backspace key started to screech recently. Still, none of these are really deal breakers. Just minor nuisances, overall the laptop was a great investment, that I would gladly repeat. I'm quite fond of it so far.