Dell Mini 10V Netbooks

[NickD 203]

Processor may be the same, but subtle difference in the mainboard layout, quality of the components used, LCD, it's illumination, the keyboards robustness, reliability, and support. I had very bad experiences with Dells support so tend to stay away from them. Daughter's HP du9815nr laptop crapped out recently with the identical problem on the models that have recalls on them, they wouldn't honor that recall on hers that left negative feelings for a top of the line $1k laptop. A flat charge of $440.00 for a repair and that mainboard is jammed with 0.17 mm pin spacing.

So she got a new Sony, I was disappointed to see a WD hard drive in it since I have a box full of defective WD hard drives. Favor the Seagate, quiet and the only one with an unconditional five year warranty, but have Seagates twenty years old that are still performing well. 12 months and one day is typical for a WD.

After setting up her Sony Vaio yesterday, was pleased only to find two trial programs on it, both were easy to remove, others have up to twenty, have your credit card handy.

First go around with Windows 7 for me, can't get to excited, still stripped down versions of XP. Didn't have much time, she had to leave early this morning, but couldn't find the startup menu to organize her program files. Win 98SE was great, had a separate program to organized, dropped that with XP, just leads you to Windows Explorer where you find many startup menus. Administrator, all users, any number of guests, local, and default users, what a mess, only I use my computer. Well not my computer, Bill's computer, only have a license to use it. Ha, renamed My Computer to Bill's Computer.

Did a help on 7, couldn't find anything on that startup menu or even the same thing with a different name.

Still like DOS better, at least I was in control. And all net and notebooks are junk, you don't dare spill one drop of water on any of them.

[SuperDuper! 230]

But Asus does make motherboards, video cards and other computer components.

You got that right! Asus makes 80%+ of all motherboards in the world. No wonder they are the Netbook leader as well! I like my Asus Netbook very much!

[Niels Bohr 72]

Those subtle differences are not different at all. The subtle difference lies in the BIOS menus. However, the chipset controls the communication pipelines between the processor and memory, the processor and peripherials, the storage and memory, etc...

The bus that links those components are just basic PCB routes, nothing more. What really is important are the chipsets themselves. There's not way to change those. They are standard irregardless of which manufacterer you buy. Intel, AMD are the primary Nothbridge chipset suppliers. The Southbridge are standard as well. I mean what inside the chipset are standard USB controllers, memory controllers, etc...USB is a standard it doesn't vary with manufacterers. Memory controllers are standard (except AMD where it's on the chip) since it doesn't vary with manufacterers.

It's not like TVs, DVD players, other types of electronics where you have different standard component such as Sony Bravio, or the Samsung Multisync. Even with the TV remotes, the IR encoder/decoder is different as well. Unlike computers where everything is a standard. The reason is software compatibility, and the idea of a general purpose machine.

Processor may be the same, but subtle difference in the mainboard layout, quality of the components used, LCD, it's illumination, the keyboards robustness, reliability, and support. I had very bad experiences with Dells support so tend to stay away from them. Daughter's HP du9815nr laptop crapped out recently with the identical problem on the models that have recalls on them, they wouldn't honor that recall on hers that left negative feelings for a top of the line $1k laptop. A flat charge of $440.00 for a repair and that mainboard is jammed with 0.17 mm pin spacing.

So she got a new Sony, I was disappointed to see a WD hard drive in it since I have a box full of defective WD hard drives. Favor the Seagate, quiet and the only one with an unconditional five year warranty, but have Seagates twenty years old that are still performing well. 12 months and one day is typical for a WD.

After setting up her Sony Vaio yesterday, was pleased only to find two trial programs on it, both were easy to remove, others have up to twenty, have your credit card handy.

First go around with Windows 7 for me, can't get to excited, still stripped down versions of XP. Didn't have much time, she had to leave early this morning, but couldn't find the startup menu to organize her program files. Win 98SE was great, had a separate program to organized, dropped that with XP, just leads you to Windows Explorer where you find many startup menus. Administrator, all users, any number of guests, local, and default users, what a mess, only I use my computer. Well not my computer, Bill's computer, only have a license to use it. Ha, renamed My Computer to Bill's Computer.

Did a help on 7, couldn't find anything on that startup menu or even the same thing with a different name.

Still like DOS better, at least I was in control. And all net and notebooks are junk, you don't dare spill one drop of water on any of them.

[NickD 203]

Those subtle differences are not different at all. The subtle difference lies in the BIOS menus. However, the chipset controls the communication pipelines between the processor and memory, the processor and peripherials, the storage and memory, etc...

The bus that links those components are just basic PCB routes, nothing more. What really is important are the chipsets themselves. There's not way to change those. They are standard irregardless of which manufacterer you buy. Intel, AMD are the primary Nothbridge chipset suppliers. The Southbridge are standard as well. I mean what inside the chipset are standard USB controllers, memory controllers, etc...USB is a standard it doesn't vary with manufacterers. Memory controllers are standard (except AMD where it's on the chip) since it doesn't vary with manufacterers.

It's not like TVs, DVD players, other types of electronics where you have different standard component such as Sony Bravio, or the Samsung Multisync. Even with the TV remotes, the IR encoder/decoder is different as well. Unlike computers where everything is a standard. The reason is software compatibility, and the idea of a general purpose machine.

That's why I used the word, "subtle" using a 10-50 power stereo microscope to observe the differences. If a mainboard doesn't work off the line, it gets pitched, trying to repair one is tantamount to attempting to unbake a cake. What the do all have in common, is that they are in the throwaway class.

Another thing they have in common, they are a pain in the a$$ to bring back into this country, the battery on my Toshiba was dead, wouldn't dare pack it in with my luggage, would have been wrecked, but thank goodness, I also had the AC adapter with me. So the guard and I were running all over the airport looking for an AC outlet. We found one, and it did start to boot up, that satisfied him and let me take it with me. Otherwise he said, he would have to confiscate it, isn't that the same as stealing?

When I got home, I plugged it in to read, "You stupid Idiot, you didn't properly shut down Windows", that is something else they all have in common.

[lgg 2]

hey nickD, I have the Dell Mini 10v, the processor that it comes with allowed my husband to install a Mac OS on it -- it's really great -- I really recommend the mini as it's really easy to carry around. I wouldn't do work on it, I'm a graphic designer, this is just my whipping 'round the internet tool and such. It's totally perfect. It some issues with HD video but really? For the cost, it's an awesome little machine. I really do appreciate it.

I have a couple of monster desktops I use for work, but this, for what it is, is totally worth the cost. as long as people realize it's not meant to take the place of a regular desktop and such.....

Which make and model do you have? If I may ask.

[NickD 203]

hey nickD, I have the Dell Mini 10v, the processor that it comes with allowed my husband to install a Mac OS on it -- it's really great -- I really recommend the mini as it's really easy to carry around. I wouldn't do work on it, I'm a graphic designer, this is just my whipping 'round the internet tool and such. It's totally perfect. It some issues with HD video but really? For the cost, it's an awesome little machine. I really do appreciate it.

I have a couple of monster desktops I use for work, but this, for what it is, is totally worth the cost. as long as people realize it's not meant to take the place of a regular desktop and such.....

We are kicking it around for our upcoming trip, still the hassle of bringing anything like that back. Suggested to my wife we take a two week computer break. See how that goes.

[William33 110]

We pulled the trigger on this item at the end of January and are pleased with the decision.

Pro's:

Fast, despite the XP software.

Small and very portable... (Best feature).

Battery lasts over 2 hours.

Cons:

Top cover is glossy black....Huh, what idiot would design that? Fingerprints and so forth? Arggggh....

Overall: A good product for $300.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You only get a 2-3 hour battery life? I get 7 or 8 on mine.

[yogib37 3]

That's why I used the word, "subtle" using a 10-50 power stereo microscope to observe the differences. If a mainboard doesn't work off the line, it gets pitched, trying to repair one is tantamount to attempting to unbake a cake. What the do all have in common, is that they are in the throwaway class.

Another thing they have in common, they are a pain in the a$$ to bring back into this country, the battery on my Toshiba was dead, wouldn't dare pack it in with my luggage, would have been wrecked, but thank goodness, I also had the AC adapter with me. So the guard and I were running all over the airport looking for an AC outlet. We found one, and it did start to boot up, that satisfied him and let me take it with me. Otherwise he said, he would have to confiscate it, isn't that the same as stealing?

When I got home, I plugged it in to read, "You stupid Idiot, you didn't properly shut down Windows", that is something else they all have in common.

In other words, 'Hey thanks for the computer.'

Yeah right confiscate it, he most likely wanted for himself.

Other suggestion is to take a local newspaper front page news and Put your computer on it with the name of the paper and the date of it and take a picture. That way you can say it was in the USA before it left the country. Just works for a lot of things Like jewerly.