[Images and info from The Register's review: "Dell Inspiron Mini 10v netbook"]
Okay let's see how Dell's new netbook entry, the Inspiron 10v, holds up under some scrutiny.
FAIL #1: Add an SD Card that sticks out from the body of the computer, so far that you won't want to leave it in as extended memory. Question: Why Dell why?
FAIL #2: Crippled Unbuntu install: "Dell has fiddled with the set up so that users can't download and install Ubuntu updates or applications from the Ubuntu repository." Question: The whole idea behind Ubuntu is the updates and repositories, so why would you handicap that functionality?
FAIL #3: Add a honky battery thing to make the battery life seem awesome.
If you can't make the battery life worthwhile within the case, perhaps you need to rethink the purpose of the "netbook" in the first place.
I guess even the Register went for this one. But I don't think we're showing the REAL picture. Now I know the battery life issue is non-linear, but if we take the six-cell battery honkiness, seen above and cut it in half, going from six cells to three, just to put things into perspective.
Meaning, if we want to use the 10v in its native form, without hangers-on we could expect 2:34 battery life, under the Register's test. That seems reasonable, but not remarkable. Question: Dell I-Design Team, do you consider adding a battery to the outside of the computer an actual design FEATURE?
Final Fail #4: IT'S NOT AN iPHONE. (I've been wanting to use this picture in a post since I took the screenshot this morning) Question: When will it be okay to say the "netbook" category has been a failure? Slimmer margins, cannibalized notebook sales, crappier performance?
If you haven't seen the video of the iPhone's native video editing process, click on the image above and check it out.
And if you HAVE seen the features and software available on the iPhone and the sheer power of the 3G S, you must imagine that the "netbook wars" are about to be null and void. Word has it that Apple sold 1 million iPhones in 3 days. Did we hear any mention of the Palm PRE's sales figures?
I've used the base configuration with the 16 gig SSD as an example above.
And what do you suppose will be the features and benefits of a generic "netbook" from any manufacturer when Apple launches the iNote or iPad with the 8.5" touch screen?
Say goodnight "netbook."
@jmacofearth
permalink: http://bit.ly/inspiron-10v
TwitterVenn check-in:
And a quick update on the PRE vs iPhone fun. From the Examiner.
Wireless and Mobile News reported Tuesday that Palm has sold 375,000 units of the Pre so far and is selling them at the rate of 15,000 a day. The article cites Charter Equity Research analyst Ed Snyder as its source for the numbers.
At this rate, Palm could reach 1 million sales in the first quarter of Pre’s presence on the market. Apple, however, said it reached 1 million unit sales of the iPhone 3GS the first weekend it went on sale June 19.
