Dell Shows Off Its Eee PC Rival 250
Tom Moreland tips us to photos of Dell's answer to the Eee PC on the Direct2Dell site. Dell posted these after an attendee at the D conference spotted Michael Dell carrying one. The company hasn't released any details, so you can take these with a grain of salt — from a commenter to Dell's post: "Here are the specs for the Dell Mini Inspiron: Atom 1.6 GHz, 3 USB ports, Ethernet, Card reader, Kensington lock, Adapter socket, Mic/line-out, VGA port, screen resolution at 1280×800. Scheduled to be released before the end of June 2008. It costs less than $500."
first post! (Score:2, Insightful)
spec creep (Score:5, Insightful)
Instead I would like to see them stick at 300 euros and just gradually improve the spec.
Dell Defying M$ Again? (Score:5, Interesting)
Some of these specs, like the 1280x800 resolution screen look beyond the M$ limits for such devices [slashdot.org]. Good for Dell, they know what the market really looks like [slashdot.org].
Re: (Score:2)
I'm toying with the idea of 4G RAM and a spare battery and charger which pushes it over the $2000 mark, but the advantages of a small 9 hour battery plus a larger 11 hour battery plus an external battery charger is very attractive. I would love it if I could make it through the weekend with just
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
GP is referring to a free version of Windows that would only be available to the ultra-portable market. I can't find the link right now - but the stipulation would be that the MS OS would be free (or very very cheap) to put on machines with 800x600 screens and sub GHz processors IIRC.
MS would then be able to remain a dominant OS by being available/viable in the pending cheap market, and not lose customers to Linux.
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
The T2010 is a bit larger and I do wonder if it's physically bigger than I want. But I think calling the P2120 a desktop replacement bends reality all out of shape.
Re:How to advocate free software (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Dell EEE PC (Score:3, Interesting)
Why does dell need to make an EEE competitor when it ALREADY HAS a $399 laptop you can buy today. The Dell Vostro 1000 [dell.com] has an AMD Sempron 3600+, XP Home, 15.4 inch Wide Screen, 1GB RAM, 80GB HD, CD Burner, 802.11g Wifi, and 256MB integrated video.
Re:Dell EEE PC (Score:5, Informative)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Most of the people making new EEE PC clones seem to believe that Asus' success has come from the fact that the EEE PC was small and not that it was inexpensive. Heck, even Asus' new version seems to make that assumption.
It will be interesting to see how the next generation sells.
Re:spec creep...but something is still missing (Score:3, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
Another company whose name escapes me makes laptops/notebooks for both HP *and* Dell.
There are only a half dozen manufacturers of laptops/notebooks in the world today.
ttyl
Farrell
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
At the $500 pricepoint, you are talking normal PC laptops.
EEE is already at $350. Why bother with the Dell?
Re:first post! (Score:5, Informative)
If you want a laptop that allows a custom video card, you need to spec the stuff you want BEFORE YOU BUY, and keep a cognizant eye of what gotchas may be involved. Basically, do some research, and not just reviewing halfassed slashdot comments like ours.
After 15 years of experiencing all sorts of good, bad, magical, unreliable, and just plain retarded computer manufacturers, I must opine that you are out of your mind if you think Asus anything better than Dell. They both are cutthroat businesses looking to save a buck where noone might notice, and whenever possible you avoid the lowest end laptops/etc, such as Inspiron.
Don't try to cut corners and save some bucks then complain when you made a glaringly bad decision. (Ubuntu preinstalled on a Dell? Did you do NO research prior to grabbing the first Ubuntu mania inspired laptop you could find?)
Cheers.
Dimensions (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Dimensions (Score:5, Funny)
But which OS will it use? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:But which OS will it use? (Score:5, Informative)
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:But which OS will it use? (Score:5, Funny)
Ooh! Ooh! I just came up with a corollary. The meta-mod system was developed by CmdrTaco to aid in training said AI program. It's a conspiracy!
Re: (Score:2)
Re:But which OS will it use? (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
500 bucks? are they insane? (Score:3, Interesting)
It may have some potential. Having a good cheap system to surf with is definitely a good idea. But for $500 you can get a regular fully functional laptop in many instances.
Dell's going to be competing with their own price points no matter where they put this product in the spectrum from 3-500$ they'll be cannibalizing their own market.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Well considering that "small-size" used to be a high-priced premium, I think that a small but cheap laptop is probably the better choice for the mobile individual. The 300$ models you speak of are usually 15.4" models and those aren't exactly small or lightweight.
It's a new, different market (Score:5, Insightful)
The ASUS eeePC is currently selling like hotcakes, and the price range is currently in the neighborhood of 400-500$. Your argument has been around for quite a while ("I can get a full featured laptop for the same money"). The problem is this laptop isn't a regular laptop, but a new category of devices. Something you can carry easily, light, and robust. Dell isn't foolish, after the success of the eeePC, the HP mini-note and new devices coming from MSI, they want to make sure of their presence in that growing market.
So yes, you can get something bigger for similar money. But you get a all different device. Exactly like the MacBook Air (why spending so much for something slower than a regular Mackbook?) these are new devices, for people who value portability over added features.
In addition, if these devices run Linux natively (as they pretty much all do, in addition to WinXP), you get a modern fast OS, without you having to do anything to it, it simply work out of the box. In fact some people say that the Linux version are for those unexperienced, considering how easy they are to maintain.... Can you say the same about the crap-loaded $500 cheap "conventional" laptops?
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Please stop with the stupid and uninformed comparisons to the Eee 2G Surf...
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
However, as they are a company with sub 500$ laptops, they will be competing with themselves on some levels as mentioned
Of course, that really means that the laptops they offer are unreasonably priced.
No, they really won't (Score:2)
You'd think so, until you actually give it some real consideration. Then you'd realize how wrong that is.
The market for "cheapest possible laptop" isn't going to cross over with the "very small, very light laptop" very often. They are two different products. To make the ubiquitous car analogy, people who sell trucks aren't worried about cannibalizing their convertible market, even th
Great companies don't worry about cannibalization (Score:5, Interesting)
Wang released the Wang 1200 WPS, its CRT-based word processing system, at a time when their previous non-CRT-based offering was still selling well. Killed the older line dead, instantly.
Apple released the iPod Nano about eighteen months after the introduction of the iPod Mini line, and barely six months after a major refresh of the iPod Mini line, killing the minis dead instantly.
(And, for the record, the Digital and Wang examples occurred during the upward trajectories of those companies and were major, major successes for them).
Companies don't have to put the customers' interests ahead of their own, but they need to put a high priority on it. Companies that concentrate too much on what's good for them instead of what's good for their customers... rationalizing product lines, avoiding cannibalization, holding back new features, and generally not producing the best products they know how to produce (e.g. IBM foot-dragging on the 80386) get in trouble. Their locked-in customers may go along for a while, but customers aren't stupid and they'll be steaming about it, and delighted to give the company its comeuppance.
Re:Great companies don't worry about cannibalizati (Score:3, Insightful)
Another example:
When HP was great at making inkjet and laser printers, the motto was, "Let's put ourselves out of business every 6 months because if we don't do it, someone else will."
The best printers in the history of the world came out of that process and HP made megabucks. Then David Packard died and a faceless corporate board took over...
Re: (Score:2)
I'd like to ask a few questions about your point (Score:5, Insightful)
Yes you can. So my question to you then is, why are people snatching up these mini-notebooks left and right, with companies seemingly finding an urgent need to enter the niche?
Is it possible that you're missing something? Or do you ascribe the success of these devices to marketing and gullibility? I ask because I've seen your argument before, and responded to it before, but the responses never seem to register.
So what is your answer? Why are people going against what you think to be the intelligent choice? I ask again, is it possible that you missed something and that 500 dollar laptop you're touting doesn't measure up for some reason? I bet if you examine the two devices, you'll see the major difference that makes these devices desirable.
Hint: it's not processor speed, or hard drive size, or screen resolution. Those things matter little to the people considering an EEEPC or one of its competitors.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
breeding like tribbles... (Score:5, Funny)
Andy
Pixels are tiny (Score:2)
Yeah, but... (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
Total Karma whoring (Score:4, Informative)
Keyboard, good and bad (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Dvorak hates newbies and people who look at the keyboard, it's also an efficiency supremacist.
Re:Keyboard, good and bad (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Keyboard, good and bad (Score:4, Funny)
Not to mention it also makes wild predictions that don't turn out, is an apple hater, and wishes it were as cool as Leo Laporte.
;)
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
Love that red shell (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Yes, you can't get the ultra-portable mini yet, but you can get them in 14", and the XPS at 13".
Perfect. (Score:2, Insightful)
Yes, the Asus runs Linux, but it doesn't run her casual games. I still require Windows. It's not that bad anyway -- I'll set it up properly and lock her out of admin, and she can't screw it up that badly. And it's cute.
Re: (Score:2)
Cheers,
_GP_
Rebranded MSI Wind? (Score:5, Insightful)
Comment removed (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Is the keyboard usable? (Score:4, Informative)
Not sure how big your hands are, but mine are pretty big, and I've had a 7" EEE since they came out - I absolutely LOVE the keyboard for how small it is. I haven't had a problem typing ~60WPM on it (I normally type ~65WPM). You don't want to type for hours on it, but nobody would want to do that on *any* subnotebook.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
I hated the Eee's keyboard for about the first hour, then adjusted enough that it wasn't that big of a deal, at least for what I use it for (web surfing, email, SSH, developing large applications in Python).
Ubuntu (Score:5, Interesting)
FINALLY! an UMPC with = 1024 x 768 screen (Score:2)
fully 2/5ths of the screen is taken up with impossible-to-remove toolbars, and, on these tiny screens, you are left with 2 inches of readable space in which to view the web page.
the minimum useable screen resolution is 1024 x 768 - yes those extra 168 pixels make a massive difference - and so i am deeply impressed to hear that dell have got it right, by providing a 1200 x 800 screen.
you can always increase the font size on an 8in scr
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
butterfly keyboards (Score:2, Insightful)
but can it... (Score:3, Interesting)
can this new dell fit in my jacket pocket? by far, the most excellent thing about the eee pc is that it is so incredibly portable without making significant sacrifices. furthermore, with 4gb of space, there are many choices for an os.
my hands aren't small, but i can manage to touch-type reasonably well on it. frankly, i don't think anyone should be alloted any credence when complaining about the keyboard size on such a small system. it's much like griping about the lack of luggage-space on a motorcycle. if your major complaints are about the keyboard, you must not be the target market.
my only complaints are about the cpu, which seems to be underclocked to 630mhz, and the difficulty in booting from an sd card (i'm sure i'll figure it out).
No wifi (Score:3, Interesting)
I've seen it (Score:2)
I was visiting a friend a short while back and he was doing some development on it. It was sans-case - just some cardboard to hold up the screen above a bare motherboard sitting on the desk.
Couldn't determine a whole lot but it was running Ubuntu, had solid-state drives and used the Atom chips.
I was getting ready to buy an eee (finally time to upgrade from my Poqet) but his advice was to absolutely wait till the Dell is out since I would probably change my mind.
Re:Pixel pitch is too small for me (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Pixel pitch is too small for me (Score:4, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Vector Fonts (Score:4, Informative)
Actually, such a high resolution on such a small screen means super-smooth fonts, and easy readability... which thus far could only be obtained on high-resolution laptops (1650x1080 on 15" and 1920x1200 on 17").
Considering that the cheap Inspirons have 1280x800 on a 15" screen, just imagine the improvement.
Re: (Score:2)
Unfortunately, most web pages are so badly designed as to be almost unreadable at high res, and if you increase the font size the formatting goes to hell. Opera does a pretty good job at handling this, and Fir
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
If increasing resolution on the monitor makes things less readable, you've got an operating system (or, at least, window manager/display subsystem/etc.) that really sucks (worse than Windows), or you aren't using it properly.
Re:Pixel pitch is too small for me (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
1280x1024 is about 200 dpi which produces incredibly good and easy-to-read fonts.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
A bigger font at high resolution looks better and is easier to read than a small font on a lower resolution screen.
So just pick a font that would be the same size as it would be on a lower resolution screen.
Re:Pixel pitch is too small for me (Score:5, Interesting)
I disagree. Most modern web pages need at least 1024 pixels wide. You can always make things bigger if a certain app hurts your eyes, but you can never get back resolution that the panel doesn't have. Thus, it is always better to go with a higher resolution than a lower one.
I'm really surprised, however, that nobody has criticized the fact that all these machines use legacy VGA. I mean, is it really too much to ask for them to use DVI? It already costs more money to buy a panel that still supports VGA even today. VGA is on its way out and the only computers I see that still use it are cheap PC laptops. Why!?! Why would anyone build a computer with only analog video output these days? It's not like it is that much more expensive to provide DVI, and I consider any machine that doesn't do so to be very non-future-proof, i.e. a dubious proposition.
These days, the only thing keeping me from buying any of the ultra-mobile machines is the lack of DVI in any machine with a small enough footprint to safely use on an airplane tray table. Netcraft confirmed VGA was dying five years ago. At this point, the only thing left to do is go through its pockets and look for loose change....
VGA Output (Score:2, Informative)
You could always use DVI -> LCD converter I suppose...
Re: (Score:2)
Because they want to sell next year's version? [wikipedia.org]
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
1. A DVI connector takes maybe an extra eighth of an inch on either side and a total of an eighth of an inch more in thickness. These machines aren't that tight on space. If they are, though, you could always use Mini-DVI or Micro-DVI (though the latter does not provide analog pins).
2. Go to any store and buy an LCD panel. You will see a handful of sad monitors that are VGA-only. You can recognize these because they are made by obscure manufacturers you've never heard of, are horribly miscalibrated,
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
So far I see no real solution to this issue. Even developers of Smartphones and mobile phones in general do a bad job economizing content.
I don't doubt that someone will eventually come along with a good solution, but I don't think it will happe
Re: (Score:2)
My point was: why pay for a 1280x800 monitor when you're only going to use it at 1024x600? The replys below indicate that increasing the dpi of the fonts should be able to make the font physically large enough, whilst making use of the high resolution, which I accept.
I was thinking back to when I used HP's UMPC 2133 which has a similar resolution (iirc). It was running vista, and no matter how much I tweaked it, it was practically unreadable.
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
OMG, I have an USB-port on this computer that I'm not currently using! Oh why do they force me to pay for stuff that I don't use?
Just suck it up. If you think that the features and the price are acceptable, then buy it (even if you plan to use a lower resolution). If not, then don't. No-one is forcing you to pay for features you don't need, since you always have the choice of not buying anything.
Except that LCDs look blurry if you run them at non native resolution, whereas an unused USB port is no problem.
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
I agree, Apple's industrial design team could nail this.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
I suppose they could make a smaller Air, but, err, why?
Because I don't know a single person that is even slightly interested in a MBA, but I know lots of people who would be interested in a macbook nano.
Your comment is similar to the naysayers that said apple would never enter the micro-mp3 player segment, cause they liked the other market segment better. Not only did they enter that market segment, but their initial foray into it was at a higher price and a fatter profit margin, and they still managed to dominate it. I believe they can do the same with s
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)