Dell Inspiron Mini 9

Dell’s Inspiron Mini 9 is one of the most eagerly awaited Netbooks, thanks to its high-profile brand. Thankfully, it was worth the wait. The slick styling, great screen, decent battery life and 3G connectivity make it one of the better Netbooks we’ve seen.

The black and silver chassis is of a very high quality. The glossy lid scratches easily, however, so it’s necessary to protect it well when travelling. The sleek design makes this one of the best-looking Netbooks in this group, and the 224-minute battery life is also among the best here and great for commuting.

The keyboard is well-made and its smooth typing action is very comfortable. Unfortunately, the full width of the chassis hasn’t been used and the keys are fairly slim, making it quite awkward to use.

The bright 8.9-inch screen is fantastic, and provides vibrant yet accurate colour and contrast. Its glossy Super-TFT coating adds to the effect but, of course, increases reflections in bright conditions.

The base specification is common yet capable. Storage is far less impressive, however. A choice of an 8GB or 16GB Solid State Drive (SSD) is offered, rather than the larger hard drives seen in this group test. While this Flash-based storage provides fast access to data, many users may need more storage space.

Vodafone is the sole provider of 3G wireless Broadband access for this Netbook, and bundles the Mini 9 free with its 24-month contracts. Prices start at £25 per month for a 1GB monthly data allowance. The SIM-card is easy to access and slots directly underneath the battery.
The stylish design and sturdy build, along with the great screen and wireless internet access, all make the Inspiron

Mini 9 one of the best Netbooks around. Only its poor storage and slightly cramped keyboard let it down, but the fact that it’s free on contract will certainly be a big consolation, particularly for smaller business uses.

For latest prices go to TechRadar