Dell Netbook Roadmap Leaked

With everyone rushing to release as many netbooks as possible while they’re still selling like hot cakes, it’s not suprising to see Dell’s “leaked” netbook roadmap which includes some rather nice things to look forward to.

For those in the market for a Dell Mini 10, the current model is set to receive a few more options (this month it seems?), including Vista, a 3G modem, and a 1.86 GHz Atom with a new 1.6 GHz Atom N270 SKU arriving in May. Engadget reports that everything will be updated again in the second half of the year with Intel's Pine Trail processors.

The 10 aside, the most exciting piece of news let slip in the slides (if netbook news can still be classed as exciting) is the revelation that a Dell Mini 11 will be coming our way before the end of the year. While we’re all for netbooks that break the mold and offer customers something that they’d be hard pressed to find from another supplier, this one brings us right back round to the question of how big can it get while still being classed as a netbook?

Some of us are of the opinion that an 11 inch netbook is the perfect size. Just far enough away from the trinket-like smaller netbooks but still compact enough to cart around on planes and trains. What do you guys make of this? Where’s the line between netbook and low-cost notebook?

  • one-shot
    Everything seems to be "leaked". And yes, I think an 11" netbook is perfect size. 9" is much too small and 14.4" is starting to get too bulky for portability. I just need to find a great 11" netbook and I'll be happy.
    Reply
  • lutel
    11'' would be ok but with 4:3 ratio, not 16:10 which is pure stupid in all kind of notebooks
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  • lutel
    11'' would be ok but with 4:3 ratio, not 16:10 which is pure stupid in all kind of notebooks
    Reply
  • Greatwalrus
    lutel11'' would be ok but with 4:3 ratio, not 16:10 which is pure stupid in all kind of netbooks
    Fixed (it might have just been a slight mistake).

    I think 11" 16:10 is fine to use, but 9" 16:10 is pushing it. My Dell Inspiron 1501 with a 15.4" 16:10 display is magnificent, I would hate to have a 4:3 display at 15.4 inches.

    As for netbook display size, I agree 11" is perfect. I would have a hard time using a 9" display all of the time.
    Reply
  • jeraldjunkmail
    Why spend 500.00 on a fancy netbook when you could spend 500.00 on a notebook with a REAL processor. Add the same option set as a decked out netbook, and you have a very capable 700.00 notebook...
    Reply
  • rembo666
    @lutel
    Yeah, except you'll never see the 4:3 form factor in "consumer" notebooks. "Wide screen" is all the rage dude! I do agree that it would make a lot more sense to have a 4:3 netbook as it would be a lot more practical.
    Reply
  • N19h7M4r3
    whats a netbook? nothing more then a computer with just enough processing power to essentially work with office applications, and as the name suggests net browsing... everything that has this, but cant do much over this is a net book... if you have a 17" inch netbook selling for 700$ with an HD decoder chip, though it gets into the mediaplayer segment of your regular notebooks, if you cant do anything over what i said previously except watch HD movies, id still call it a netbook... if apple releases a netbook for 900$ with your regular specs, cant say a netbook has to be cheap just because "or else its in cheap notebook zone"...
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  • piper5177
    I better go out and buy and Powerbook G4 12"....that would make a great netbook. =P
    Reply
  • piper5177
    ^^^^and it has a 4:3 aspect ratio too!
    Reply
  • ewood
    piper5177I better go out and buy and Powerbook G4 12"....that would make a great netbook. =Phaha relentless... ill give it a thumbs up
    Reply