Gear Deal: ‘Hackintosh Ready’ Dell Mini 9 Close-out Sale!
Posted on 24 July 2009, at 9:05 am, by Michael Anderson
Have you been reading Jessica’s Dell Mini 9 Hackintosh articles? Even if you are already a netbook owner, it just might make you want one … I know that has been the effect on me! Well, as we know Dell has killed the Mini 9, but alas there is still hope – they are having a $199 close-out sale!
Until they are gone, get the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 for $199, which is $40 off regular price! Shipping is $8.
Dell Inspiron Mini 9 Laptop specs:
Intel Atom Processor N270 (1.6GHz/533Mhz FSB/512K cache), 8.9″ LED display (1024X600), Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950, Ubuntu Linux version 8.04.1, 1GB SDRAM, 4GB Solid State Drive, 802.11g Mini-Card, Integrated 0.3M Pixel Webcam, 32 WHr 4-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery, 1Yr WarrantyNote: Operating system is Ubuntu Linux version 8.04.1 and not Vista or XP
Note: this version only comes with a (tiny) 4GB Solid State Drive for the $199 price. When you go to the ‘configurator’ you get the following options:
4GB Solid State Drive [Included in Price]
8GB Solid State Drive [add $35]
(Most Popular Customer Upgrade)
16GB Solid State Drive [add $75]
(Dell Recommended)
Source (and image): CheapSitingyBargains.com through Gizmodo
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July 24th, 2009 at 9:37 am
So with the SSD updates I added you are getting to ~$275. Also, note that Jessica did her article with a 2GB RAM upgrade (not available through Dell) and a 32GB SSD (also no longer available through Dell). Anyone who has run OS X on 1GB will tell you … hit your favorite memory retailer to get the added 1GB stick!
July 24th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Yeah, I would definitely recommend either the 16GB from Dell or an aftermarket SSD from Runcore if you are interested in Hackintoshing a Mini 9. 4GB is obviously out, and 8GB will be too small to truly fit the OS+programs comfortably (though it CAN be done! It’s just a hassle).
My 2GB upgrade was just a 2GB stick I ordered from NewEgg for about $18…totally worth the money to go from 512MB (which was the stock RAM when I ordered) to 2GB! The great thing about the Mini 9 is that it is very easily upgraded–all components such as RAM, SSD drive, Wifi card, etc. are accessible by unscrewing the bottom panel. I wish they’d kept that going with the Mini 10/10v. The RAM is apparently soldered in to the Mini 10! Ugh.
July 24th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Another thing that deserves mention – this comes with Ubuntu Linux, if you want to install OS X you will need to buy a copy from someplace like NewEgg or Amazon.
July 24th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Hmm.. Ready to throw my Mini 9 into the fire! My Runcore 64g SSD died on me this week on an international trip! Mini 9 ok for doing light stuff, but carrying a Mac Air now..
July 24th, 2009 at 11:05 am
That stinks, Drew…and is not my experience with the Mini 9 at all! I have the Dell stock SSD, not a RunCore, and I can do everything but edit video on mine. I use Photoshop, Flash, watch videos, do tons of writing…it is my go-to machine 95% of the time!
July 24th, 2009 at 11:31 am
If you buy a 3rd party SSD, check out this: http://www.mydellmini.com/foru.....e-mac.html
Looks pretty simple!
July 24th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
CNet News has this “Starting July 26 (this coming Sunday), Wal-Mart will begin selling a $298 Compaq Presario notebook (CQ60-419WM) with the following specifications: a 15.6-inch display, 3GB of memory, a 160GB hard-disk drive, a CD-DVD drive, and Windows Vista pre-loaded. The laptop will use a 2.10 GHz AMD Sempron SI-42 processor and Nvidia GeForce 8200M graphics.”
That is a considerably better device than the mini at practically the same price. Unless someone MUST have SMALL, the $199 + $75 + $18 price of the mini is not a good deal at all.
July 24th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Very good point rwaldo – another article looks at overall pricing trends:
“Windows notebook ASP was $520, or $569 when removing all those nasty, margin-sucking netbooks”
These things are making it harder for consumers to differentiate – for general use most folks want a bigger screen than 9-10″, I know I do! But I absolutely love my Lenovo s10 for what it does!