Jeremy Tanner Life in Boulder: Every day an adventure.

Five Weeks with a Dell Mini 9

After seeing how well OS X ran on the Dell Mini 9 and how easy it was to install, I decided to buy one. I ended up with 3, but that’s a story for a different day. It costs about a 1/10th of what a MacBook Pro does so it’s an excellent 2nd (or 3rd or 4th) computer. Audio in and out works, WiFi works, external monitors work, it reads SD cards and has 3 USB ports.

Software
I’m not going to discuss the OS X install as that’s been done here, here, here, and here. OS X is well suited to small screen use, I’ve gained a new appreciation for Dashboard, Spaces and Exposé. Safari 4 beta has a few new features that help keep you from typing urls all the way out; such as the new Top Sites view and they way suggestions and recent searches are laid out in the search box. 1password helps to keep from having to type out (or even remember) complex passwords. Shovebox stores notes and grabs webpages for offline viewing, I usually switch long articles to print view and then store them to read on the plane. Dropbox is an easy way to move files back and forth to your “real” computer. Using MobileMe or Google Sync keeps both computers in lock step.

Hardware
Inspiron Mini 9n (‘n’ is the “Meant to be sold with Linux” variant)
Intel® Atom Processor® N270 (1.6GHz/533Mhz FSB/512K cache)
Obsidian Black
2GB DDR2 PC6400
16GB Solid State Drive
Glossy 8.9 inch LED display (1024X600)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950
Wireless 802.11g Mini Card
Integrated 1.3M Pixel Webcam

To install OS X you’re going to want the 16GB SSD, I’ve found it works just fine with 1GB. Black and White are the standard colors, others cost a bit more. The webcam is only really of any use in well lit rooms or outdoors. The computer is spec’d abut the same as one of the first White MacBooks. The main limit is the screen size. I’ve been using the Logitech VX Nano, the small receiver and overall size make it easy to keep with the netbook.

Music
Most of you are already using Pandora and Last.fm. For listening to music while an interenet connection is present, I’ve been on the hype machine and thesixtyone lately. Both excellent sites with tons of new music.

Video
While Hulu and other streaming sites will work, I find I mostly watch video off of a SD card, USB drive or plugged in iPod; and then mostly on airplanes or airports where I don’t have a decent internet connection.

I’ve used the MacBook Mini for the past few weeks as a travel computer, it saves on space, it fits on an airplane tray, it’s easy to grab and hop onto your flight as there’s nothing bigger than a paperback book to snap shut and run. I’d like to see Apple make the same thing, but I doubt they could do it for the same $325.

Try it. You’ll like it. If you don’t like it and have to sell it off, you’ll only be out $20 or so.

The Fiesta Makes it Across the Pond

So begins my Fiestaventure. I picked the Fiesta up at the track Wednesday with 150 miles on it. We were able to familiarize ourselves with the car in the paddock area and get the feel of the standard gearbox. My last 2 cars (VW GTI, Audi 4000 Quattro) both featured a standard transmissions. It’s not like riding a bike, but it does come right back to you. Ford brought out instructors from some of the top driving schools, I had the good fortune to be paired with Jay Tischler for a few laps around the track at High Plains Raceway. I found myself smiling when I wasn’t concentrating too hard on cornering… the inline 4 only produces 119 HP, but it’s a fun little car. (A 60HP version is available in Europe, I shudder to think of it’s 0-60 time.) Speaking of Europe, though the car was manufactured in Germany I think that who it was designed for made a larger impact than where it was assembled. To drivers in Europe, small doesn’t mean cheap, it just means better on gas, easier to park and possibly, more fun to drive. These Fiestas have leather steering wheels, the keyless system found on the more expensive Lincolns, USB ports, some have heated leather seats. I favor the European style, I’d give up cup holders and cruise control to get a tighter suspension, a standard gearbox and summer tires.

Thoughts from the first 48 hours:

• The fuel system is capless it makes a funny “Woosh” noise when you put the nozzle in and it unseals.
• Being able to leave my keys and phone in my pocket is somehting I could get used to.
• This green is VERY green.
• A rear foglight is nice when driving up into the clouds out here
• I can see how why this car could be is outselling every other car in Europe

In conjunction with the Fiestamovement there’s a ride and drive tour coming across the states with the goal of giving 100,000 test drives. A fleet of Fiestas will be downtown Boulder next Wednesday (May 6th) and around Colorado through the 10th.

Ride and Drive Dates

I’ll be driving mine around the Front Range and out to different motorsport events; I’m most excited for Rally, American Le Mans, MotoGP and the Pikes Peak Hillclimb… what else shouldn’t I miss?