Dell Mini 9 review – it’s arrived!

And I’m disappointed.

After all that waiting for a netbook with built-in 3G (“Mobile Broadband”), that I would be able to open and use anywhere, Tesco finally got the Dell Mini 9 in stock, and I ordered one. It arrived this morning.

So – before even turning it on, I got out the screwdriver, popped off the expansion cover, and…

A big gaping hole, with no soldered socket for an expansion card, and a big ‘WWAN’ stencil just to rub it in.

So, newsflash folks – it seems only the Mobile Operators are getting the 3G-enabled ones.

So I’m now left with a non-3G laptop, that cost #70 more than the equvalent Acer Aspire One. Sure, the battery life is an hour longer, but I can buy a 6-cell battery for less than the difference; and still keep the 3-cell for backup!

Admittedly I haven’t really used it yet, but the AAO still has more of that ‘Apple factor’ when you take it out of the case (it was white; my Dell is black), and the beginner’s UI on the AAO is quicker to boot and use than the tiny Ubuntu icons on the Dell. It seems the user base is bigger and better too.

So I’m torn. The fact is, I bought the Dell because I wanted mobile broadband, and it turns out mine didn’t – only those being sold by the mobile operators have 3G built-in. Given I can get an AAO 8GB Linux for GBP170 at Tesco, where I just bought this Dell 8GB Linux for GBP250, I think the Dell’s going back.

BTW – for a really excellent comparison of these with the eeePC, check here.

Going from HTC Touch (Raphael) to TYTN II (Kaiser)

Well, the nice man from Vodafone came today and gave me back a new TYTN II, in exchange for my Touch Pro. I’d objected to a clause in my contract renewal, so we agreed to differ and they downgraded my phone.

And… well… is it necessarily a downgrade? As I picked up the Kaiser for the first time, I jotted down my first impressions:

• Compared to the Touch Pro, the Kaiser feels larger, and the screen resolution is definitely ‘less gorgeous’, particularly through the Vodafone-standard screen protector (which I need to replace).
• As always, the box-fresh phone feels more responsive than one that I’ve had for more than a week.
• I’m lost on the keyboard change again, as I’m sure I will be for a couple of days. The keys are larger and easier to press. Also, I’ve just enjoyed my first press of the dedicated email button on the front.
• The snick of the stylus being pulled in by its’ magnet, is also missed.
• But…   AHHH! The scroll wheel!!!!! I can scroll!
• And a D-pad that actually works and doesn’t mis-press the whole time!

As for the rest of the Touch Pro features: The touch-wheel and the accelerometer were present, but didn’t really serve any purpose whatsoever. The FM Radio was actually quite nice to have once, but again, I don’t really listen to the radio

In compensation, the Kaiser fits my large hands a little more than the Pro – particularly since the jogdial is far more ergonomic than dragging around the screen with your thumb (if using one-handed). And the D-pad… yes, a flush fronted phone looks nice, but you need to feel your way around it to be productive.

So, in short, I’m not missing the Touch Pro at all! I’ll likely stick with this new Kaiser, and perhaps consider the SE Experia, or Blackberry Storm (still waiting for that)…

Simple, cheap, inexpensive mobile charger battery pack?

This is it – the Maplin N62FX (their stock code). Recommended on another forum to someone who lamented the Touch Pro’s battery life; is this the Nirvana of battery chargers?

I currently have a PowerMonkey Classic battery charger. At the time, I thought it was great – you can charge it from USB, and it has tips for my HTC, iPod, etc. etc.  On the downside, the miniUSB tip sticks out almost 2 inches from the bottom of the phone, and is easy to break – I’ve gone through 3 in 5 months, despite taking care. It’s also £40, and a funny tubular shape, with 2200mAH of charge.

The Maplin charger:
- is small (about the width/height of a 10-pack of cigarettes)
- flat and slim (and half the thickness of the 10-pack)
- costs £9.99! So cheap, I bought two!
- claims to store 2000mAH
- comes with USB and even a mains charger – it has one charge in/out port, which is Mini-USB
- comes with lots of tips – although they’re quite bulky, and loose
- has a battery level indicator !!! – 4 green LEDs, which light when you press a button
- has on/off by the same button
- did I say it’s cheap?!?

So? Is it perfect?

It’s certainly convenient. I reach in my bag for both, and press the buttons to see which is charged. I connect one to my Touch Pro, which then sit neatly back-to-back, charging in my pocket. The rubberised coating helps keep them together, too. Back at home, or the hotel, I can use the one MiniUSB cable to charge my phone, then the battery (or batteries), ready for the next day.

However: if this is a 2000mAH battery, then how come it only charges my Touch Pro to 60%, when the Touch Pro is 1350mAH? ie. It should be able to charge it more than once over! So – more like 1000mAH, not 2000mAH. Lucky I bought two!

Also – the tips are a bit clunky. Although both my Touch Pro and the N62FX are mini-USB, I have a folded 30cm cable between the two. No biggie, but a tiny miniUSB-miniUSB would be nice. Can you get one anywhere on the planet? Nope. I’ve tried.

But overall: a good, honest, convenient, cheap portable battery. I love them. So get two!