Mini 10 and Adamo Notebook CES 2009

ncord — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 05:18:48 GMT

I would not recommend buying the Mini 10. Though it is a sharp computer, if you happen to have issues, they are almost impossible to get resolved. Read on for the details.

I decided to write this post in the hope that the computer that I received over a week ago would actually be of use to me. I bought the computer for my wife for grad school. When the computer arrived, it seemed to work fine. The next day, white horizontal lines appeared across the top of the screen. The computer fully locked up once (like a system board lock up), and it just randomly shut down. I'm a tech person, I used to work at a help desk, I understand that parts are just bad sometimes. So, I call your tech support line. I speak to three different people. My call gets dropped during the transfer. Nobody can find my service tag number in the system. After over an hour on the phone, I'm told that they have to speak to another department that is currently closed and they will call me back the next day. Not ideal, but I'm still ok.

The tech calls me the next day. He says that he was too busy to get to my computer and that he will call me the next day after he has the chance to call the department that is currently closed. I ask to speak to his supervisor. I explain that this is unacceptable. The supervisor says that they will send a tech out to fix the computer in two days. The tech comes out and replaces the LCD. This fixes the horizontal lines problem, but now I cannot pick up a wireless signal unless I am directly beside the router. Obviously there is something wrong with the wireless antenna that is part of the LCD assembly. I start a chat session with Dell. I am disconnected 3 times during this (my internet connection did not drop, I was on my other laptop that can connect to wireless without issue anywhere in the apartment). Per the instructions of your tech reps, I reinstall the drivers and reseat the wireless card, to no avail.

Finally someone calls me. They ask me to run the full diagnostics on the computer. I oblige, knowing that this will not help. But, the hard drive fails the confidence test. This has nothing to do with the wireless problem, but good to know that in the week that I have had the computer, the LCD has broken, the wireless doesn't work, and the hard drive is bad.

I just spent 40 minutes arguing with a tech over chat who thought that the settings on the wireless router were wrong or that it is a software issue. Nothing changed on the software of the computer, nothing changed on the settings of the router, and my other computer is still able to connect. I asked the tech to escalate the problem several times and he ignored my request each time. How does one actually get Dell to fix a computer?

IdeaStorm Recap - 1/16/2009

Direct2Dell — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:03:27 GMT

Just a quick update this week. In keeping with my new years resolutions, we added a Lightning Rod question

chuebner — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:26:20 GMT

I am looking for a machine to take to the data center and VPN connect from the road. The Dell Mini 10 with the original specs would have fit the bill perfectly. 1024x576 is nice for a toy to give a 10 year old but not for any serious task.

Please don't let us wait another 2 months for a WXGA display and >1GB of memory (and Linux).

Thanks

Christian

scottwilkins — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:13:14 GMT

I tried to love the Mini 9 I bought recently. I really did. but alas, it was very lacking in key areas. It was perfect in power and ability. But the odd keyboard, too small resolution and glossy screen really killed it. IF the Mini 10 has non-glossy 1380x768 screen, so far all other parts look very good. Putting glossy screens on an ultra-portable is about a DUMB as you can get. I also hope it goes above 1 gig on memory. The Mini 12 has the same processor, but only goes to 1 gig. It has to go above 1 gig. 2 gig would work, but more would be perfect.

psynnott — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:42:19 GMT

I was speaking to Dell UK today and they've confirmed the release date to be Feb 27th.

Source here: http://www.paulsynnott.com/blog/2009/02/09/dell-mini-10-release-date-confirmed/

dcheong — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:30:57 GMT

So any more news on when the mini 10 is coming out?

Tom Chiverton — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:30:11 GMT

So, these are going to run Linux too, right ?

AWWang — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 07:33:50 GMT

Adamo = rugged thiness... Great job on those too, I really would want ton know about the cost and when it'll be delivered. Hopefully Dell Forum members will know, :)!

Lionel_Menchaca — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 07:57:39 GMT

oztokyo: I'm glad to see you and several folks are interested in the Mini 10. I can't talk about the details at this point, but when we have more Mini 10 (and Adamo) news to share, I'll be publishing details here on Direct2Dell.

rockenspiel — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:02:15 GMT

Dell Adamo really looks stunning. I hope it doest cost as much as sony vaio which has the same neat design.