I got a Dell Mini 9 and have been comparing it to the eeePC. I’ll do a more detailed analysis later, but here are my first impressions:
- I was surprised that the Mini is nearly the same form factor and size as the eeePC. (I expected it to be larger.)
- The 9″ screen of the Mini is a vast improvement over the 7″ screen of the eeePC. (Note that Asus is phasing out the 7″ screen. But for those of you who have one, the extra 2″ makes a huge difference.)
- The keyboard on the Mini is not a lot bigger than the eeePC, but, for me, is much easier to type on. The keys don’t stick as much as the eeePC.
- I have previously been discouraged by the rampant change in the eeePC product line and the number of models. This is hard for schools to deal with. Having worked with schools extensively in the past, I was optimistic that the line from Dell would be more stable. It does have fewer models; however, I recently heard that they are phasing out the 9″ Mini already, after having just introduced it. Hmmm…
Overall, I think these mini-laptops are a great opportunity for schools to integrate technology through one-to-one programs. At prices as low as under $300, this may finally be the path to meaningful change if this technology is coupled with sound instructional strategies and foreward thinking policy.
More on mini-laptop comparisons and mini-laptop use in schools available here.
eeePC vs. Mini