Dell Inspiron Mini 1018 4034CLB Review

Dell Inspiron Mini 1018 4034CLB

The Dell Inspiron Mini 1018 4034CLB is a perfect ultraportable travel laptop, weighing less than 3 pounds with a 250 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM (DDR3), a 1.66 GHz N455 Intel Atom processor, and a preinstalled copy of Windows 7 Starter. This laptop carries an Intel NM10 Express chipset, and a matching NM10 Express video card, with a 0.3 megapixel integrated WebCam, making it perfect for video chat on the go. With a 3-in-1 flash memory reader that is capable of reading SD, MMC, and MS card formats, as well as a VGA connector, and two USB ports, you’ll be able to fully utilize your external media or storage devices at all times.

Pros

• High-Quality Display – the 10.1 inch widescreen WLED (white light emitting diode) display is capable of 1024 x 600 resolution and provides an ideal portable media viewing experience.
• Future-ready Connectivity – includes a built-in Realtek 802.11n Wi-Fi card that is capable of transmitting a large amount of bandwidth through Wireless-N technology, which is faster than the industry-standard Wireless-G that most laptops include. Purchasing a laptop that includes this functionality now will prevent you from having to upgrade in the future when the majority of portable devices communicate through Wireless-N networks.
• Extended Battery Life– with a battery life of up to seven hours and 18 minutes on power saver mode you’ll be able to enjoy the portability of the Dell Inspiron Mini 1018 4034CLB for extended periods of time without having to find a power outlet every couple of hours.
• Nearly Full-Sized Keyboard – unlike many other laptops in the 10 inch range, the Dell Inspiron Mini 1018 4034CLB has a keyboard that is 92% the size of a full-sized keyboard, so typing space does not feel congested.
• Effective Processor for Multitasking – although it only has 1GB of RAM, the Mini 1018′s highly efficient Intel Atom processor facilitates powerful multitasking, so you can browse the Internet, watch videos, listen to music, and run bandwidth intensive software without problems.

Cons

• Slightly Difficult to Upgrade RAM – while many laptops make it easy to access the random access memory module, the Dell Inspiron Mini 1018 4034CLB design requires the user to remove the mouse pad, keyboard, paneling, and SATA cords to upgrade the RAM.
• Mousepad Complaints – some users have reported inconsistent functionality of the mousepad, however others have stated that the speed and control of the mousepad can be adjusted within the user settings of Windows.
• No Optical Drive – with no CD or DVD burner, the Dell Inspiron Mini 1018 4034CLB may not be an ideal entertainment laptop in its price range. However, compatible external optical drives are readily available for a nominal price.

Conclusion

With a manufacturer’s suggested price of $299.99, the Dell Inspiron Mini 1018 4034CLB is still an excellent value. If one were to purchase a 1 GB RAM upgrade for approximately $30-$40 online, and an external optical drive for about the same price, they would have a laptop that costs roughly $400 and can outperform most competitors in that price range.