Dell Mini 9 @ $279 w/ Ubuntu | 512MB RAM | 4GB SSD

[Shoryuken]

It looks like it's a week packed with Mini 9 deals.

Today we see the cheapest Mini 9 yet (for Canadians) at $279. It's pretty bare bones with Ubuntu, 512MB RAM, and the 4GB SSD. Sure, the Best Buy $299 and even the Dell Mini 9 XP $349 (now expired) from earlier in the week were better values, but they weren't $279!

http://configure.dell.com/dellstore/...n&OC=NI9U_F_1E

The same configuration was sold for one day only by Dell USA for $199, but with the exchange rate heading against our favour again, I guess the inflated price shouldn't surprise us.

The good news is that, unlike any model that has Windows XP, you can upgrade it to 2GB RAM (cheap to do it yourself though) and even get an SSD up to 64MB. (Microsoft restricts XP Mini 9's to a max of 1GB RAM, 16GB SSD.)

[neo1973]

4GB SSD is the deal breaker for me otherwise I would get another one.

[monit88]

I woke up at 6, hoping it would be 1GB of RAM and 8GB SSD. I guess, I was asking too much for it. Out of curiousity, are there any coupons that can be used to reduce even further with upgraded options.

[zulu888]

Just ordered, exactly the type of Mini 9 deal I wanted. Added built in bluetooth and webcam.

[drool]

For 279 even with 4gigs its a good deal, you guys are just getting snobby [IMG]http://**********************/s/happy.gif[/IMG]

[juched]

I ordered the $349 dell.ca deal last week with XP, 16GB and 1GB ram.

Would it be cheaper to get this one and upgrade the hard drive and ram myself? Where can you get SSD hard drives online for cheap?

Thanks!

[juched]

From crucial.com you can get the 32GB SSD for 79$ US and 2GB of ram for 25.99$US.

So, add on 105$US and you have a machine with 4 x the memory on both accounts.

[zegerman]

I'd be careful with buying SSD drives for the mini. I'm pretty sure the only one's that fit are RunCores made specifically for the mini and not any other random brand. Anyways, check out some forums first before ordering an SSD upgrade.

[juched]

I'd be careful with buying SSD drives for the mini. I'm pretty sure the only one's that fit are RunCores made specifically for the mini and not any other random brand. Anyways, check out some forums first before ordering an SSD upgrade.

Yes, those are exactly the forums I was looking at as well.

the crucial site actually lists the mini 9 and compatiblity, so it is pretty safe. I have not found this from any canada sites yet.

[ishagi]

I'd be careful with buying SSD drives for the mini. I'm pretty sure the only one's that fit are RunCores made specifically for the mini and not any other random brand. Anyways, check out some forums first before ordering an SSD upgrade.

Yes, it has to be a mini PCI-e SSD. The Runcores are more expensive yet fast. The Crucial, SuperTalent and others are cheaper but very slow on writes. The stock Dell STEC SSD are "middle of the road". Do your research and buy the best drive for how you plan on using it.

Me? I ordered a 32G Runcore. (Back Ordered, of course, as they seem pretty popular right now).

[gizmo8]

Crucial sends it by FedEx and those bastards charges a $15 handling fees.

[^gUrU]

...
The good news is that, unlike any model that has Windows XP, you can upgrade it to 2GB RAM (cheap to do it yourself though) and even get an SSD up to 64MB. (Microsoft restricts XP Mini 9's to a max of 1GB RAM, 16GB SSD.)

The XP model you can upgrade 2GB, they just can't sell it (under terms of their MS XP Home license) with >1GB of ram... it's no matter, way cheaper to upgrade yourself then pay Dells premium (and it's a sinch)

[SAN66]

From crucial.com you can get the 32GB SSD for 79$ US and 2GB of ram for 25.99$US.

So, add on 105$US and you have a machine with 4 x the memory on both accounts.

With shipping, brokerage, etc its probably about the same price to just take the $120 upgrade to 32GB from dell. Upgrade the RAM yourself locally.

[zulu888]

With shipping, brokerage, etc its probably about the same price to just take the $120 upgrade to 32GB from dell. Upgrade the RAM yourself locally.

I don't think there is an option to upgrade to 32GB directly from Dell

[Shoryuken]

I don't think there is an option to upgrade to 32GB directly from Dell

you can. on the ubuntu models you can choose SSD sizes in 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 GB.