Mini 9 Accessories/Upgrades

I got the Timbuk2 case from Dell with my Mini. It is very nice, but a little bigger than just a sleeve. The EEE PC's I have had, have a very nice tight fitting sleeve that adds no bulk or weight.

 

Memory - there is only 1 SODIMM DD2 PC5300 (200 pin) Memory Slot. You will have to pull the factory 512mb or 1GB stick and replace with a 2GB stick. I purchased a Kingston Value Ram for about $40 dollars on Amazon and it works great. (KVR667D2S5/2G) Same stick I put in my EEE PC 901.

 

Thanks for the input.  Like I said, I want to stay small so a sleeve will be what I am looking for.  I believe Timbuk2 makes the product so I guess I wll call them.  The 910 is coming with 1 GB RAM so I will see how it runs with XP.  I do not undertand why Dell did not offer the upgrade.  I am reading where an SD card may be left in the machine for an extra 16 GB of storage; that I may wish to do.  I guess my biggest issue is how to load software (on the cheap, without purchasing the optical drive).  I still think the programs may load off my thumb drive.  Perhaps I can utilize my home network also.  Time will tell.

 

Thanks again for your assistance.

You can "share" a CD or DVD drive from a desktop or laptop and use that to install programs on the mini over your network. I did this for Office 2007 and it worked great. The mini also runs Office 2007 suprisingly well!!

 

Uncompressing the drive does make it a bit faster.

Thanks very much............I can try the shared drive approach to install Office and a few others.  I did order the sleeve (arrived in two days)....it looks like it will fill the bill nicely.  It is the size of the PC and no more.  I will attempt to uncompress the drive also, when it arrives, that is.

I'm still waiting on my mini 9, but have both of the Timbuk2 made for Dell cases. Both are of very high quality. My co-workers have joke the quilted sleeve looks like a make-up bag. Funny boys:smileyhappy: Note the sleeve has no storage for the power adapter like the sling bag does. This is not a complaint, just an observation. I'm sure other bag makers are going to come out with products that might offer additional choices that may offer more storage. I've come to realize that even though the whole idea behind the mini is traveling light I carry a lot "junk" like cell phones, sun glasses, keys, and wallet. It would be nice to have a mini 9 "go" bag that would carry additional items. I've seen some sleeves for the mini 9 pop up on Amazon.com.

 

If anyone finds some really good bags/sleeves beyond the Timbuk2 solutions let us know, but the Timbuk2 products won't disappoint. 

Just an update...............I did get the Timbuk2 sleeve and it is a good one (albeit a bit overpriced).  I have had the Mini 9 for four days and it is going back tomorrow.  Dell has been extremely helpful to resolve my issues but the darned thing just quit booting up.  Usually "hitting any key" would start XP up but the system was still suffering greatly.  I have owned other Dells and they are good PC's.  I usually reloaded the OS the first week or so just to "get it my way".  During the on line troubleshooting I discovered just how important the external DVD drive is.  I ordered one this evening.  You cannot own this laptop without the accessory optical drive, I feel.  After all, you receive all the restore CD's, but you cannot make use of them.  I had a small IBM with the same issue.  I am not happy about the $83 for the drive but so be it.  I see no need for a hard drive larger than the 16 GB but I definitely will upgrade to 2 GB memory.  You can buy it directly from Kingston for $25, free shipping.  I have only found one thing about the unit that I find unsatisfactory.  The darn screen will not fold back far enough; what's that all about?!

Yikes...............just ordered the external DVD drive...............30 days out.....guess everyone has the same issues I do!!

you can build a external dvd for around 90 bucks, cheaper if you have an old laptop drive sitting around found the external case for pata laptop dvd that connects to usb on net for 10 bucks used the cd burner combo reader i pulled from my other dell laptop that i upgraded to a multi burner and it works fine (after a good registry clean and reboot) i'm sure this will eat the battery, i've seen units that have their own battery but they are pricey (add your own drive or with one installed) you don't have to wait on dell stuff is out already for this

Hi, I found a group of used Targus CD/DVD (doesn't burn) on the cheap from some company for under $30.00. I bought one and it works on my Mac and mounts an ISO of Dell's Mini 9 Ubuntu system that I had downloaded and burned to a DVD on my Mac. My Mini 9 is delayed so I can't attest that it works with the Mini 9 yet.

 

Just Google Targus CD/DVD I'm sure you will find these "off lease" specials. No I am not affiliated with the company. Just an end user.

 

That said I'd prefer to have a portable CD/DVD burner.

 

Also good Mini 9 Blog here on accessories:

 

http://mydellmini.com/accessories.html 

 

I like the Supershock III listed and they can be found on e-bay out of Japan. I'm not into the quilted look of the Timbuk2 case, even though I have one. 

 

 

My Dell external DVD arrives tomorrow; a replacement Mini 9 is in the mail (done deal I guess).  I love the Mini but it did not want to load the OS after the second day.  It would load as long as I hit any key.....this machine is a keeper though (once I get the bugs out).  All I did to it was uncompress and XP update, plus the Dell updates.  After that it really got messed up.  I talked to Kinston and they will not endorse the 2GB memory module.........Crucial says "works great" and they support it.  Still do not  understand why I could not purchase it with 2 GB installed.

How did yyou do that???  I cannot get my dell mini to recognize the dvd/ portanble I bought for it/  I am typing on them mini as you can see/  .This is fg4rustratingt!!

I just want to install it.  I cannot install powerlink or nero. 'gerry morgan

 

This is Gerry Morgan again, this time on the XPS 600 so you won't think I am drunk or something.  The only problem I have with the Dell mini is that it will not recognize the DVD portable drive that I ordered from Dell for it. It will accept a flash drive. There is something I'm missing about XP and the USB plug in. I will keep looking in the forums.

I bought the smallest sleeve and am happy with it because my mini will fit in a large purse or a briefcase. So will the power cord.

These are the times when I love Linux.  I just go into Synaptic and I don't have to worry about the CD issue.

But that aside.  I think you can use the flash card if you want too.  You need the ISO and you need to be able to flash the ISO to the flash card.  It is not the best way to accomplish the goal, but that is how many people are placing Ubuntu 8.10 on their Mini 9's.

If XP is not recognizing your USB drive there is a driver problem.  You might want to plug it in and look for the driver.  Does the USB Drive work with your XP Desktop?  If so you can use that as a way to find the driver.