Marcel Hilzinger

Dell now provides its 10" Mini 10 netbook with Ubuntu in the U.S. and Canada, with the rest of the world to follow shortly.

The Mini 10 netbook has been around with Windows XP for two months and now comes with Ubuntu at least in the U.S. and Canada, according to DELL-Anne C in Dell's community blog. The Ubuntu version costs $400, while the XP model is steeper at $500. The Linux version provides a further benefit: because the netbook isn't bound by Microsoft's requirements for Windows XP, the Mini 10 comes with a 32-GByte ($75) and even 64-GByte ($125) solid state disk (SSD) option. The 6-cell battery option ($30) gives the netbook an 8-hour battery life compared to the 3 hours or so for the standard battery, and a mid-range 3-cell option with 28 WHrs and just under 4 hours battery life is also available for $15. Last but not least, the Mini 10 provides an edge-to-edge HD display option ($35) at a 1366 x 768 resolution.

Ubuntu as the operating system of choice on Dell Mini 10.

The Inspiron Minis run on the Ubuntu 8.04 Long Term Support (LTS) version, although Dell spiffed up the graphical interface somewhat and expanded the original 8.04 with NetworkManager. The Community blog page includes a short video on the Mini 10 from Doug Anson, Dell's Linux technology strategist.

Along with the built-in ATSC tuner, Dell promises that the Mini 10 will also make its appearance soon in Europe with a DVB-T tuner.