I’m not personally a big fan of the fashion-over-function netbooks, but there’s obviously a market for them.

Along the same lines as the Vivienne Tam editions we’ve seen from HP, Dell is now offering a limited edition design from Deanne Cheuk. As far as the hardware goes, it’s pretty standard netbook fare.

• Intel Atom Z530 at 1.6GHz
• 1GB DDR2 memory
• 160GB SATA HDD
• Intel GMA 500
• 10.” 1024×600 display
• 802.11 b/g wireless
• HDMI output
• 3 cell LI-Ion battery
• Windows 7 Starter

The machine will be limited to a run of 5,250 with each system being individually numbered. You’ll only find these babies at Best Buy, and at $379.99 they’re at least more reasonably priced than the Vivienne Tam models.

Heck, at that price the Cheuk Inspiron might make a snazzy gift for the gadget-loving gal in your life.

via UberGizmo

While some customers already have the new Dell Inspiron Mini 9 netbooks in their hands, it looks like the company might be facing a roadbump that could affect future shipments. DigiTimes reports that Compal Electronics, the company building the tiny laptops is dealing with a shortage of in-mold roller treated chassis (I looked it up, the plural of chassis is chassis). And that could mean that Dell will ship fewer netbooks than predicted.

That’s not to say you won’t be able to pick one up at all. It just means that instead of shipping 1 million units, Dell may only be able to ship 700,000. I don’t think folks who placed their orders early have anything to worry about… yet. But if the Inspiron Mini becomes a popular netbook in the coming months, we could see shortages down the road.

via Eee PC.net

The folks at Brazilian blog Zumo say they got a chance to tour the Dell complex in Austin and get some more details about the upcoming low cost laptop from Dell. We’ve seen reports that the laptop would be called the Dell E, while other reports say it will be dubbed the Inspiron Mini. Zumo’s going with the latter. Here’s what they say you’ll get for your $300:

• 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU
• Intel 945 Express/GMA950 graphics
• 1GB RAM
• 8.9 inch 1240 x 600 pixel display
• 8GB SSD
• Windows XP or Linux
• 3 USB ports
• 802.11b/g
• Ethernet
• 32 Wh battery
• Card reader
• Black, white and red colors

There’s really not much in here that we hadn’t heard before, so there’s no reason to doubt the specs — aside from the odd screen resolution. I’m going to assume some numbers got transposed and that the actual resolution is 1024 x 600 pixels.

[via Small-Laptops]

It looks like Dell is releasing a few more details about the company’s upcoming cheap ultraportable laptop. But just a few. First, the computer, which may or may not be called the Inspiron Mini, will be released in August.