Dell Inspiron Mini 9 review

The Inspiron Mini 9 that we tested is only available as part of an interesting deal from Vodafone: the computer itself is free, but you have to sign up for a two year 3G data contract at £25 per month.

This gives you mobile Internet access at broadband speeds across most of the UK.

The Inspiron itself is extremely usable: the 8.9 inch screen is clear and sharp, and the keyboard is fine as long as you aren't trying to type long documents. After a few hundred words it does start to feel cramped, but for browsing and email it's more than adequate.

The ubiquitous Intel Atom chip provides the Mini's processing power, equipped with 1GB of RAM. This is all quite standard, but less typical is the 8GB SSD. It's a third smaller than the 12GB included with the Eee PC, and really does limit what you can fit in, though at least it avoids any risk of losing your data by dropping your netbook from a height incompatible with hard drives.

As well as the 3G connection, WiFi and Bluetooth are built in, making this the best connected system in the group. This would make the Dell a great choice as a mobile browsing device, but we'd have liked longer battery life. At 237 minutes it wasn't by any means the worst performer on test, but the Eee PC and Samsung NC10 both came close to doubling its endurance.

3G is something you should definitely be thinking about if you regularly use a computer on the move, and a netbook offers a far more comfortable way to browse the web and carry out other everyday tasks than, say, a smartphone handset. However, many buyers will baulk at tying themselves into such a long contract, with no choice of network, especially at a relatively high price; you don't have to be Robert Peston to figure out that you're actually paying for the netbook by shelling out over the odds for your 3G data tariff. If you'd prefer just to pay for your computer up front, an alternative version of the same model is available straight from Dell, at prices from £269.