Round Rock, Texas-based Dell has been expanding its Inspiron Mini range of ultra-portable computer systems, with the addition of a new 10-inch model, which the PC vendor showcased at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The new netbook will basically compete with similar designs from other PC vendors, coming to provide users with Dell's alternative to the 10-inch netbook systems.

 

There aren't any specific details regarding pricing and availability, but when it will hit the market, later this year, the netbook is going to be powered by Intel's newest Atom platform. The system will be equipped with a 1.6GHz Atom Z530 processor and will provide a number of built-in features, such as a TV Tuner, mobile broadband, GPS or wireless 802.11n Internet connectivity. Additional details regarding the netbook's memory and storage configurations are yet to become available.

 

The Inspiron Mini 10 comes to expand the company's range of small-sized, Internet capable, portable PCs, which also includes the Inspiron Mini 9 and the Inspiron Mini 12. However, unlike in these two, the keyboard of the new 10-inch Inspiron Mini is said to provide a better typing experience, as the PC vendor expanded the size of the keyboard for that very reason. The resolution on the 10-inch netbook is 1024 by 576 pixels, offering an Edge-to-Edge 16:9 HD 720p visual experience.

 

Battery options include 3-cell and 6-cell versions, providing the netbook with a decent battery life, which will also be improved by the system's new processor, the Atom Z530, according to Dell. One of the most interesting features on the new Dell Inspiron Mini 10 is the built-in trackpad, which doesn't boast the traditional mouse buttons. Similar to that of Apple's new MacBooks, the trackpad of Dell's new system allows users to press the right and left bottom corners in order to make selections. By comparison, on Apple's MacBooks, users need to press the entire trackpad, in order to do that.

 

Given the available specifications, the Inspiron Mini 10 could potentially set Dell as one of the top netbook vendors in the upcoming year. Still, we will have to wait for the official pricing details.