Archives for dell-mini-9
As I’ve said in my last few posts about my new Dell Mini 9 I was frustrated with the keyboard layout. The ‘apostrophe/quotation mark’ key was moved down to next to the left arrow key. This just wasn’t cutting it for me.
The semicolon/colon is still where it is supposed to be and it got me to thinking… I don’t really use the semicolon key much. Really, I barely use it at all. I do however use the apostrophe key all the damn time. Who doesn’t use contractions all the time? Seriuosly, I’m just a readneck medic and I don’t do proper grammar….
So, I began looking for my options. As it turns out, Microsoft has a program just for this. Microsoft Keyboard Layout creator. Version 1.3 works on XP and older, 1.4 with Vista. The problem is there really are no instructions on how to use it. So I figured it out all by myself!
It is pretty damn simple though…
Simply install the program and then follow these steps.
Once you’ve finished running the program setup open it up from the start menu. Next click on File and then “load existing keyboard”. This will pull your existing keyboard up on the screen.
A screen pops up asking you to select which keyboard you want to load, choose the US keyboard.
Now, find the key you want to remap. It won’t look exactly like yours on screen. I just push the key that I want to change. Then click on it, and on the right press ALL. I decided that I wanted to change the semicolon key to the apostrophy key, and vice versa. You will have to fill in the second box to fill it in for the Shift+ key as well. It will autofill the unicode in where you type the normal key. Just type the key you used and it will show up, then be replaced by unicode.
Then click ok. Next go to FILE and push SAVE Source file. Once you’ve done that go to the Project tab on the top menu bar. Click BUILD DLL AND SETUP PACKAGE. It will take a minute and you will see a menu asking if you would like to see the files. Click yes. 
Next, find the icon that describes your computer. For standard Intel processors Use the i386. Click to open. It may take a minute to get it complete.
After this it was a little confusing for me. Basically you have two keyboards installed now(or I did something wrong). I thought nothing had changed. So I did a quick RESTART and still no change. Then I noticed the Language bar was on the bottom toolbark, with a keyboard Icon. I clicked it and the option for my US CUSTOM keyboard. Select that. Then click settings. Go into settings and remove the old keyboard that you aren’t using anymore.
You will have to restart for this to take effect. Upon restart you should be where you want to be! You can use this to remap any key. You can get rid of CAPS lock(make it another shift key), etc.
Once you’ve done all of this you can even pop the keys off and put them where you have remapped them to be. I haven’t done this yet but it looks pretty standard like most laptops.
This took me all of 7 minutes to do–and that was while I was figuring it out!
Any questions: medicthree@gmail.com
With a little more use of my Inspiron 910 I’m starting to get the hang of it. I’m still very satisfied with my purchase, but have addressed a few more things that could have been tweaked:
The apostrophe key is clear down next to the arrow keys. I know I pointed this out before, but I’m still having to take my right hand off of the keyboard to peck at that damn button so I still complain a little. Maybe it is time to eliminate contractions and possessive words from my dialoge…
Battery life–I’m getting about 4.25 hours, running screen 40% and other unnecessary tasks off. You will find that every Inspiron 910 comes with the same crapware regardless of configuration(in the current XP editions anyways). For instance, I opted out of bluetooth, yet a bluetooth process was alive and well when I started up for the first time. The fine folks at dell also do a good job of packing it up with a load of other crapware you couldn’t ever possibly need….
Still, I am happy with this experience as a whole. It feels solid in my hands, and the display offers a crisp image with no strain. I am dissapointed that my Med-Media EPCR suite won’t work because of screen resolution(the bottom of every page is chopped and there is no way to access it). I guess I’ll have to live with using the desktop for that!
I think some things that could make this better–a 6 cell battery. The 4 cell offered does not increase life over competitors 3 cell batteries. A touch pad disable button like my DV1000 had. I use a mouse a lot and hate to bump the touchpad when I’m typing. It can still be disabled but not nearly as easily as on the fly access from a hardware button.
I’ve went over this purchase 6 million times since last friday. I am still convinced I spent my money wisely. It does everything(except EPCR’s) that I need. It is quick at the tasks it is designed for and is built well. Time will tell if the Dell Mine 9(Inspiron 910) will stand up to the test of Cheating Death.
So, I’ve had my Dell Mini 9 for all of 5 hours and it is time to put my thoughts about it out there!
I opted for the 8gb SSD over the 16–simple reason–price. But in my deal(off of ebay.com) I got 2gb of ram. Which I will say is a valuable upgrade over the stock 512 or 1gb.
My primary challenge so far is the keyboard. While the A-Z keys are about normal size, most of the rest of the keys are seriously cramped. I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it, I know it will take me a while. They keys are very responsive though and do not feel like a lot of the reports concerning the EEEPC or Acer One.
Why did I choose the Mini 9 over the eeePc or Aspire One? Honestly, the only thing that seemed significant is that current reviews of the Mini 9 said that it didn’t feel “plasticy” or like a toy. Otherwise the other options had larger hard drives(though NOT SSDs–which was also very enticing), more ram stock, and options for larger screens.
I’m happy I chose the Inspiron 910 though. With the stock 512mb of ram it was, well slow. Having more than one program open made it almost unusable. I ran it with the included 512 for about 10 minutes. I upgraded to 2gb(included through my ebay auction at US$400) and it took me all ove 3 minutes–including reboot time! 2 screws, pop out old ram, pop in new ram, and I was done! This is much easier than the upgrade processes for other competing Netbook computers.
The touchpad also has a great response to it as well. It also has a standard button configuration unlike many competitors that have the buttons on either side of the touchpad. The only thing I dislike is that at the top of the touchpad there is no “edge” so that you suddenly slip onto the spacebar. I appreciate that tactile feedback and thus I’m struggling to get use to it.
Pics on top of my HP DV1000 for size comparison
What I like:
- Extremely portable
- Fast boot up/shut down
- Fast response from “standby”
- Responsive Keyboard
- Lightweight–2.3 lbs!
- Pretty good battery life–4 hours–though not as great as some competitors
- Bright, crisp screen
- Quiet–no spinning drives or fans to make noise
- Pretty good sound from a budget Netbook
- .3mp Webcam streams well and takes decent snappies
Disklikes:
- Some keys are placed funny, including the apostrophy key which is down next to the arrow keys instead of next to the return key.
- Lack of F11 and F12 keys
- Gets a little warmer than normal laptops–lacks any fans
- Attracts fingerprints like the TP dispenser in a Mall Bathroom
All in all I am very satisfied with my purchase. You will all have to bare with me while I get used to this keyboard and the quirks it has–but I am getting there already(damn… I had a good excuse for my frequent typos).
Expect more to follow!
Well, as of now my NEW Dell Inspiron Mini 9 is on its way. It is currently somewhere between DFW and here. Can’t wait till I get it!
I was going to get the Acer Aspire ONE but decided I liked the build quality of the Dell Mini 9 much better. They all seem the same as far as netbooks go. I did end up sacrificing and getting an 8gb SSD drive instead of their max 16gb. This is more for portability so I’m not too worried. Also, at under 2.5 lbs I don’t think I’ll care much if I have to carry around an external drive if the need fits.
I might look into one of those “free” online storage companies. I’m sure getting use to the keyboard that is wayyyy smaller will be a challenge–so be prepared for more typos than normal!
It was just time to get rid of the HP DV1000. I dropped it back in 2006 and fried a hard drive then. Now the replacement drive, which is from 2004 or so is also going out, as did my CPU fan and it is running hot enough to cook a porterhouse on it.
Expect pics, and posts from my new toy on MONDAY!!!!
