Five weeks ago, I decided it was high time I replaced my old laptop computer:

I have a Dell Inspiron 1100 with all the usual Microsoft stuff, Norton 360 for security, plus a few business software applications - accounting and so on. My old Dell is getting slower and slower (even though I do all the good housekeeping stuff). It also weighs a tonne - not good when traveling internationally or even just taking it to the coffee shop.

So what do I need? I’m not a power user, just a normal business type. Mobility (small and light, but more than a smart phone/PDA), all the usual office apps, accounting & investment, shared documents and projects, blogging, access to web-based services and resources, Skype, and security of course. Over the past few months, I’ve been looking at open source and internet-based software and services (thanks Mike and Don), and I’ve recently started using Google’s mail and website services. Maybe it’s time to go to the next level.

I was about to start looking at the options when up popped news of this:

• The new Dell Inspiron Mini, with Linux.

Hmm. Coupled with a big screen and keyboard when working in the office, it could be what I’m looking for. What do you reckon? Should I surf the new wave in low cost business computing?

I found it impossible to get anyone in Dell to take my order, or indeed anyone who could help me contact Dell’s NZ management, despite multiple attempts. After appealing to a higher power, I did get a call to say that there shouldn’t be a problem and they’d get back to me with the necessary info. They didn’t. To be fair, Dell hasn’t yet released the Mini with Linux in NZ, but their contact and follow up processes are useless if you don’t have a simple order. Hopefully when the Linux Mini is released, it won’t be a hassle, but I am surprised they are so hard to talk to as a corporate. Anyway, this week, despite having previously bought Dell several times, I finally gave up on them.

Wandering around Dick Smith’s in central Wellington, I saw an Acer Aspire One with Windows. The brochure said there was a Linux version, but the DSE guy said they didn’t sell it. A quick check of the Acer website led me to The CBDIT Centre, who did a great job of showing me the system, explaining the options, and generally making me very comfortable with buying from them. A nett NZ$650 later, I walk out with a blue superlight mini laptop only slightly bigger than a paperback novel, with a version of Linux loaded, and all the key office software I’m likely to need.

It started up in no time. It took longer to unpack everything from the box! So far so good. I plug in my broadband cable, and I’m away working online. Impressive. So now let’s see how my internet stuff all works. So far so good, except for one strange thing - my own blog’s typeface is displayed wrongly (I’m using the same free Mozilla browser, so no idea why). A simple user desktop page, which seems intuitive enough. Frankly, for most people, I reckon that this machine would be fine when travelling, and also in the office when coupled with a proper keyboard, screen, mouse and CD/DVD drive. I’d be buying them anyway even with a conventional laptop (well not the drive, but that’s the price for such lightness).

Next time, we’ll see how I get on with add-ons and a few extras like Skype.