The Dell Inspiron Mini 9 is one of the cheapest netbooks around, with a starting price of just $249. It’s also one of the smaller mini-laptops on the market, wehing in at just 2.3 pounds and measuring about 9.1″ x 1.3″ x 6.8″. But in order to keep the size small, Dell did some interesting things with the keyboard. For instance, there are no Fn keys. And on the standard keyboard, the apostrophe key and a few other keys are in strange positions.
But it turns out that Dell offers a US-International version of the keyboard, which is designed for the Vostro A90. The Vostro A90 is sold through Dell’s business division, but it’s basically the same computer as a Dell Inspiron Mini 9, and the keyboards are interchangeable — but not quite identical.
My Dell Mini forum member hybridsolidr received a US-Intl keyboard by accident when Dell shipped him a replacement keyboard a few months ago. And he noticed that it has a slightly different layout, including the proper placement of the apostrophe key. Some fo the keys are a bit smaller, to make space for the extra keys on the keyboard. But if you can deal with the tiny keys, it looks lke you can order the replacement part for around $15 from Dell by using the product part number U061H.
I think the Dell’s international keyboard for the Inspiron Mini 9 is a little expensive.
After typing on the Mini 9 for awhile, I’d do this just to get the apostrophe and quote key where it is supposed to be.
Tried to order this keyboard today from Dell and was told price of $49.99, with a shipping and handling fee of $5.99 and tax for a total of $61.43. That’s a lot more than $15 dollars quoted in the above post.
I would love to know where I can order it for $15.00.
Personally I would take the smaller ones to get the Q and A rows staggered like they are on other keyboards and to get the right shift key to the left of the up arrow… if I were going to buy a Mini 9 🙂
Pay $15 for smaller keys??? Interesting find, but…no.