Dell tomorrow (Tuesday 12/08/2008) have scheduled a press conference in San Francisco.

Everyone knows they have the replacement for the D-series laptops the imaginatively titled E-Series in the wings.

The real buzz is around the small mini laptops (pictured above). These compete directly with the HP Mini Note and the Asus eee PC’s

Link: http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200808071954DOWJONESDJONLINE000818_FORTUNE5.htm

• 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU
• Intel 945 Express/GMA950 graphics
• 1GB RAM
• 8.9 inch 1240 x 600 pixel display
• 8GB SSD
• Windows XP or Linux
• 3 USB ports
• 802.11b/g
• Ethernet
• 32 Wh battery
• Card reader
• Black, white and red colors

August still looking likely.

Unless the reviews are really bad I am going to be investing in a Dell E Series Slim mini notebook.

They come in both 8.9″ and 12″ form factors.

I am used to a 12″ laptop so just to mix it up I will go with the smaller 8.9″ (watch me flip/flop on that nearer the time).

I think Dell are right when they pitch the device as the “30 min web experience.”

I don’t expect this to me my primary machine but when I am out and about I just need all my data and a machine capable of establishing VPN connections for remote technical support.

I wonder if Dell will offer any mobile data options for this. If not a USB Dongle it is.

I am currently in a transitional period with my own technology I always like to investigate ways of improving productivity and I think I can squeeze some more by centralising everything on a powerful desktop PC and use a Dell E Slim as my mobile extension to it.

That’s why the mobile comm’s of the Dell E slim are interesting to me. I can just VPN back to base if I need to.

Dell call them the Mobile Internet Devices.

The prices start from $299 to compete in the “mini” market.

Comes with either Linux or Windows XP (yes XP).

Next Up is the larger 12.1″

Based on the CPU this has been designed with mobility and cost in mind and not cutting edge performance.

I am really pleased to see Dell tackle this new market “Cheap Mini’s” and with their supply chain management and infrastructure these are likely to catch on fast.

I am also glad Windows XP gets an afterlife. it may have shipped in 2001 but XP is a really solid base to build technology on.

They haven’t announced a release date yet but it can only be a few months out.