The big difference is price, which drops to £200 in the cheapest Ubuntu Linux version.

The price reduction has been achieved by stripping out the odd feature that most netbook buyers would hardly have used, specifically the HDMI interface, and by using a different graphics chipset, the Intel GMA 500 rather than the equally basic Intel GMA 945GSE.

Many netbook user may not have hooked their machines up to an HDMI-capable monitor, because of the limitations of the integrated graphics sub-system.

The Inspiron Mini 10v comes in two versions, one Ubuntu Linux, the other Windows XP. Both use Intel's 1.6GHz N270 Atom processor, and come with 1GB of RAM, and 160GB of hard disk space - the Linux-based Mini10v comes with an 8GB SSD drive.

The original Mini 10 used a 10.1in, WSVGA LCD, while the Mini10Vs use a 10.1in WLED equivalent, but both feature the same 3 or 6-cell batteries.