The Dell Zino (Inspiron Zino HD) comes in a box a bit bigger than Apple’s Mac Mini and adds some cosmetic flavor to the category of compact desktop computers.
While the Mini is available only in white, Zino has a selection of 10 replaceable, colorful lids.
The Zino will arrive in a few configurations, starting at about $230 running Microsoft’s Windows Vista operating system. The processors in all models will be supplied by AMD — not your everyday Intel Atom, which is a good thing — and will be able to accommodate an optical multidrive as well as a Blu-ray disc player.
The higher-priced model (preconfigured at $650, including a 20-inch monitor) also gets an HDMI output, a 500-gig hard drive and Windows 7 Home Premium. The Apple Mini, meanwhile, starts at $600 and was recently updated with slightly faster processors and more memory. Stephen Williams
