Sound Byte: The Dell Inspiron Mini duo

What do you get when you cross a netbook with a tablet computer? The Dell Inspiron Mini duo is one way to answer that question. Another question, though, is how well that idea actually works. As a combined netbook and tablet, does the Mini duo hybrid make the right compromises?

Consumer Reports Senior Electronics Editor Donna Tapellini had a chance to look at a Mini duo early on, and her first impressions were rather mixed. On "Into Tomorrow with Dave Graveline," (click here to listen) she goes over the plusses and minuses of the Mini duo with Dave. For example, although it can convert from a netbook to a tablet, that ability makes it heavier than tablet competitors—and even heavier than some other netbooks.

Consumer Reports will be testing and rating the Mini duo for full performance and battery life when models go on sale early next year, so check our computer Ratings (available to subscribers) soon for the results.

—Carol Mangis

About Sound Bytes
Every week, Consumer Reports experts produce a short (less than two minutes in length) audio segment which cover a wide variety of issues regarding consumer electronics and technology. These small "sound bites" can be heard on Into Tomorrow with Dave Graveline. The Sound Byte that is featured in the Consumer Reports Electronics Blog is a segment that aired on last weekend's Into Tomorrow over-the-air broadcast.

About Into Tomorrow
Now in its 15th year, Into Tomorrow with Dave Graveline covers the Latest in Consumer Electronics & Technology available today and... into tomorrow. The show airs on over 160 AM and FM radio stations around the U.S., on SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio, radio stations in Germany, Bermuda, New Zealand, Canada and several other sources including Mobile Broadcast Network, BeOS Radio, Sprint Radio, TiVo, and many others—every weekend. "Into Tomorrow" is also heard around the world on the Armed Forces Networks in several other countries. You can also catch all Into Tomorrow episodes on the Web. (The most recent show is usually added about three or four days after it has been broadcast on the radio.)

—Carol Mangis