Dell surprised no one this morning when it released its first netbook, the Dell Inspiron Mini 9.

The new device, which packs an 8.9-inch screen into a 2.24-pound package, will compete with similar models from Hewlett-Packard, Acer, Asus and others.

The cheapest configuration -- which comes with a Linux operating system, 512 MB of RAM and just 4 GB of storage on solid-state drive -- costs $349.

The top-of-the-line model -- which comes with Windows XP, 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB of solid-state memory -- costs $599. It also comes with a built-in WebCam and Bluetooth connectivity.

An early review on CNet praises the Mini 9, but some analysts wonder why Dell wants to enter the netbook market.

CEO Michael Dell may have provided an answer earlier this week when, speaking at a conference in New York, he predicted that cellular carriers may eventually begin subsidizing tiny computers just as they subsidize handsets.