Box.net Gets Spot on Dell’s New Mini Laptop

Online file storage and sharing service Box.net is helping to put the “cloud” in Dell’s first netbook, the Inspiron Mini 9. With only 4GB of built-in hard drive space, Dell needed some way to boost capacity. So it placed a default Box icon on the desktop that leads to 2GB of free internet storage (twice the normal 1GB that Box provides for free).

Right now, that icon is just a shortcut to Box’s website where users can sign up for the service. The Palo Alto-based startup has suggested, however, that a deeper level of desktop integration is in the works.

Don’t want to cough up $350 for one of these little guys? Box has offered to give away five of them for free to our readers. Each will come with 25GB of Box storage.

To win one, tell us in the comments why you need an ultraportable laptop. We’ll pick the five best reasons and email to follow up, so make sure to submit your real email address.