We talk a fair bit about netbooks here at ThinkPads.com, and understandably because it’s a pretty important part of the computer industry right now. What we have here today is a leaked roadmap of Dell’s plans for their “Mini” netbook lineup, including the new Mini 11. Now there’s nothing to special about the Mini 11 that we know yet: it’s an 11-inch netbook with a bit higher specs and a bit higher price. What IS interesting is how the netbook categories are evolving.

When netbooks first arrived on the scene, they were ultra-low-end notebooks with small screens and not much else. As they’ve evolved, we’ve seen everything from 8-12 inch screens, 2GB SSD’s to 250GB spinning drives, and a couple USB ports to every connection available including WiMax and GPS. With the shotgun pattern of new models and features coming out these days, you can start to see a pattern emerging.

Dell at least appears to be turning their netbooks into its own family of netbooks, with a distinct hierarchy. They have a clear differentiation between a “value” oriented netbook, a “media centric” 2nd computer (for those who have enough disposable income that they can afford to buy a second PC), and the Mini 11 rounds it out as a “small screen ultraportable” that is very “laptop like” without the laptop-price.

At the same time, Dell is pushing their new Adamo 13 premium notebook, has plans for a 9-inch version (the Adamo 9), and is keeping on with their bread & butter Inspiron consumer machines and Latitude corporate boxes. The netbooks are clearly expanding into their own brand line, with several models to meet the expected needs of today’s consumers. Don’t forget there is also a Mini 12, designed to offer netbook features, performance, and value but with the usability of a 12-inch chassis.

If netbook lineups continue to expand, how long will it be until we see a mainstream 14-15 inch netbook with satisfactory performance and low price tag that makes existing mid-range notebooks unattractive to consumers? If companies continue fighting on price alone, at a time when you NEED to differentiate yourself from the competition in a strong way, then it may indeed evolve to that. Imagine a Dell with only Mini Inspirons, Mini Latitudes, and Adamo’s.

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