Dell maybe late in announcing their Ultrabook but we’ll give them a pass for coming up with the most compact 13-inch in the market.
The Dell XPS 13 is the company’s first Ultrabook and it features an edge-to-edge glass, near “œframeless” display making it the most compact 13.3-inch Ultrabook yet. It’s like having a 13-inch display on an 11-inch laptop’s form factor.
Foregoing the typical aluminum base (lid is aluminum though) other laptops are using, Dell went with a carbon fiber composite base that offers a premium look, lightweight at just under 3 lbs and cooler to the touch than aluminum.
Other specs include an Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor, integrated Intel graphics, up to 256GB SSD, 4GB RAM and a 6-cell battery that Dells claims can deliver close to 9 hours of battery life. There’s no HDMI port here nor a memory card slot which can be quite a dealbreaker unless it’s going to be used in a corporate environment.
The Dell XPS 13 will be available in select geographies around the world in March 2012 with a starting price of $999 which seems to be the average price of premium Ultrabooks.
Dell XPS 13 Specs: |
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Ultrathin laptop (0.24-0.71″/6-18mm) |
Precision machined aluminum with a carbon fiber composite base |
Microsoft Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium |
Intel Core i5 2467M and i7 2637M processor choices |
13.3″ HD WLED, 300-nit (1366×768) 720p; edge-to-edge hardened Gorilla Glass |
Intel HD 3000 video graphics |
4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1333Mhz memory |
128 GB SSD or 256GB SSD drive options |
Full size, backlit chiclet keyboard |
Glass integrated button touchpad with multi-gesture support |
Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6230 802.11 A/G/N |
Bluetooth 3.0 wireless connectivity |
High definition audio with Waves MaxxAudio 4 |
Built-in 47WHr 6-cell battery offering up to eight hours, fifty-three minutes of battery life; 45W AC adaptor |
USB 3.0 (1) + USB 2.0 with PowerShare (1), mini Display-Port, and headset jack |
Built-in 1.3MP webcam with dual array digital microphones |
Weight: starting at 2.99lbs (1.36 kg) |
Price: Starts at $999 |