Dell Puts Its Windows 8 Line-up Up for Pre-order

News
By Jane McEntegart
published

Dell is getting in early and opening up pre-orders for its Windows 8 machines.

After nearly 10 months of trade shows filled to the rafters with Windows 8 devices, we're finally going to see some of them in the flesh. And. with the Windows 8 launch almost upon us, manufacturers are starting to officially announce their Windows 8 wares. Today, Dell put two new XPS PCs and one Inspiron up for pre-order for folks in the United States and Canada.

The most interesting of the three is definitely the XPS 12 convertible, which folks will likely remember because of the Dell Inspiron Duo. The laptop features a full keyboard and the usual hinged display. Where it differs from other convertibles is that the entire lid doesn't swivel around or fold backwards. Instead, just the screen itself flips, doing so inside the bezel of the laptop. You simply spin the display and close the lid to turn your computer into a tablet. The base model ships with a third generation Intel Core i5-3317U, Intel 4000 HD graphics, 4GB of DDR3, and a 128GB SSD.

 

Next is the XPS One 27, which is a high performance touch screen all-in-one (AIO) aimed the creative enthusiast. It boasts 27-inch Wide Quad HD Display and an articulating stand that tilts the display to a 60-degree angle. The base model comes with an Intel Core i5 CPU, Intel HD integrated graphics, 6GB of RAM, and 1TB of HDD storage. 

 

Lastly, there's the Inspiron One 23, another all in one. It packs a Pentium G645 CPU, Intel integrated HD graphics, 4GB of RAM, and 500GB of HDD storage.

 

The XPS 12 starts at $1,199.99 (both CDN and USD), while the XPS One 27 with touch starts $1599.99 (CDN and USD), and the Inspiron One 23 AIO with touch starts at $799.99 CDN or $779.99 USD. Additionally, Dell is giving the XPS 13 a boost with the addition of Ivy Bridge. It'll start at $999.99 in both the U.S. and Canada. You can pre-order today but you won't get your shiny new computer until after Windows 8 launches at the end of the month.

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Jane McEntegart
16 Comments Comment from the forums
  • skaz
    Blahhh. Interesting to see all this backlash against windows 8 through the interwebz but it doesn't seem MS has really responded to it. That's why I think this is a conversion method. A way to convert everyone to windows 9 when it arrives. Like vista shook the ground and then windows 7 calmed the storm.

    I really hope, whatever MS's tactics may be, that the core elements of what makes the windows operating system so great aren't lost through this transition. We strive for customization while maintaining a stable system. As other operating systems become more open and customizable like windows they become more popular. Basically, but modestly, other operating systems model themselves from windows core idea. (I'm not saying "copy", I'm saying "model", as in influence for the better.)

    Take android for example. As android grew and matured it ultimately became more customizable and stable. You can do so much more with android now then you can back when it was first released on the G1. The core element being the "freedom" that the operating system gives in content and overall user choices. Windows has had this freedom for so long, and is what makes windows so great. But 8 seems like a step backwards in this regard.

    Either way it makes me feel uneasy. I don't like the direction that windows 8 is taking the operating system. But that's just my opinion.
    Reply
  • southernshark
    MS seems to be on track. I will download Win 8 when it arrives.

    The main issues strike me as meaningless since I can get it to work in "normal" mode.

    Unlike Vista, this OS is faster and more responsive than Win 7.

    The real problem with Vista was the bloat, which this OS supposedly avoids.
    As long as I can turn Metro off, I am fine with it being there.
    Reply
  • skaz
    Speed is of course a factor in upgrades. But speed is not the issue with windows 8. Secondly, I think you missed the part about conversion. If windows 8 is a step towards the next windows, then there is no guarantee that the ability to "turn metro off" will still be present in the next installment.

    I'm not saying you shouldn't buy or use the OS. To each their own of course. All I'm saying is to diffidently think about what steps and why those steps are being taken within this system.
    Reply
  • RealBeast
    Maybe Ballmer shouldn't get a bonus at all if he can't figure out that there a lot of Windows users that are negative on many features of 8. He missed it on Vista and that was a dud that never got close to XP, which 7 just passed because it is good and people like to be able to configure their OS.

    Every other OS seems to be the plan at MS. 8 will probably be fine for phones and tablets (or at least I hope it will since I'd like to buy a few), but it just doesn't seem to have enough upside relative to continuing with 7 as long as possible (like until 9 if it follows the usual good bad pattern), kind of like many did with XP.
    Reply
  • kdw75
    hydac7Windows 8 is just a terrible concept and touch on a desktop is a mega fail
    Touchscreen on a desktop computer isn't workable. Think how tired your hand would get after a few hours of holding it up to a touchscreen. Secondly think how awkward it would be trying to work with your hand and arm blocking a big portion of the screen.
    Reply
  • damianrobertjones
    What are a few of you talking about? Windows 8 works perfectly fine with a keyboard and mouse... Have you even tried the product?

    I use it day after day in work on a HP 8470p and I have ZERO issues. The sales guy testing has zero issues as he's working as he did before. The marketing lady loves the new interface and all the other 'shiny' elements and the factory manager is also happy. These people are USING the software and are all running it on non-touch devices. (By the way there are people that work with their hands for next to 6/7 hours a day and have no issues... they're called manual workers)

    ..Then again some people on the interwebs simply like to repeat what they've 'heard'.
    Reply
  • Old_Fogie_Late_Bloomer
    damianrobertjonesHave you even tried the product?Uh, yeah. :ange:
    Reply
  • alidan
    touch on a desktop isnt fail, however the monitors they have definatly are.

    you need a monitor mount that would allow it to be horisontal when you are typeing, but allow you ro bring it closer and more flat when you want to use touch.

    that however, adds about 2-300$ to the final cost because of the mount quality you need.

    worth the price for the mount? if you have touch, hell yea.
    worth it to an oem to put it in box... nope.
    Reply
  • belardo
    underwhelmed... oh, black versions of the iMac with a toy-OS?
    Reply
  • john_4
    Talk about cheap crap made in China, I will pass on Dell and 8. My next computer will be Linux or maybe OS X.
    Reply