Dell Unveils First Ultrabook, The XPS 13

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By Jane McEntegart
published

Ultrabooks are definitely one of the trends at CES 2012. While there's a ton of them on display, not all of them are new (it's not at all unusual for companies to bring old or already-announced products to CES to try and catch some of the media rays). However, we're also seeing some companies announce their first ever Ultrabook, and among them is Dell.

Dell today showed off its first foray into the Ultrabook market in the form of the XPS 13. Boasting a 13-inch 1366 x 768 Gorilla Glass display (which, similar to the HP Spectre, fits inside a chassis that's an inch smaller), the XPS 13 packs a Core i5 CPU, Intel HD 3000 graphics, a 128 GB SSD, 4 GB of RAM, Bluetooth 3.0, Intel's Smart Connect and Rapid Start technologies, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, a MiniDisplay port, and a battery life of eight hours.

Of course, it wouldn't be an Ultrabook if you didn't know how heavy it was and just how it compares to the other super-slim notebooks on the market. To that end, the XPS 13 measures in at 18-mm at its thickest and 6-mm at its thinnest. The whole thing weighs in just shy of 3-lbs and is wrapped up in a sleek aluminum finish.

As far as pricing and availability are concerned, the XPS 13 is set for release at the end of next month and will start at $999. Upgrades to Core i7 and more storage space will push that up quite a bit, though.

Jane McEntegart
27 Comments Comment from the forums
  • dontknownotsure
    I am very drowsy and i read "Devil Unveils First Ultrabook, The XPS 13"
    Reply
  • Vladislaus
    Wasn't the Dell Adamo 13 and the Dell Adamo XPS ultrabooks?
    Reply
  • mcvf
    This seems to be very close to Macbook Air design.
    Reply
  • back_by_demand
    mcvfThis seems to be very close to Macbook Air design.What way? Thin, no optical drive and shaped like a laptop?
    Toshiba Portege were doing ultrabook shape before the Air was an itch in Jobs nutsack
    Reply
  • skyline100
    The display is something that I care alot, it is a matte display or the glossy one?
    Reply
  • southernshark
    The ultra book is already starting to look DOA when you compare it to the Asus Transformer Prime and other dual use tablet/ laptops.

    I mean you don't buy an Ultrabook for performance. So about the only real edge it has over tablets is memory storage, which can certainly be a big deal, although I can already think of a quick fix for that, and I'm sure other people can too.....
    Reply
  • back_by_demand
    southernsharkSo about the only real edge it has over tablets is memory storageDon't forget the keyboard
    Reply
  • southernshark
    back_by_demandDon't forget the keyboard

    I was talking about the Transformer Prime, which has a detachable keyboard.

    This is a TECH website. I assume people know something about Tech.
    Reply
  • TEAMSWITCHER
    skyline100The display is something that I care alot, it is a matte display or the glossy one?
    A valiant attempt but you still failed. The teardrop profile, drop hinge, battery indicator, keyboard layout, port layout, and larger track-pad are all indicators that this is a derivative design of the MacBook Air. So many people won't buy Apple products, but they will buy these Apple design rip-offs. It's hypocrisy.

    Reply
  • TEAMSWITCHER
    back_by_demandWhat way? Thin, no optical drive and shaped like a laptop?Toshiba Portege were doing ultrabook shape before the Air was an itch in Jobs nutsack
    A valiant attempt but you still failed. The teardrop profile, drop hinge, battery indicator, keyboard layout, port layout, and larger track-pad are all indicators that this is a derivative design of the MacBook Air. So many people won't buy Apple products, but they will buy these Apple design rip-offs. It's hypocrisy.
    Reply