Since the conception of Intel's Ultrabook in mid 2011, Dell were notable in their absence, not producing an Ultrabook range of their own until Q1 2012. It is apparent however that this was not without reason, with their new XPS 13 model showing all the signs of a product manufactured with true market awareness.
Product Specifications
The top end XPS 13 ships with an Intel Core i7-2637M processor in the engine room. As a quad core processor set up, this certainly represents more than enough power for most if not all of the applications that you would expect an Ultrabook to lend its self to. The unit also comes at 2 lower price points, both featuring the 1.6Ghz core i5-2467M (dual core). This is a sacrifice of a little bit of processing power on these models, but still more than capable for most business related functionality.
The XPS 13 also features integrated HD 3000 graphics. Whilst this won't benchmark competitively against dedicated graphics cards from the likes of ATI or NVidia, we certainly wouldn't expect it to. After all this computer is designed with enterprise in mind, and the integrated graphics capabilities should more than suffice for professionals on the go, and also compares well to that of other Ultrabook models.
Battery life comes in at just under 3 hours which is certainly respectable.
On the exterior of the body there are two USB slots, one of which being a 3.0 speed, next to a headphone jack. It also features built in wireless and Bluetooth as is industry standard, as well as a mini DisplayPort to allow connectivity to an external monitor or TV.
In terms of sound the XPS 13 features Realtek ALC275 HD Audio. The sound quality is good as long as you do not push it to max volume, as with most ultra slim notebooks. However maintaining the sound at a reasonable level will present no problems or drop in quality.
One of the features of the XPS 13 that screams quality is its display. The build quality is superb, with a 13.3 inch screen feeling vast on such a tiny device, with such a narrow bezel that it could almost go unnoticed. Dell have not compromised on their display, and in our opinion it is the best we have experienced on an Ultrabook.
The resolution comes in at 1366x768, allowing for 720p video playback. This is nothing out of the ordinary, but certainly on such a finely engineered display it feels that much better.
The XPS 13 being a business targeted device ships with software such as BitLocker (a data inscription program) and a Trusted Platform module.
Build Quality
Weighing only 1.4kg, the XPS 13 is a featherweight machine packing a heavyweight punch. Despite its weightlessness however there is a solidity and sturdiness to the build that gives a feel of quality.
In accordance with Intel's Ultrabook format restrictions, the dimensions of 31.6 x 20.5cm are definitely narrow, and a result of its willingness to better the portability of the MacBook air, without compromising its impressive display.
The keyboard is aesthetically appealing. The ergonomics of the rubber coated keys give comfortable feedback without congestion. The facia they sit within is unobstructed with stickers or engravings, making for a clean and luxurious impression.
The stunning Silver aluminium finish makes it an attractive device that will appeal to the consumer as well as the targeted business market.
Summary
It is early days yet for the Ultrabook range but Dell's initial entry is a sleek powerful machine that clearly has learned from a few of the mistakes of its competitors. Boasting both style and substance, the Dell XPS 13 is one of the best options should you be tempted to splash on an Ultrabook, and an ideal alternative to the MacBook Air.
Ian Westcott
