With the Adamo XPS, Dell has given us a peek at the future of notebook computing – well, at least a view of a slightly different approach to the physical design of a notebook.
The first aspect of the Dell Adamo XPS that you’ll notice is its remarkable resemblance to Kate Moss, which is to say its wafer-thin profile of 0.39 inches (9.99 millimeters). If thinness is a feature that concerns you, then you know that Apple’s MacBook Air is only 0.76 inches. The next feature that you’ll notice, which is one of those “futuristic” design attributes I mentioned, is the mechanism that allows you to open the Adamo XPS; the latch release is capacitive touch-sensitive and a blue light lets you know that your netbook is open. When you begin to lift the screen to open the notebook, the final obviously unique design feature is where the hinge is located and how the Adamo XPS sits when open. The hinge is located approximately three-quarters of down from the top of the screen, which rather ergonomically positions the keyboard at an approximately 20-degree angle. Yes, it seems like it would be a little awkward to sit with the Adamo XPS on your lap (kind of like masturbating at your in-laws), but with a little practice you can surely manage.
Other physical attributes include a full-size keyboard with metallic key caps, a 13.4-inch HD 16:9 WLED 720p display, 13.39" x 10.78" x .39" dimensions, 3.2 pounds, IO DisplayPort, 2 USB 2.0 ports (one on each side), 3.5-millimeter headphone jack, VGA and HDMI connectors, etc.
Undressing the Dell Adamo XPS
The starting price at Dell.com is $1,998, but is it worth it? Probably not, but the point of the Adamo XPS is to be sexy enough to make your favorite barista jealous. That’s a matter of taste, but the XPS is certainly intriguing enough. While there are more traditional laptops on the market that perform better, the Adamo is no slouch either.
Supplying the power behind the Adamo XPS is a 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo ultra-low-voltage processor, 4GB 800MHz Dual Channel DDR3 memory, and 128GB solid state drive. Also onboard are GS45 integrated graphics, Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit, 802.11a/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, location awareness, and a 2MP webcam. The 20WHr Li-Ion battery is less than spectacular with a lifespan of just over 2.5 hours, but there is the option to get the 40WHr version, which will give you about 5.25 hours.
If you’ve got money to burn for a nice looking notebook, go ahead and feel free to get the Dell Adamo XPS; you likely won’t be too disappointed. Otherwise, you’d be better off getting something a little less pretty.
