Dell Adamo ultrathin laptop rumors surface

According to the New York Times, Dell may have a little surprise on the way. Based on some wild trademark searches, a tiny bit of digging on the "internet" using a "search engine," and the lack of eye contact from the company's VP in charge of consumer sales (Michael Tatelman), there's a MacBook Air rival beneath all this subterfuge. It seems that the brand name "Adamo" is registered to the computer-maker with a site to match, and somehow the fashion blog (!?) Uptownlife.net came up with this gem: "Rumor has it that Dell is coming out with a computer called Adamo that will rival the MacBook Air." How they came up with that is anyone's guess, but apparently the look on Tatelman's face when asked about it was enough to convince at least one journalist that this is a done deal. Us? Well we're going to wait and see, but we're happy to work with Commander Adamo as soon as we see him.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[ronzo @ Dec 18th 2008 5:01PM]

Interesting...

[Konstantin @ Dec 18th 2008 5:29PM]

Yes, very interesting. Especially if the price is lower like...

[BenJI @ Dec 18th 2008 6:29PM]

AWSEM-O...

[heffeque @ Dec 18th 2008 8:41PM]

Adamo is the name of a FTTH company in Spain that offers 100/20 Mbps for 29 euros a month or 100/100 Mbps for 49 euros a month. I wonder if Dell will be allowed to used that name in Spain or if they'll have to change it.

Here's the web page:
http://www.adamo.es/

[z0iid @ Dec 18th 2008 9:17PM]

i jizzed in my pants

[Kris120890 @ Dec 18th 2008 5:02PM]

Supposedly its going to be lighter. thinner but $300 - $500 cheaper. So I can't wait to see what they've got.

[rock99rock @ Dec 18th 2008 5:06PM]

Shit better not be Atom based :)

[ijyt @ Dec 18th 2008 5:10PM]

I'd snap one up instantly.

[tpadekar @ Dec 18th 2008 5:54PM]

Please don't say "snap" when you're talking about such thin laptops... I always think about wafer bars going *snap*

[Fanfoot @ Dec 18th 2008 7:36PM]

So, a 1.6GHz Macbook Air is $1799. Minus $300 is $1499, big whoop. Minus $500 is $1299 which would be quite something if they field the right product in this space. Still the competition among ultralights has prices WAY UP THERE so anything from Dell would be a nice break.

[Knives_Out @ Dec 18th 2008 9:18PM]

it's cheaper because dell puts garbage screens in their laptops.

people put up with it for some reason ...

[EricR @ Dec 18th 2008 5:03PM]

I was going to hit the comments to see how long until a Galactica reference but then I finished the article... way to go Josh.

[wrabbit @ Dec 18th 2008 7:35PM]

LOL exactly what I was thinking as I was reading it :)

[Nick J @ Dec 18th 2008 5:04PM]

...+10 internets Mr.Topolsky...

[Nelson @ Dec 18th 2008 5:06PM]

I wonder-O which processor-O this will be based-O on

[Robot @ Dec 18th 2008 5:07PM]

Michael Tatelman was also reportedly sheepish about rumors that it comes loaded with 16GB of music from this gentleman: http://www.adamosalvatore.com/

[christopheraven @ Dec 18th 2008 5:07PM]

I'm waiting for the Rosalino.

[Derek @ Dec 18th 2008 5:09PM]

How will it rival the Air?
will it run OSX?

otherwise I don't see how it will be a rival at all.

[ijyt @ Dec 18th 2008 5:12PM]

More than one USB port and it already does. Anyway, you can leave your Mac OS X is the god of everything speech at the door.

[kit @ Dec 18th 2008 5:17PM]

Apple twat.

[E @ Dec 18th 2008 5:14PM]

If by rival you mean they will build an overpriced, underpowered, no optical drive, no ports computer, then probably NO.

[Rob @ Dec 18th 2008 5:41PM]

maybe it will actually be useful for something

[dcoaster @ Dec 18th 2008 5:41PM]

I'd be careful there "E"... Dell may pop out a model or two without an optical drive.

[Mobius_1 @ Dec 18th 2008 5:44PM]

Just an observation from me: it is now almost "wrong" to be an Apple fanboy in a very blurred and cannot-see-your-damn-comment kinda way.

Anyone else think this all started when iEye and CLAK etc started commenting?

[Peter @ Dec 18th 2008 5:52PM]

I miss iEye and CLAK, this new generation of Apple fanboys are much more irritating.

[ethana2 @ Dec 18th 2008 6:26PM]

Just because it doesn't come with it doesn't mean it won't run.
If OSX was publicly available to run on any hardware, Dell would be obligated to offer it as an OS choice, in my opinion, as I feel they are obligated to offer Ubuntu. If you have a problem with OSX not being installed on this line of machines, you've got Apple to talk to about that.

[Kelmon @ Dec 19th 2008 2:52AM]

Well, I'm glad to see that the idiots are out in force this morning. No, whatever this is, it is not a direct competitor to the MacBook Air. Assuming that it is a "thin 'n' light" laptop then it is going to be a competitor to the likes of the Lenovo X300, Voodoo Envy, etc. This is not a complex concept. If the computer won't run your software then you are unlikely to buy it. You seem to think that this is an unimportant thing whereas it is a fundamental issue.

Mind you, if you do not already have an investment in one computing platform then it could be considered a competitor. I just doubt that applies to many people these days.

[Mario @ Dec 18th 2008 5:13PM]

This will be a great laptop if:

Has Vista with XP or Ubuntu/Linux optional
Has a cd/dvd slot/drive
has 2 usb 2.0 ports
has at least 80gb hd
has at least 2gb ram

[kjb434 @ Dec 18th 2008 5:23PM]

I wouldn't be surprised if you have the OS options.

Dell has been pretty good at letting buyers have the choice.

[Robot @ Dec 18th 2008 5:13PM]

I'm just basing this on the lightweight specification and the graphic, but anyone care to speculate as to whether this will be a carbon fiber rig?

[The WC @ Dec 18th 2008 5:15PM]

"Rival the Macbook Air?" Why would you want to?

[rock99rock @ Dec 18th 2008 5:25PM]

Cause it is so easy to beat?

[Mobius_1 @ Dec 18th 2008 5:45PM]

It's not sharp enough to really cut the task of cutting cakes.

[Ashwin @ Dec 18th 2008 6:14PM]

@iKurt Mark II
Apple was definitely not the first to have an ultra-thin laptop. The MacBook Air was created because other computer manufacturers, like Dell and Sony were far ahead of them. Apple just decided it was better to have a faster processor and bigger screen on an ultraportable.

[The WC @ Dec 19th 2008 4:19AM]

@rock99rock:

"Because it is so easy to beat" is a rather thin argument. The ultraportable meets the needs of only a few people - those who are constantly on the go. If Dell decides to mass market this, it's going to be a waste of time and resources. I have a sinking feeling that this is going to turn out much like when Sprint acquired Nextel - although obviously less dire.

[rock99rock @ Dec 22nd 2008 3:46PM]

@ The WC

"The ultraportable meets the needs of only a few people - those who are constantly on the go."

a few. Including every college, everywhere. everyone on an airplane.

Of the percentage of people who own laptops, i might assume that a majority of them fit in the above categories. The Ultra-portable niche has expanded 10 fold since conceived by fujitsu and sony back in the day. I think it is bad timing to be sure, given the current state of the economy, but this laptop should be successful if the specs are right.

[Tom W Browning @ Dec 18th 2008 5:15PM]

It'll be good to see yet another manufacturer shitting on all the Apple-haters by validating the form factor/functionality of another Apple product. Such as with the iPod, iPhone, iMac, etc.

I'm sick to death of hearing people insist the Air isn't a 'proper computer' when I, a complete geek, use one every day as my one-and-only machine.

Hopefully this Dell will drive a bit of competition in the market and perhaps shift a move away from dubiously useful netbooks.

[Waveblade @ Dec 18th 2008 5:35PM]

Considering that some netbooks may rival it is rather...unsettling. I'm no Mac lover but I can see why people would like OSX. The Macbook Air is only thinner rather than having a smaller footprint. I almost consider it to be as useful as various netbooks.

[jakem @ Dec 18th 2008 5:55PM]

Before you get all excited by the possibility of Dell "validating the form factor" of the Macbook Air remember that Dell have been in the ultraportable business a lot longer than Apple and that their X1 was the thinnest laptop when it was released.

As for functionality, I presume you mean the lack of functionality because nobody would really want to copy a laptop that doesn't even have a ethernet port.

If you only own a Macbook Air then I'd suggest that you're not much of a "computer geek" and you're not doing much other than web surfing. I don't have a problem with ultraportables and netbooks but they have their limitations and the Air is no exception.

[Tom W Browning @ Dec 18th 2008 5:59PM]

You mean in the same way a full-sized laptop has limitations with regards to it's portability?

You have no idea how I use my MacBook Air and it is a display of your own narrowmindedness to suggest that I cannot be a geek and still own one. I am a web designer, writer and amateur programmer. Is that geeky enough for you?

Why can't people accept that other people have different needs in a computer to them? Why just because YOU personally don't want something mustn't anyone else? Do you suggest we ban the manufacture of 18-wheeler trucks merely because you don't work freight?

Urgh.

[nikster @ Dec 18th 2008 11:08PM]

@jakem: I am a programmer and considering the MacBook Air as my programming machine. I like to do most of my work on the go, so portable is good, compilers don't really need a stronger processor than the (second gen) MBA has, and the 13" screen might just be big enough to be usable. Good keyboard is importan, the MBA has it. I'd have all the adapters for ethernet (some hotels - what can you say), VGA (all projectors), DVI (my 24" LCD). If I dump my music/video collections on an external drive I might be OK with the SSD. Do I really need to carry 4 seasons of Dr. Who with me at all times? No.

Given my geek requirements, the MacBook Air fits the bill, and comes in an amazing form factor as well. Anything with a 12" or smaller screen doesn't qualify, anything with a ULV processor doesn't qualify, so in a way the trade-offs Apple made make more sense to me than what others did. There's no magic, it's just choices. What do you cut, what do you keep.

[Adam @ Dec 18th 2008 5:18PM]

I like the name...it's...catchy.

[Drew @ Dec 18th 2008 5:23PM]

Sounds too much like Atomo. Iron Giant, anyone?

[ridestp @ Dec 18th 2008 5:20PM]

It is amazing how much you can learn from a simple google search!

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=Jk6&q=site:dell.com+adamo&start=10&sa=N

So far, I know it has a 13" screen and a DisplayPort connector, with adapters for VGA, HDMI, and DVI.

[ridestp @ Dec 18th 2008 5:34PM]

Internal BluRay Combo Drive Evidence
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:IJVM9Wfs-bkJ:accessories.dell.com/sna/category.aspx%3Fc%3Dca%26l%3Den%26s%3Dcorp%26category_id%3D5684%26~ck%3Danav%26p%3D3+site:dell.com+adamo&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=25&gl=us&client=firefox-a

Display Port to DVI, VGA, and HDMI adapters
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:TtayNPKmfssJ:accessories.dell.com/sna/category.aspx%3Fc%3Dca%26l%3Den%26s%3Dcorp%26category_id%3D6484%26~ck%3Danav+site:dell.com+adamo&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=13&gl=us&client=firefox-a

45 Watt AC Adapter
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:9rpIrDjQJmcJ:accessories.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx%3Fc%3Dca%26l%3Den%26s%3Dprov%26sku%3D330-2984%26~lt%3Dprint+site:dell.com+adamo&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=9&gl=us&client=firefox-a

[ridestp @ Dec 18th 2008 5:38PM]

DC Auto and Air 45 Watt Power Adapter
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:10JyeXHNCooJ:accessories.dell.com/sna/category.aspx%3Fc%3Dca%26category_id%3D5493%26l%3Den%26s%3Dpub%26dt%3DGrid%26~ck%3Danav+site:dell.com+adamo&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=32&gl=us&client=firefox-a

8X DVD+/-RW Slot Load Drive
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:KLnTVGwUTYwJ:accessories.dell.com/sna/category.aspx%3Fc%3Dca%26l%3Den%26s%3Dprov%26category_id%3D6358%26~ck%3Danav%26p%3D2+site:dell.com+adamo&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=31&gl=us&client=firefox-a

"External" 250GB and 500GB 2.5" hard drives
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:T8NGUcmoGhIJ:accessories.dell.com/sna/category.aspx%3Fc%3Dca%26l%3Den%26s%3Dpub%26category_id%3D5704%26dt%3DGrid+site:dell.com+adamo&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=44&gl=us&client=firefox-a

[Thats What He Said @ Dec 18th 2008 5:52PM]

Boo 2 consecutive posts
Horray hyperlinks!

[Mobius_1 @ Dec 18th 2008 6:48PM]

Thank you, Sherlock Holmes, that will be all.

[PyRo1509 @ Dec 18th 2008 5:22PM]

I dont know why ppl thiink that having a cd drive is a plus... i got a m1210 cuz it was way small back in the day. I use the cd drive once every few months to run a format. thats it... I dont like that i have to carry around this damn cd drive everywhere i go.

[Mario @ Dec 18th 2008 5:38PM]

Well, I see your point, you will rarely use the cd drive. I currently have a Dell Inspiron e1405 and I use my cd drive all the time either for making digital back up copies of new music i buy, or burning dvds or making backups of my software. I cannot see any point in getting a laptop for myself that does not have a cd drive, apple, dell, or otherwise.