Dell Adamo hands-on! (Update: now with video!)

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Looks like our puppy-dog eyes have served us well yet again -- we just got to spend some time with Dell's ultra-hot Adamo. It's really small, less than an inch thick, we'd say -- and although we didn't measure, we'd say that 13-inch screen rumor was spot on. "Adamo" is actually the brand, like Inspiron -- this is just the first machine that'll be out. We weren't allowed to boot it up or do much of anything except take pictures, but it's built really, really, well -- and it's a total smudge magnet, with a super-glossy display and a shiny black panel like the Studio XPS series on the lid. Expansion-wise, we spotted three USB ports and an eSATA jack, and the power adapter is crazy small, with a removable plug for international use. The design is somewhat reminiscent of the Envy 133 with its squared-off shape, but it's still very unique, and while we didn't put in any serious time on the keyboard, it felt solid enough. Here's the problem, though -- we have no idea what's actually inside this gorgeous case, and until we do, it's just another pretty face. Hopefully Dell comes clean on specs and pricing sometime soon -- we'd love for there to be some muscle under that hood. We're headed back to the trailer to up a video, check back!

Gallery: Dell Adamo hands-on!

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[Boarderwoot @ Jan 9th 2009 12:40PM]

Wow, check out that hardcore glare and that's indoors!

[Soulsaber @ Jan 9th 2009 12:41PM]

Seems to be the popular thing to do nowadays.

[STINK @ Jan 9th 2009 12:42PM]

...and already smudged =(

[Dustin @ Jan 9th 2009 12:43PM]

I must not be Apple-ized enough, because hearing "industrial design" brings up thoughts of food processing equipment and homogeneous cubicles.

[nerdtalker @ Jan 9th 2009 12:49PM]

Why, oh why Dell. Glossy = fail. I will not tolerate staring at epic glare. I won't.

[doug @ Jan 9th 2009 12:51PM]

This glossy screen fad must die.

[Boards of Canada @ Jan 9th 2009 12:58PM]

for an ultra thin its ok... on a pro computer of course it must die.

[Boarderwoot @ Jan 9th 2009 1:00PM]

Uh, why is an unreadable screen acceptable on an ultrathin?

[Boards of Canada @ Jan 9th 2009 1:18PM]

ask apple

[Mr. S. @ Jan 9th 2009 1:46PM]

WOW, what is that? is that the new Apple MacBook? I always wanted one in black!

[Mike C @ Jan 9th 2009 2:05PM]

For those of you who adamantly demand the death of glossy screens, take this into consideration first.

Matte screens are better for content production, as they are truer to life in color and have less glare and annoyance.

Glossy screens have. Oh the hell with it. DEATH TO GLOSS

[Rohan @ Jan 9th 2009 2:47PM]

ohh!! is that the laptop itself,i thought it was a mirror

[Fredster @ Jan 9th 2009 5:50PM]

I actually think this is a really stunning looking machine, it might just be a future purchase for me. Looking at what Dell & Co. was producing a couple of years ago, silver plasticky fugly laptops, *puke*! That was one of the reasons why i swithced to Apple and bought almost 2 and a half years ago my first Mac, the iMac. It will most likely be my last. Why?

1. I am slowly getting sick of Apple's cockyness, about that they have the best this and that, Über-Godness of anything they've done, even if it has been invented before. The Mac vs. PC commercials are one good example.
2. You cannot update the HW on almost any Mac. My next computer will probably be a netbook, they look like fun and i like gadgets, but my next computer i will build myself, from scrap. Now i can't do that with Mac. I want to be able to change the CPU, the GPU, HDD's, you name it, in the future, it's part of the fun!
3. Apple fanboys..., whoa, they are something else i tell you. Check out sometimes the comments on Appleinsider, they are scary people, they'll rip your head off if you say a wrong word about Apple, *shivers*
4. Windows 7, i'm actually quite excited about it and i have read a lot of, actually only, positive news about it!! Sweet! Nice with a change and to hear something nice about MS after all the bashing
5. PC's are getting really good looking too these days!! I have seen many computers that look sexy and have this "wanna-buy" factor, not Apple's privilege (spelling?) anymore.

Copying this or that, so what, it's the complete package that counts, and e.g. Dell has shown on CES some really new fresh winds. Exciting times ahead:-)

[nikster @ Jan 9th 2009 6:54PM]

@Fredster: Good luck "updating the hardware" on your Adamo.

I think it's time for people to realize that all computer manufacturers enter into compromises, rather than pulling some features just for the heck of it. Particularly when it comes to laptops where size is at a premium. Apple is just ahead of the curve when choosing which compromises to make. Like 40% more battery life vs. user-replaceable battery.

[Matthew C @ Jan 9th 2009 7:40PM]

They should coat it antiglare - like glasses and display cases - You would still get the vid color and clarity, but it would only reflect dim greens and purples, instead of acting like a mirror.

[Tyler @ Jan 9th 2009 7:49PM]

i'm really getting tired of engadget commenters that hate on glossy screens. i bet you've only seen one in the store and briefly saw your own reflection and decided to jump on the matte bandwagon...but i bet none of you complaining has ever used one...and dont try to make up stories to impress people on the internet. i had a glossy-screened sony sz-series laptop and now a late-2008 macbook. for the past 4 years i have had glossy screens and i have used them everywhere (at home, classes, labs, and [gasp] even outside) with nary a problem. just like the 'apple vs. pc' squabbles, id like to see engadget commenters give the equally irritating 'glossy vs. matte' comments a rest. just let people decide which route they want to go and let it be.

[ProfessorKaos @ Jan 9th 2009 8:40PM]

@ tyler

Wow you epic fail right there, good luck making friends on this site with that attitude. Truer color, no glare, the ONLY reason Glossy is around is because n00bs like yourself dont know how to properly clean a matter screen (with proper cloth and ion'ized or safe cleaner), and so they made a glossy screen so dumbasses like you can use windex . Fail be you.

[dg @ Jan 9th 2009 8:56PM]

@ProfessorKaos,

...You're a huge loser. Get off the internet for a few minutes.

[Mat @ Jan 10th 2009 12:09PM]

I *gasp* agree with Tyler. I've had this new Macbook for about 5 months and I have had no issues where I couldn't see something because of glare. It is easier to clean...I don't see how thats a problem. The only issue I have with the screen is that you can see all the dirt on it really well, but I can live with that, if I really cared I could easily clean it. It's kinda funny how often people say glare is so awful on this site, when someone sees my computer that is often the first they thing they adore.

[Tyler @ Jan 10th 2009 8:30PM]

@ProfessorKaos

it's sad when people keep these squabbles going, but even worse when there's name calling involved. first off...i don't know why you got all riled up about the ease of cleaning? i re-read my post, and saw that what you said was completely irrelevant. but just for your info, i'm not a 'n00b'...in fact quite the opposite, i've only needed to clean my laptop screens about 3 times in the past 4 years because i try not to spit on them and touch them with my fingers like a real n00b.

the point i wanted to get across, ProfessorKaos, is that we should let bygones be bygones, and if people like glossy/matte, then so be it. i think reviewers need to do the same thing because they end up just pandering to the audience. let's be civilized about these things.

[JohnZimmerman @ Jan 11th 2009 3:59PM]

@Tyler

Honestly, it looks to me like you're the one won't "let it be". Let engadget commenters and reviewers speak freely. There's nothing wrong with expressing negative opinions of glossy screens, whether those opinions came from first impressions or 4 years of experience.

My two cents - I used a glossy-screened laptop for a couple years as a student. The glare in some classrooms made it difficult to see some areas of the screen; I'd have to tilt the screen to an angle that was less comfortable in order to see entire documents clearly. The screen's backlight was weak, which was part of the problem. For most situations, the gloss was no problem though.

[John Ellenich @ Jan 9th 2009 12:40PM]

Revolutionary industrial design? Um... no?

[Boards of Canada @ Jan 9th 2009 1:00PM]

By Dell standard, it is. Really its a nice machine.

[Christian @ Jan 9th 2009 1:03PM]

Yeah complete with video out... seriously, no video out?

[Kaitou KID @ Jan 9th 2009 1:06PM]

They got it so thin because there's nothing in the goddamn case. It's just a case. Easy to make it thin if you have nothing inside it. That's why they don't let you turn it on lol. Silly Dell

[alexmueller @ Jan 9th 2009 1:19PM]

Is it just me or does it not look that thin?

[Boards of Canada @ Jan 9th 2009 1:21PM]

inside its full of the girl hairs...

[John Doe @ Jan 9th 2009 1:43PM]

seems like a large capacity battery jutting out...huh

[schmitty338 @ Jan 9th 2009 2:23PM]

@Kaitou KID

Actually there is a lot inside... Anandtech also has a hands-on article and they show it turned on...they can't say what's inside though, as it's still under NDA..they did say though, that it will not be a netbook-like device, i.e. expect high performance and price for the size.

Also, judging by Anand's pics, the screen looks to be of an excellent resolution for a 13.3".

[adrian @ Jan 9th 2009 3:52PM]

It's not that bad for a Dell Laptop. But seeing it i think Intel should think about bringing back the Metro notebook idea for real.
Now that was pretty, And it would give the likes of Apple some pressure in the design stakes.

[Aditya @ Jan 11th 2009 9:38AM]

will stick to my xps.

[Evan Brower @ Jan 9th 2009 12:41PM]

Sweet! How much and when?

[Blake @ Jan 9th 2009 12:41PM]

Looks like a 2 year old black macbook pro....

[dzhiurgis @ Jan 9th 2009 12:43PM]

Or just a MacBook.

[Blake @ Jan 9th 2009 12:46PM]

touché

[srikanth @ Jan 9th 2009 12:54PM]

I do agree, though i don't own any mac... i dunno why there is so much hype.. it doesn't seem to be ground breaking in current industry standards (macbook air, voodoo etc.)... nothing appeals cool in this.. other than the black color :P

[Jon @ Jan 9th 2009 12:46PM]

Yay, my blackbook is not an outdated design anymore!

Thank you dell!

[Boards of Canada @ Jan 9th 2009 1:01PM]

It'll be half the weight anyway.

[ProfessorDex @ Jan 9th 2009 1:19PM]

Absolutely boring design

[CraigJ @ Jan 9th 2009 2:34PM]

boring? a laptop is a slab. That looks very functional, and clean. what do you want? crystals and racing stripes?

[mehx @ Jan 10th 2009 12:56AM]

Of course it's boring, I want my laptop to be made out of carbon fiber and diamond plate.

[Fr0 @ Jan 9th 2009 3:53PM]

Except the Dell has got ALOT of junk in it's trunk...

[WickedEast @ Jan 10th 2009 2:43AM]

It's "boring" to these kids because it didn't come with high-tech hype words like "unibody" coming straight from Mr. Jobs' mouth.

[Smileypanda @ Jan 10th 2009 9:08PM]

Actually, crystals and racing stripes would be very nice, thank you.

[Jon Doe. @ Jan 11th 2009 12:16AM]

The difference being this thing isn't full of suck and wind...the wind coming from Steve Jobs.

[bob e @ Jan 9th 2009 12:41PM]

I'm buying one Dell :)
Just downloaded my copy of 7 too

[Jon @ Jan 9th 2009 12:44PM]

Lucky, all the servers are busy from the microsoft website....

I just want to download before all the allocated copies are gone......

[Christian @ Jan 9th 2009 1:34PM]

what's the link for windows 7?

[wrabbit @ Jan 9th 2009 2:55PM]

@Christian: Have you not heard of Google?!

[Andrew @ Jan 9th 2009 12:42PM]

Attack of the gloss! Hinge looks weak, I like solid hinges, keyboard looks nice and it does look solid. A- dell, keep the pics coming, good work!