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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!
posted January 9th 2009 1:31PM
Love the design. Would purchase it in a second, but the lack of an optical drive is a big problem, at least for me.
@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.
Hi, for those complaining about the "back" of the notebook, from what I heard/read the unit is the same thickness or even smaler than an Apple Air, so I thought it was a pretty nice solution to have that recessed back thicker so you could fit more ports, while maintaining the same overall thickness of the notebook. The silver photo makes easier to see that there is a wired ethernet port, an eSata, 2 USB ports, the power inlet and another port I have not identified... That covers one of the few Mac Air flaws... Look forward to this notebook !
The 'unidentified' port is a display port (ie, the missing video out people have been winging about). This is the right port to put on it, as it future proofs it. There will also no doubt be a displayport > DVI adapter. But you are probably out of luck if you wanted plain old VGA for those gripping power point presentations. Also looks like 1 headphones port on the right as well as expresscard 3/4 . No apparent ports on the front or left.
2-3 USB ports is nice (one shared with e-SATA for no doubt an external dvd/hard drive etc). The hinge looks sturdier close up, but I still prefer the ports on the side + single hinge.
i f**ks wit it! looks nice.... have a glossy screen now and i use it @ skool,and outdoors all the time. NO COMPLAINTS.
Why are the specs so hush hush? I doubt that Adamo will have some unique processor or video card never reveiled before.
And from the pics (both here and on Anand's site), this thing seems to NOT have a removable battery nor a DVD drive. So MBA "features" in a thicker case. Plus the ports in the back are badly placed.
Dont know why this is such an anticipated device. This might be pretty expensive for a Dell, so if the price wont be a big selling point, what will be?
Looks like a larger glossy xt
You can see the guy taking the pic in the reflection!
Nice notebook, don't know if i like the two tone look though.
I've had both very glossy (Gateway convertible with glass screen) and very matte (Lenovo T400 with LED backlight) screens on my laptops.
It's a matter of personal preference which one you like.
After having both, for me it's not about glossy or matte, it's about brightness.
If my glossy screened laptop was as bright as my matte one, it would be a tough decision which one I would choose.
People who SERIOUSLY hate glossy screens will buy laptops with matte screens and vice-versa.
This whole debate only started because Apple fanboy's who prefer matte screens now have no choice
So... if you HAVE to have an Apple laptop, you HAVE to get used to a glossy screen.
The End
are the speakers in the BACK?!?! i can tell its got the whole "old hard to open thing" apple fixed. hopefully its not a cheap piecer screen like they pulled on us with the macbook. dont want an utraportable peice-o-crap
First off, maybe it's just me but the Dell logo branding makes products look cheap. I don't know why, but their logo just looks like cheap second hand technology. Next, I wouldn't trust that hinge either. Many people commented on it, I really doubt it's that strong. Drop that laptop the wrong way it could snap. I hate the screen and the design for the cover of the notebook. The keys look cheap too, like flimsy cheap plastic. The Dell design team must be living in the 90s, because the rest of the industry has moved beyond the windows 98 era of system design. If there weren't so many other reasons I hate Dell, the ugliness of everything they make would be enough to keep me from buying one.
so, do i get any points for spotting the cameo of "G-man" from HL in pic 9?
seriously though, the hardware looks excellent but could we do with some pictures that have better DOF? I want to see the case texture and how the edges look, but have to contend with blur.
It looks like the non unibody macbook pro sorta, except the glosy plastic, the hinge, and that external jutting thing in the back of it.
This vid shows a lot of pics and some secret specs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0
Dudes, is this going to be a "businessnesy" laptop or a multimedia one? Oh, and will it have a 15.4" version?
am i the only one that sees this as a complete copy of the macbook? atleast the design is very much similar
Wow! Computer porn!
Funny, everyone pitches this as the MacBook Air competitor, but it looks a lot more like the black MacBook dressed up with the unibody display.
Glad to see though that not only Apple is paying attention to the power adapter. Finally!
looks just like a black unibody macbook .. imagine the 13" aluminum macbook in black..
I have one sitting here right now, looks nearly the same but the mac is far better designed
As a computer repair shop owner for 15-years in a city of a population of 20K, who has repaired literally thousands of machines, let me just say that machines such as these are virtually impossible to repair with respect to hardware issues. And contrary to popular belief, all makes and models of laptops require repair at some point. Think about that from a customer service and financial standpoint.
That is all.
i like your computer's
wherez the fukin cdrom ? and no fukin webcam?? wtf?
Engadget guys: can you please improve your photography? I'd suggest using an external flashgun and bouncing it off the wall or ceiling to create a very diffused soft light. We'll get a much better sense of the hardware.
I agree with all the vitriol about the glossy style. I really can't stand it. What's worse is that the keyboard is a classic example of form well before function.
I guess it looks cool though, and that seems to be what's more important these days. /thumbsdown
A little bit of a scientific perspective.
But first: Dell's customer support has been superior to Apple's and I have owned, used, and operated both for years. There's just something about having the part or technician sent to you, freeing you to eat cheetos and do your thing. Some folks complain about Dell's slumdog tech reps being hard to understand. The two times I've called about something, I found them to be just as comprehensible as the Best Buy sales rep go on about the newest Mac laptop. Actually, more comprehensible.
Now about the glossy screen. I love them. Pros and cons to both. BTW, you can calibrate a glossy screen to fine tune color representation. If you don't know how to do this, get brand X laptop without glossy screen. When one sees a marketing pic of a laptop with a glossy screen, glare seems unnaturally irritating because a camera captures the reflecting light through one iris, one opening. The average user will take in the light information with, you guessed it, two eyes. Our brains have this neat way of filtering out over exposed areas on a particular eye and using the information from the other eye to compensate.
I think this Adamo with Windows 7 is going to beat the latest Crapbook hands down. But really, it's all user/platform preference.
"The two times I've called about something, I found them to be just as comprehensible as the Best Buy sales rep go on about the newest Mac laptop"
So you mean they knew virtually nothing at all? Best Buy people generally don't have a clue about that little Mac table they have. The actual Apple tech support, however, is generally very good.
Macs-They're not that great. I mean, who cares if the name has an "i" in front of it or a "mac-somethingorother" in the name? Dell is just so much cooler-not to mention the customization factor that dell rocks the world with... $.02
apple suckers love to act like a cult and compare everything to mac this and mac that. though there are some similarities...nothing that is so outspoken. so easy there apples before i shoot my blackberry right through you.
i like the design and dell's new marketing ploy. i think it does look very sleek and since it is PC!!!! definitely creates marketing competitiveness.
And since it is aluminum....i have a pretty strong feeling it will last a little bit better than previous laptiops. I still use the inspiron e1505 and my screen now has lines in int...why well because I have an old school screen hinge. 4 years later, my laptop still kicks ass with ony the issues of the screen and dell wireless crapping out on me.
the gloss is a nice touch to add style to it and i dn't really have problems with it outdoors. but then again, anyone who claims noob and acts all pro when it comes to style....comon give us a break...keep your counter strike terminology to a minimal if possible, we are not here to discuss headshots and noob or newb or whatever.
this is a new laptop with some impressive features and will definitely be a must have for a lot of people, i mean us pc users since you macs are on your own island and dance in a cult like manner to apples and what not.
my only complete is the no optical drive. not exactly practical in my point of view...but this is just a beginning and i'm sure there will be a whole series with this. hopefully different screen sizes and an optical drive
excited to get mine next month.
By Dell standard, it is. Really its a nice machine.
page has been digged and bookmarked, Thankx
http://www.mp3salem.com/