At this point we have no idea why Dell won't just up and launch the
Adamo XPS, but if they can't get it sorted we'll just piece it together ourselves -- and today we've got two different sources providing specs for the super-thin laptop with the
funktastic hinge. Inside that crazy 1.5-pound case lies some pretty standard internals: we're hearing there'll be 1.4 and 1.9GHz dual-core Intel ULV processors with integrated X4500MHD graphics and 4GB of DDR3 RAM, all under (well, behind) an LED-backlit 13.4-inch WXGA screen and either a 128 or 180GB SSD. That's good for a reported score of just 3.3 on the Windows 7 experience test -- pretty sad for a $2,000 machine. The two available batteries are said to be rated at either 20Wh for 2.5 hours of juice or 40Wh for four hours, and here's the crazy thing -- that touch sensitive case latch we've been hearing about? Yeah, it doesn't work without power, so you can't open the machine if your battery is dead. Nice. Now Dell, honestly, can we dispense with the run-around?
[Thanks, Anonymous]
posted Oct 23rd 2009 1:20PM
Eat a cheeseburger you slut.
lol, wow you lost me for a second there
Jealous much?
It's hardly even a celebrity as it is now... now if it was any fatter, it would sure end up in crap gadget post :D
Or maybe as another nettop?
First time I've wished I could vote a comment up more than once.
Engadget needs to award you with the best first comment of all time
eat my cheeseburger you..
It's half the weight of the Macbook Air so it is like a super model. Not the smartest, but not too bad to look at either.
"it is like a super model. Not the smartest, but not too bad to look at either" - never was a truer word spoken.
lol!
P.S. And quit working out!
And the worst part, it still looks like a Dell laptop.
"Yeah, it doesn't work without power" looks like a deal-breaker to me :(
/s
they got it thin, but its just hideous.
Dell laptops lately are actually looking a lot better, but I agree, this one is very 'meh'.
Also not sure why people are so disappointed in the specs...the only other thing that can be crammed into a form factor that small is an Atom...a regular laptop CPU and discrete graphics will not work.
ULV processors are not cheap, I'm sure the R&D was not cheap, and of course you are going to pay a premium on something like that. $2k is what I would expect, but I would bet they could get it closer to $1500 if they tried. But I doubt they would move that many more units at that price.
Damned if it looks anything like mine and it was new a few weeks ago.
You must have a very, very short memory. This looks NOTHING like anything Dell has ever put out (except for the original Adamo). Dell has come a long way from the company that made cheap gray boxes
Reminds me of a very thin version of the Commodore 128 suitcase computer for some reason, which was also outrageously expensive.
You guys are really taking the original poster's comment literally - I take it to mean Dell makes junky-looking laptops, and he thinks this is yet another one.
Quixotic: You're really getting defensive over this thing... looking at your comments here, it's like all those 'MacBook Air' defense comments I remember reading a few years ago.
I don't get it, how often do you guys open up laptops that have a dead battery?
"Yeah, it doesn't work without power, so you can't open the machine if your battery is dead. Nice..."
Well, uh, your battery is dead. Not like you're going to do anything if your laptop is open anyway.
Unless the "file" you're trying to get is an actual piece of paper you decided to store between the screen and keyboard. How embarrassing!
would it close without power? That's something we'll need... sure can't run around for power to close the damn thing when the juice runs out :D
damn you engadget comment system... this is the third time I am trying to comment here :(
pal :)
aI was thinking the same thing
"Oh that's a tiny laptop let me check it out." Yeah I would but the battery just died so now I can't even open it.
If you have a $2,000 laptop (and I'm not even sure you can use that on your lap) at least you could show-off. It's an epic fail for Dell anyway.
What are you talking about thats a feature.
Take out battery for Anti-Theft protection! Buy NOW!
Well, I could be wrong about this, but computers put themselves into hibernation before their batteries are totally dead, so there's a possibility that the latch would still work even if your computer had shut itself down. I mean, if the battery were DEAD dead, like you ran it down and let it sit for two weeks, yeah, you're gonna be SOL (though I'm not sure why you'd need it open if it's not gonna turn on anyway), but I have a feeling there might be enough juice left during normal usage patterns for a few unlatches, at least.
No big deal. Unless you have a hardware problem and want to open it up or something.
Would look better in black, but people who buy it are still tools.
Wow, Dell. Sounds like you've really lost it. I think my 400 dollar netbook could score higher than that.
IF the keyboard was removable, and the display was capacitive touch..... then it'd still be a rip off.
Nice goin, Dell. :-|
but can you slice cheese with it though?
your netbook's battery probably lasts longer too. For a ULV CPU, it doesnt have that great battery life
Don't you mean "Disfunkshunal Hinge" ? :D
what a joke.
What run-around are you talking about? A product launch date?
And yes, amazingly, it won't turn on or work w/o power. Nice catch there.
Aren't XPS and Integrated Graphics mutually exclusive? If not, oh XPS branding how thou have fallen....
I was thinking the same thing....
I'm pretty sure it still means you're paying a lot. :P
I will stick with my Mini 311 for a quarter the cost and double the performance.
The fact that you would take a netbook over this just goes to show that Dell couldn't care less if you ever bought one, you're not the target demographic, and, honestly, they never expected you to want one in the first place.
@Quix There is no target demographic for this computational abortion.
Double the graphics performance, maybe, but much less HDD and CPU power.
Yeah, because a 1.6GHz Atom totally beats a ULV Core 2 Duo CPU...
/s
Dell, you just don't get it do you?
Apparently neither do you. This wasn't designed for you, and Dell readily admits this will be a very low volume product. Think of this as a concept car, a means whereby they can push the bleeding edge of design and engineering, with the subsequent knowledge gained trickling down to benefit all future Dell computers.
@ Quixotic: Well, seeing as how concept cars are reserved for auto shows, as in 'not the consumer market', it would seem as though you don't get it either.
Dell might be pushing the envelope of design, but that doesn't mean its a good thing. The fact remains that this laptop is useless by many standards that the exceedingly average consumer can appreciate:
- Crappy Battery life
- Does not sit comfortably on the lap
- Scores a 3.3 on WE rating, pretty shoddy for a 2k+ machine
- and I'm still not sure about that latch, sure you don't usually open the machine when its dead, but that's still a pretty ill-thought out 'feature'
"Well, seeing as how concept cars are reserved for auto shows, as in 'not the consumer market', it would seem as though you don't get it either."
Yes, this is my point exactly. It's an exciting design that makes you think but it is definitely not something that should be put out for sale. This is a R&D experiment and they should take what they have learnt about it and put that knowledge into designs that will be accepted by customers.
This reminds me of a story my parents told me about a fridge they had a few decades ago, back in the old country: When the power went out, you couldn't open the fridge.
So despite not being able to "do" anything with a dead laptop, this still seems like a design flaw.
It's as if when someone was designing the Adamo XPS, they took the first Adamo and flipped where the screen and keyboard should go!
Overpriced and overhyped.
looks....
...like it will tip over if you breathe on it.
Stopped reading at 'integrated graphics'. On a $2000 machine that's just insulting.
how'd you know it was $2000 when you stopped at integrated graphics?
seriously? what'd you expect? a dedicated GTX 260M in a machine that's less than half an inch thick? of course it was going to have integrated graphics. this laptop wasn't designed to be a bargain. it's designed to be a showpiece that a couple rich-ass people with way too much money might throw down on for shits and giggles.
This is such a worthless piece of hardware that I can't imagine it having a market to sell to, that I'd rather engadget not even give it anymore attention. Honestly, it could come out and I don't think anyone would care.
Quixotic would like you to know that you are not the target market for this machine. I figured id let you know before he did. Since he works for dell he knows what the target market (pro tip: there isnt one) for this machine is.
this is excellent and a great price point
Quick question: How does the GMA differ from the X-MHD intergrated graphics chip, and what tasks can the MHD handle? Thanks.
Which GMA? the GMA950?
MHD can do blu-ray, and i think it's better than all GMA's. you might be able to run something slightly older like half-life 2 on it at maybe up to medium settings...
Can someone tell me how you're supposed to comfortably use this on your lap?
I don't get you people with no ability to visualize. The base of the screen rests on your legs near your knees. The front edge of the keyboard rests on your thighs closer to your... eh... wedding parts.
That's 4 points of contact. Very stable - unless you're missing a leg. Then balancing a laptop of any form becomes a bit tricky. (Apologies to mono-pods or eunuchs out there who are offended by my remarks.) :)
@MBM: I can visualize it, but it just doesn't seem natural to have this laptop "digging" into your legs around your knees. What about viewing angles? I know from using my MacBook and then my HP Mini and then a MacBook Pro, that my viewing angle is different for every one of them, and differs from seating situation to seating situation, if I have it propped up on the arm of my couch, if it's just sitting on my coffee table. This looks like it would just be odd or not as sturdy.
Hmm, I live a stone's throw away from the Dell HQ in Round Rock, maybe I could just go in and ask to investigate ;) (snowball's chance in hell, but that would be an interesting thing to ask the receptionist)
At 1.5 pounds the digging shouldn't be too bad. Maybe you'd even develop ultra-useful thigh callouses.
"At 1.5 pounds the digging shouldn't be too bad."
The thing is, every other laptop doesn't dig at all. Why would anyone want to pay $2000 for a laptop that is more uncomfortable to use on your lap than anything else?
I was kidding. You think a device this light will hurt at all? Traditional laptops have feet that dig even more, and they weigh much more. Man up!
According to my (probably incredibly inaccurate) guesstimated calculations, this sucker will put out somewhere around 10 times as pounds per square inch sitting on your lap as say, the MacBook Air when sitting on your lap.
Oh I’ve got the ability to visualize... seeing a small group of rich amputees all over the news some time in the near future.
"I was kidding. You think a device this light will hurt at all?"
I am not sure if it will "hurt" but I am absolutely convinced that it will be more uncomfortable due simple to the limited space across which the units weight and the pressure of your typing will be distributed. This is Physics 101 stuff.
"Traditional laptops have feet that dig even more, and they weigh much more."
I am in agreement that traditional laptops weigh more but I'm damned if I've ever used one with feet, let alone ones that have feet that dig into me. However, the Adamo is not the only thin-n-light game in town and none of the others will be as uncomfortable when used as a laptop.
"Man up!"
Why? Why would anyone want to make their life more uncomfortable and pay $2000 for the privilege? Are we expecting to see Chuck Norris using an Adamo to show how hard he is? This makes as much sense as those people who say that others should go down the gym if they don't like carrying a heavy laptop rather than the obvious answer of getting one that fits their needs.
I'm sorry but the Adamo's design is fundamentally "a bad one". It's a daring design, and I applaud that, but this never should actually go to market because it is just wrong.
do they deserve SOME credit for at least TRYING to be innovative? Granted, the goofy hinge is gimmicky, as well as the power latch thing. Plus, the whole thing wouldn't exist if they weren't chasing the macbook air. So, in the end, i guess the answer is no.
This laptop doesn't seem very lap friendly. The point of contact with your lap will be two lines instead of a flat surface. Maybe they should call it a desktop computer as that is the only place this computer will be used.
The image made it seem like it was made of wood.
When did the XPS line go from powerful computer line to watered down crap with built in video? Man I guess they really want you to bump up to Alienware to get a decent machine huh?
The laptop of choice for Ralph Lauren models.
Yeah. I heard they will be exclusively used at the Derek Zoolander's School For Kids Who Can't Read Good (and want to learn how to do other things good.)
If apple of all companies can get a 9400 and a c2d into an air for 1500, what the hell does dell think there doing with this.
INOTvasion?
In all fairness, this is about 1/2 as thick as the air.
Don't you know that the MacBook Air is FAT?
Its twice the weight of the Adamo XPS and the VAIO X.
And the VAIO Z is just 10% heavier than the Air, but has insanely better specs.
This is 48% thinner than the MBA and weighs half as much. Let's see Apple do that, then you might actually have a point. (oh, and user-replaceable battery!)
@ Mark and Quixotic
Guys whats the point of it being thinner than MBA if it has shittier graphics??? Will that added bulk of 1 pound break your arm? I think a MBA is a POS and this is even worse.
I respect your opinions generally but please dont go on defending a poor product.
"whats the point"
because they could. they wanted to show off and promote the dell brand. they don't expect hardly anyone to buy these. good god there are so many thick-sculled people on here.
"Guys whats the point of it being thinner than MBA if it has shittier graphics??? Will that added bulk of 1 pound break your arm? I think a MBA is a POS and this is even worse."
With all due respect, you are an idiot. As long as the graphics chips can run the OS well, does it really matter? Do you honestly think that everyone is interested in wasting their time playing games? If so then I have news for you and it's not good. People will pay more for a portable computer that is smaller and lighter because it simply makes them more comfortable to carry. And, yes, 1 pound is important.
I have major issues with the Adamo's design but the goal of producing something that is good enough to perform normal day-to-day computing tasks in a form that weighs practically nothing is not one of them. In the same vein, I have absolutely no issues with the MacBook Air or any other thin-n-light designs. You might not "get it" but that doesn't really mean much.
@ Kelmon
With all due respect , i think you are a hyper agressive idiot as well.
All i wanted to say is that with XPS branding ,I hoped that this computer had dedicated graphics as opposed to the more business oriented lenovo and acer timeline series.The old Adamo already has an option for 4GB DDR3 memory and a C2D CPU so how is this an XPS i.e better performing? I have no problems with thin and light laptops (I think MBA is a POS for totally different reasons not relevant here) though im not the target demographic but at least an option of adding one more pound with a better graphics solution would have certainly made it more appealing to a wider set of of users.
I found your comment against gamers particularly offensive.I game on weekends to unwind and work as a licensed surgeon with an MD during weekdays so your distasteful stereotyping can go to hell.
What color is that, mold yellow? I'm not all that caring for aesthetics, but that is probably the worst color I've ever seen.
never seen yellow light bulbs much do you?
HISS! THE LIGHT!
You expected something different from Dell?? They are a low cost provider, not a high concept provider. They didn't get big by offering the best - just the best price. This laptop provides neither unfortunately.
I'm not understanding the hate here.
1) The performance is exactly what you'd expect for this form factor. As is the price.
2) Complaining that you can't use the laptop without power is just... idiotic.
3) Can't tell without trying it, but that goofy hinge may end up being extremely lap friendly. You'll always have plenty of circulation so it won't even so much as warm up your lap, and I doubt only 1.5lbs is going to get uncomfortable on the points of contact.
Am I wrong?
I was with you up until point #3. Under no circumstances is that design going to be comfortable on the lap, particularly when compared to standard designs. But, yes, I do agree that the specifications sound fine given how compact the whole thing is - it's not like we were expecting this thing to be a gaming laptop or anything.
1) no 2) no, and 3) no you're not wrong.
Luke, it's good to find someone else reasonable. I, too, don't get the outcry. They focus on the specs, complain, and completely overlook that this thing is IMPOSSIBLY thin. It's half as thick and half the weight as the MBA, what were people honestly expecting, core i7 with 512mb discrete graphics?!
actually i think this is one of the freshest concepts out there. why all the negative comments?
I think because this should have remained a concept and not a production machine. There's a lot that I like about it but the hinge design is just bonkers and not in a good way - it simply isn't practical.
Seriously, what kind of specs did you expect. Just the fact that this thing is not Atom should be impressive enough.
Favorite part:
"That's good for a reported score of just 3.3 on the Windows 7 experience test -- pretty sad for a $2,000 machine"
Pretty sad? This is the thinnest notebook ever created. It is ludicrous to compare this to anything thicker than 0.5 inches. The closest comparison would be to the MBA, and even then the Adamo is 48% thinner and half the weight. Yeah, it's $2,000, but this thing is in a design league of it's own (love it or hate it).
I agree. 1.5ibs is quite an accomplishment, and it's an Adamo - i.e.a limited design experiment. ULV isn't bad, the SSD is included and an X4500 is significantly better than than the netbook favorite GMA950. Even the Ion and the MBA 9400 are integrated graphics IIRC, just a better integrated core.
It's really ew that people are giving high-end ultraportables hell based on specs. Most people can get by with netbooks, sure, but this is totally different. Large screen, ultra-thin and probably much better built.
At last, somebody with sense in this hatorate parade.
This thing is cool in many way - first truly daring new laptop form-factor in ages, THIN, LIGHT, and actually fairly powerful considering the extreme form-factor.
Do I think it will sell well? Nope, definitely not (compared to normal laptops, anyway).
Would I buy one? Nope, I don't have that kind of disposable money.
Would I love to own one? You bet. This thing is unlike every other notebook out there.
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644667494&N=4294954366
Here's a laptop that's just as thin. It similar specs, a better form factor and better battery life (14 hours). Its cheaper by $700, AND its from sony - oh the times they are a'changin.
Dell fails, hard
@ Kalen
Where your comparison falls short:
1) The Sony you pointed to is still about .2" thicker.
2) The processor is only .1 GHz faster than the higher chipset Adamo XPS (also Sony doesn't even say if it is C2D or anything else)
3) Adamo has twice the ram, and runs DDR3 instead of DDR2
4) The battery on the laptop itself is rated at 3.5 hours of use (I could attach a giant battery wedge to any laptop and get 10+ hours on any laptop. No accomplishment there, although Sony does include the giant battery with the notebook)
5) The screen on the Sony is only 11.1", the screen on the Adamo XPS is over 13"
That windows score of 3.3 is a joke anyway as its the lowest score rather than average.Wots the point of judging 3D graphics capabilities of a thin and light notebook.It will remain so with integrated graphics even if has an OCed Core i7 with 16GB Ram.
That said I was hoping for game changing specs on this one.I am really disappointed.