Dell Adamo XPS coming 'in time for the holidays' for $1799 (unboxing and hands-on video!)
By Ross Miller 
posted Nov 5th 2009 12:01PM
posted Nov 5th 2009 12:01PM
At $1,799, the price isn't as bad as originally thought, but it's still far from great if performance takes any precedence for you over style. Earlier this week, we got to spend some time with the ultra-thin chez Dell's PR firm -- not enough to really get a feel for how it performs, but enough to admire the hardware and enjoy unboxing what we're told is the final retail packaging. We saw an expected launch date listed for this month, but a rep was quick to note the current line is officially "in time for the holidays" -- just in case the company misses Black Friday, of course. Read on for some more impressions and video unboxing / hands-on!
DELL ANNOUNCES ADAMO XPS, A DAZZLING GIFT IDEA FOR STYLE-MINDED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
Adamo XPS is a stunning laptop whose design provides a unique experience. With the swipe of a finger, the keyboard appears from under the display as the system is open. The feature set challenged engineers to build the latest technology into a compact space, including:
Adamo, derived from the Latin word meaning "to fall in love," is a flagship in a line of products created to disrupt the personal computing space with the combination of new design aesthetics, personalization choices and sought-after technologies.
The Adamo by Dell brand was launched last March with the first Adamo laptop, which combined high-performance technologies in a finely-machined aluminum case only .65-inch thick.
The pencil-thin Adamo XPS weighs just over 3 pounds** and measures 13.39 x 10.71 inches. Dell expects to begin taking orders and shipping the Adamo XPS with Microsoft® Windows® 7 pre-installed in time for the holidays. The Adamo XPS is priced starting at $1799. More information is available at www.adamobydell.com .
The News:
"Our engineers and designers are breaking new ground and throwing away the old rules with the introduction of Adamo XPS," said Alex Gruzen, senior vice president of Dell consumer products. "We think the Adamo XPS will inspire an emotional connection with anyone who sees it."
Links:
www.dell.com
www.adamobydell.com
www.dell.com/home/laptops
www.Flickr.com/photos/dellphotos
*Shared Memory (SDRAM) - (under 4GB) - Significant system memory may be allocated to support graphics, depending on system memory size and other factors.
**Weights vary depending on configuration and manufacturing variability.
- World's Thinnest Laptop is 0.4-inch thin
- Adamo XPS Reinforces Dell's Commitment to Craftsmanship and Design
- Advanced Head-Turning Design Offers Full Feature Set for On-The-Go Computing
Adamo XPS is a stunning laptop whose design provides a unique experience. With the swipe of a finger, the keyboard appears from under the display as the system is open. The feature set challenged engineers to build the latest technology into a compact space, including:
- 4GB* DDR3 800 memory;
- Intel Core 2 Duo (1.4Ghz) ultra-low voltage processor;
- Thin 128GB SSD for faster, cooler, quieter and more durable storage than traditional hard drives;
- A13.4-inch high-definition display.
Adamo, derived from the Latin word meaning "to fall in love," is a flagship in a line of products created to disrupt the personal computing space with the combination of new design aesthetics, personalization choices and sought-after technologies.
The Adamo by Dell brand was launched last March with the first Adamo laptop, which combined high-performance technologies in a finely-machined aluminum case only .65-inch thick.
The pencil-thin Adamo XPS weighs just over 3 pounds** and measures 13.39 x 10.71 inches. Dell expects to begin taking orders and shipping the Adamo XPS with Microsoft® Windows® 7 pre-installed in time for the holidays. The Adamo XPS is priced starting at $1799. More information is available at www.adamobydell.com .
The News:
- Adamo XPS is the thinnest laptop PC ever, at about 0.4-inch thin.
- When opened, the body of the Adamo XPS is raised so the keyboard is angled to enhance cooling.
- Capacitive latching device – one finger swipe opens the latch.
- Built-in location awareness to provide real time local maps to show people where they are.
- Replaceable battery, with optional higher-capacity battery available.
- Full size keyboard with aluminum keycaps; touchpad with gestures.
- Built-in 802.11n wireless.
- High Definition (720p) 13.4-inch WLED display.
- I/O: display port, 2xUSB 2.0, audio, Ethernet (via included dongle).
- Operating system: Windows 7 64-bit edition.
"Our engineers and designers are breaking new ground and throwing away the old rules with the introduction of Adamo XPS," said Alex Gruzen, senior vice president of Dell consumer products. "We think the Adamo XPS will inspire an emotional connection with anyone who sees it."
Links:
www.dell.com
www.adamobydell.com
www.dell.com/home/laptops
www.Flickr.com/photos/dellphotos
*Shared Memory (SDRAM) - (under 4GB) - Significant system memory may be allocated to support graphics, depending on system memory size and other factors.
**Weights vary depending on configuration and manufacturing variability.
For such a sleek device, the box it comes in is rather huge and bulky. It's also quite elaborate, and if it's any consolation for how much you paid, in a second life it might make for a sturdy storage container. We did notice the viewing angle on the screen being somewhat restrictive, and of course with its glass overlay we're constantly looking at ourselves with enough light in the backdrop. Our major concern here is the capacitive touch-sensitive case latch -- it works great in theory, but once the battery's drained, it's stuck closed. That's fine and all, but what happens if there's some technical failure? Is there any fail-safe option in case the lock is on the fritz? Unfortunately Dell didn't have an answer, and we couldn't find any indication of one ourselves. The full chiclet keyboard is very comfortable to use, the touchpad does support Windows 7 gestures, and it is indeed very comfortable in your lap, despite the untraditional hinge placement.
We'll reserve final judgment for when we actually get some quality, at-home time, but we obviously can't say this enough: you won't be buying this for its specs, price tag, or anything other than its unique form factor. This is a quintessential aspirational product, and while Dell wouldn't give any indication of its sales projections, they certainly can't be high. That said, it's an exciting little number, one that the company hints is the first in a series to come, and we're looking forward to hopefully getting more time with it very soon.
See more video at our hub!
Wait, is that an Adamo or an iDell?
The only thing I can tell them apart is from the Adamo heel. She likes to wear them stilettos.
Really sexy laptop, really thin. HORRIBLE MUSIC OVERLAY ON THE VIDEOS!!! Why again Engadget? I still remember the Nokia Lab Salsa Fiasco
I liked the music. personally. Nice touch.
i just barfed up some of my lunch in my mouth...thanks engadget
i don't get where Dell is going with this Adamo line. I mean their making incredibly expensive laptops, with less impressive specs and putting it in nice looking cases. Damn, this reminds me of someone.. iJust can't think who
What's with the show tunes? Is this the Julie Andrews edition Adamo?
I'd love to watch that thing fall off his lap when the he lifts his hands off the front
I'm not sure I understand how this is not, at the very least, "inspired" by the MBA. The curved aluminum, black chicklet keys, even the packaging is nearly identical in most respects. Even the price point per spec.
Hum this is a flow any way you look at it. It is actually a terrible business decision and is a monstrosity the likes of which you see only in early prototypes. I don't care if the computer starts up in 30 secs. At that price point it is definitely oriented towards business people only no self respecting business person would be caught dead with this thing. It is but ugly and quite possibly very dysfunctional and it you type on it for extended periods of time I would imagine that your wrist will start to hurt because of the steep angle. Seriously Dell did you hire monkeys to review your designs?
For that price, the HP Envy 13 is a better choice by FAR... although personally, I'd never spend that much on a laptop.
@elijahblake: It must be working for Apple. Dell has double the revenue, but Apple has double the net income with half the employees. It's all about the margins.
At this price point, the MBA actually does seem like a decent deal with a full Core 2 Duo and 9400M, although it is slightly thicker at one end...
@ Wizzle, did you know Sony was the first to implement those keyboards? Did you know this design looks COMPLETELY different than the MBA? Did you know you are brainwashed? I like this one for it's originality, it's a nice proof of concept. I think they have something up their sleeve.
I mean, a compaqpresario in 1997 already had a aluminium (look) and rounded edges. Apple hasn't invented the wheel u know.
ahhh... I remember the time when I would throw away a ton of money on fleeting technology...
@bootareen "It must be working for Apple. Dell has double the revenue, but Apple has double the net income with half the employees. It's all about the margins."
Do you try to look smart? really? Net Income is not THE number (at least it should not be) unless you just passed micro-economy 1:1
It's amazing how little I care about this product. Seriously.
Well you cared enough to read the post go past the break and comment on it.
Whoa whoa whoa whoa, 2 hours and 36 minutes battery standard? 12gb ssd, at 1799? I doubt ANYONE is going to care.
@ jean p.
It's actually 128GB
Engadget just can't read/write
But i bet that drive sure can.
ASUS UL80Vt (Vt-A1) kicks its Dell Ass
9-12hrs of battery life
NVidia G210M Graphics with 512MB DDR3 Intel GMA 4500MHD (Switchable VGA)
Price: $823
http://www.laptopmag.com/review/newgallery.aspx?id=37880
@Fais
He cared so little it broke the apathy meter and went back around to excitement, but then it kept going and finally landed back on 'meh'.
It's like when a movie tries to be so bad it's good, but then is even worse than that.
@Thoth: Lenovo ThinkPad W900: Core 2 Extreme QX9300, 8 GB RAM, 2 TB HDD, Quadro FX graphics. Kicks that Asus' butt.
@Fais: of course I read the post. How would I be able to make a fair assessment on my lack of interest in something if I didn't at least give it a sporting chance? :P
I guess I must be one of the only ones, but I rather like this thing.
It's design is definitely unique, and in a world where every other laptop looks the same, that seems kinda cool to me.
Furthermore, I think the design makes sense. At first, I was concerned like everyone else about the fact that it might by uncomfortable on the lap, but Ross said it was fine there. That means this might be the first, actual laptop (not notebook) computer in about a decade, as in a computer that can be used on your lap without burning yourself. I'm not sure where all the components are, but this design would seem to at the least elevate them away from your legs while giving plenty of room for airflow, and if they did it even one better and put all the heat generating components in the lid side, that would be phenomenal. In a similar vein it would seem to solve the problem that most laptops have of getting overly hot when you use them on a bed or other soft surface.
I'm pretty surprised by how negative the comments are on something that is actually pretty innovative on a gadget blog. I wouldn't pay for it myself, but if I were rich enough that the difference between 1k and 2k wasn't a big deal to me, I'd definitely consider this for the type of things pleebs like me buy netbooks for. Not every laptop has to be used for gaming. I purposefully got my own laptop with an Intel graphics card to keep the heat and noise down since I don't have a pressing need to game on the go.
128GB thin-micro SSD
Someone needs to learn to read carefully before flipping out.
I really don't get the whole design concept of this laptop. Sure, it's thin, but do the touch strip and weird hinge actually "add" anything to the laptop? Beyond the initial "wow" factor they seem like they would just be hindrances that slow down and even limit the power of the laptop from what it could be. Sure, the hinge in theory adds ventilation but there's nothing wrong with the ventilation in current/other laptops. Really. I've never seen a laptop overheat even to the point where it shuts down, and even on laptops with crappy ventilation like those business Dells from like 3-5 years back. I'd never pay 1.8 grand for this.
Nice.
Thank you for you .
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| ngan hang a chau
Ugly in any season.
They got all the design cues from apple, took the good away, gave it a weird tab and added ugly!
The rounded part of the case above the LCD makes it look cheap.
@ Jean
Yeah, you're right, because nobody but Apple would ever think of creating a super thin laptop made out of aluminum!
@ Quixotic
You're just being completely ignorant if you think this isn't a blatant ripoff of apple. And don't give me that "but there was this obscure thin aluminum vaio from 2002..." bs
@Streetfight
You are ignorant if you think this is a copy of an Apple product. It has a different design with a dose of ugly.
@quitoxic
That keyboard is an exact copy of the macbook pro's one. not only the aluminium, look at the black bezel around, everything, can you really not see it???
Seriously??? Got their design queues from Apple? Try looking at the Sony Vaio designs, they've been with a consistent look for almost a decade now. This Adamo looks more like a Sony Vaio than any Mac product. I guess it's understandable why some people would think it looks like an Apple product if the people in question have actually never left their house or used anything that doesn't have a fruit logo on it.
i must b the only one who doesnt think its ugly. when it hits $1200, i would gladly buy one!
Here is part of why the Adamo looks like crap... It's the same silhouette as the Latitude D610.
http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/5953.jpg
It reminds me alot of the old clamshell iBooks - those looked like toilet seats as well.
adamo @ the concentration camp: kill meee
Take your tasteless comments somewhere else - preferably where nobody can read them.
A 12 GB SSD? Or is that a typo (ie. 120 GB)?
Found official specs, and its 128 GB.
Phew
Are you sure it is not 120 GB instead of 12?
why can't they use a 9400M or something for that price?
I don't know if it's a Intel licensing thing or what, but pretty much every system with a CULV processor has the same integrated graphics processor. The upside is that it's actually a lot better than the old GMA950 that you find in most netbooks and really low-end laptops.
the licensing is only with anything after core 2, so CULVs should work. regardless at that price they could use a real Core 2 Duo.
it's not meant to be a gaming machine. most of that price is going towards the super small components that are required for a laptop that thin, methinks. if it had that kind of horsepower, the battery life would be even worse, it would have to be thicker, and it would get much hotter.
they have desktop replacements, average college-grade laptops, machines for business users, and they have some stylish offerings. stylish offerings =/= the top of the line gaming components. it's about how thin it is and how long it can last in this category.
Simple reason: TDP...something this thin just cannot cope with the heat generated by more powerful processors, let alone processors & dedicated graphics chip.
i'm not sure where you're getting your facts from, look at the MBA and it's use of the 9400M non CULV, and a 9400M isn't for gaming, it's for decent GPU performance since modern OS's use a GPU to display simple things and also to fully decode blueray or h264 on the 9400M and _saving_ CPU time and battery that way.
@justin: The Macbook Air is also about twice as thick as this.
Yeah, Dell just wanted to say "I can do this too" and released the AXPS. But why would you want to compete with a failing product? Makes little sense.
this machine can only display 720p worth of that 1080p (*)blu-ray. there isn't enough space in this chasis for all that. it would make too much heat. current-gen non-discreet graphics are decent for "OS-work" these days.
and @mark: thanks for backing me up. the machine couldn't fit all that. they had to add a dongle for ethernet and dvi because of the size-crunch... and the fact that those connectors are thicker than the laptop itself, lol.
you make it sound like a MacBook Air isn't thin at all, sure this might be a bit thiner, but sometimes being too thin is unhealthy like an anorexic. The extra cost and extremely bad components don't make up for it. 720p is also 'HD', but why would you want to spend all your CPU time decoding it when a 9400M could do it all at almost no cost?
you entirely missed the point. a dedicated discreet graphics sub-system would require more cooling and would draw more power. more power for the additional fan, more space for that fan, more space for the heat sink..... that kind of thing doesn't fit in this device.
when someone sees a device that doesn't fit their needs... why do they try to complain about it and change it? if it doesn't do what YOU want it to do, then you LOOK FOR ANOTHER PRODUCT. you're in the wrong category, don't change the laptop to fit what you want, change the category you're looking in. this is the machine that people looking for a super-light super-portable with decent battery life want. if you need dedicated graphics, go to the inspiron section or the desktop replacement XPS section. not the Adamo section. goddamn you're dense.
WTF is it with these chicklet keyboards coming out as of late? They're crappy to type on and don't have the response of regular keys. Note to anyone making these atrocities: style is not the end-all, be-all!
dell makes plenty of laptops that are "get the job done" laptops... this one is part of their Adamo line, which is their "stylish" line. so they chose the stylish keyboard option for their stylish line. makes sense to me.
agree, Chiclets are only good for chewing.
I have a Vaio FW and an Acer Extensa 4630Z. I like the implementation of the chiclet keyboard on the FW because the you get some room to maneuver, not to mention the keyboard is behind a solid brushed-metal build. The Extensa's keyboard is a standard, curved ergonomic keyboard, but the keys make too much noise. Sometimes I end up pressing the wrong button, so thank God for Google Chrome spellcheck =).
Personally, keyboard like on my FW can work out really well if they're placed right. I absolutely LOATHE the bluetooth keyboards on the VAIO desktops and the iMac's. Chiclets don't work with me on desktop computers, but the when they're on laptops like the FW and the MacBook Pro, I have no problem using them.
Why anyone making these atricities . Could you speak clearer ,
Thanks
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[url=http://nganhangonline.com/ngan-hang-a-chau-acb.html]ngan hang a chau [/url]
I don't know. The only thing this seems useful for is portability and light internet use, bout the same as the MBA. But then you can get a HP Mini 311 and sans the thinness of the AXPS and MBA and save yourself some money. Just my opinion.
"sans the thinness of the AXPS and MBA" -therein lies the problem. I don't think anyone would consider this laptop to be a practical purchase, it's all about style and thinness.
One of the biggest trade-offs with any netbook is screen size. They're great for here-and-there use, but a lot of people just don't like using a 10"-11" screen all day every day.
In all honesty, this thing sucks and is overpriced. Hell, if I wanted a super-thin laptop, the Macbook Air is the best choice in terms of price/performance. I HATE Apple and constantly rip on them for their pricing, yet not a single PC manufacturer can match them in this niche market in terms of performance per dollar. It's pretty sad, really.
Who wants thin, when you can go big and chunky?
I mean, your items reflect your tastes and personality.
Adamo / Mac Air = Taylor Swift butt
Alienware / XPS = Beyonce's butt
You can get a thin and light CULV system with 9-hour battery-life for like $600. Why would anyone buy this hideous thing?
I was asking myself similar questions about your haircut :D
and the background color... fuchsia.... zo fab
care to share with us a link of your $600 laptop?
the one where its .4 inch thick? with all the other hw specs? im very curious where i can get one!
hideous looks is subjective. i only care about the numbers.
@ quantic
Your comment had me crying out of my seat.
Wow, WiFi a... Haven't seen that listed s a feature for a while.
so affordable, now parents can now afford to buy one for each of their kids.
I think the laptop is not supposed to be affordable. It is target to be an status item. Like.... Hugo Boss underwear has the same cotton as Hanes, but you pay extra for name and exclusivity.
Me, I buy the 10 brief pack at Walmart for $10 bucks anyways. So I won't pay for this just to say "I am rich". Heck, even if I could afford $100 Hugo Boss boxers, I will still roll Hanes.
this thing looks like it would be very awkward to have sitting on your lap or on an uneven surface because of it's hinge and how it rises up.
Yeah, but Engadget has tried it:
"The full chiclet keyboard is very comfortable to use, the touchpad does support Windows 7 gestures, and it is indeed very comfortable in your lap, despite the untraditional hinge placement."
It's wide, long, and ugly. I will not get another notebook where the battery sticks out the back like that, like my soon to be trashed and bug laden Lenovo T400. It just looks aweful, and the battery life....
very very ugly! why dell??.. why?!
Because they can and they are not afraid to do so.
Uh, I think it's because they tried and failed.
who pays 1799 for a computer
People with money.
Who asks stupid questions with obvious answers?
judging by your self-referential question, that would be you :)
The price is no doubt to recoup money that they spent in R&D.
dell has an r&d department???
@(Unverified) Mac users.
You know, I think this is fugly.. But it's nice to see dell thing outside of the box a bit.. Even if it's a fugly box.
please stop putting music in, that was incredibly annoying.
What a Vaio rip-off!
It's funny how much the latching mechanism has become such a focus of attention. So it can't open if the battery is dead, so what. Plug it in. Seriously, who would actually cart their laptop around with them all day and NOT have the power cord with them? It is also important to note that the latch fails to work when the battery is dead, meaning essentially 0% charge. Windows 7, which this thing will ship with, hibernates a system at around 7% power. Now, unless you immediately restart it and use up that last little bit, 7% (or so) will serve as MORE than enough to open the latch however many times you want until you plug it in (so you can show it off to everyone without hesitation).
On another note, I'm intrigued by how many shots have been posted with the system at the half-way open position. This seems to show a very sturdy hinge, but I'm curious as to how much force is required to open/close it and as to whether or not the hinge will loosen with extensive use over the lifetime of the system.
y would u open your laptop if its dead??? i dont know what the fuss is about either
Oh christ that's ugly.
*some assembly required
Ho-hum, I don't know. Quite nice, but somehow not beautiful enough to justify the price tag...
Wow what an absolute EPIC FAIL once again from dell, Dont you understand dell this is just a complete waste of money when you can get an HP Mini 311 with Nvidia ION chipset for well over a 1,000$ less......And that form factor is just UGLY....Ugly as sin... Nvidia Ion will def be the norm soon
The fact that you are comparing the Adamo XPS to a netbook shows that you have obviously never heard of market segmentation, and if you have, you never really got it. Therefore, your post = fail.
ooo, market segmentation. if there's business jargon that can inaccurately be applied to it, it must be a good idea.
market segmentation = business jargon? there are -segments- (or "sections" if you like) and people are in the -market- for different types of machines.
different levels of devices exist to give people choice.
just because you don't understand "choice" or "supply and demand" doesn't mean it's a useless business term. seemed pretty straightforward to me what he was trying to say.
you're just being dense.
"Inaccurately be applied"?? Well, maybe I'll simplify it for you. Different strokes for different folks? Whatever floats your boat?
People have different tastes. Those who buy this would never buy a netbook and those who prefer netbooks would never buy this
(even if they had the money). Does that help?