What if you took
an original Adamo, shaved a couple pounds off the weight and a grand off the price? You'd end up with something pretty close to the new
Dell Vostro V13. We just got a quick look at the machine, and while some of the cheaper materials Dell is using here certainly came through, the total package is still quite impressive -- and the price unimpeachable. The anodized aluminum exterior is smooth to the touch and gives the frame of the entire laptop a great amount of stiffness; none of that bendy nonsense that can be found in some of the $500ish thin-and-light competition. We were also pleasantly surprised to find a antigloss (not quite matte) display under the hood. Unfortunately, the compromises begin with the keyboard, which is a bit bendy and "clacky" (the bad version of "clicky"), and the 6 volt battery gets 4.75 hours as quoted, so probably around three in real life. We're also a little disappointed
that the $450 base price rips out the SD card and ExpressCard slots, and that you can't get a Windows 7 version for under $600 -- even though the Ubuntu default is mighty tempting. So, there are compromises, just like in
life, but for the most part this is one of the least timid computers we've seen from Dell in a while: not afraid to step on the toes of its brandmates and make a name for itself. Check out a quick video hands-on after the break, and stand by for our review that should hopefully arrive later this month.
Update: We got some bad info, and it turns out that the ExpressCard and SD card slots
do come standard with the laptop -- the mockup we saw didn't have them, but all shipping models will. Phew!
posted December 8th 2009 11:38AM
is it just me or does the outside look like a giant zune hd?
@(Unverified): sorry to say so: it's just you
@(Unverified) I thought that too. The cross section is very reminiscent of the Zune HD.
@(Unverified)
Yes. And the inside looks like a GIANT BEZEL.
@(Unverified)
look at the angles of the back, the color, and the black bit. then go look at a zune HD
@(Unverified)
Are you talking to yourself, (Unverified)?
@(Unverified)
qite nice design but that D-sub in the middle is horribly horrible !!
What they been thinking ?
There should be nice and tidy HDMI !
@(Unverified)
I wouldn't know because SOMEBODY won't release it in Australia
@(Unverified)
You're not the first to say that.. and I agree with you.. but given the zunes one of the few pieces of hardware (bar some really awesome keyboards) that Microsoft really got right.. thats a good thing :D
@(Unverified) There’s a product page up over on Dell’s Singapore site and here’s a marketing video that finds Dell’s Sam Burd talking about the V13. Now that's a cut above the rest: http://bit.ly/dell-vostro-v13-preview
Ditch VGA and go MiniDisplayPort or HDMI. Also, backlit keyboard!
@Jeff Kibuule
yeah it is sad that it doesn't have an HDMI port.
@Jeff Kibuule This is business oriented. Ditching VGA on a business machine would be massive lols, since practically every projector in history still has a VGA connection for laptops
@(Unverified) I also made the point in the other thread that adapters are fiddly and often lost when most needed, or worse, forgotten by someone without the technical expertise, which unfortunately is all too common in the business world. If this was the private use market, then HDMI all the way.
@(Unverified)
Bundle a HDMI to VGA adapter for $()#$ sake!
@YpoCaramel
Can't we just have both?
@Jeff Kibuule
What's up with the backlit keyboard craze? Learn to touch-type, wimps! ;)
@DaHauns
Seriously? Try working in the dark, and all the sudden you happen to need weird F-keys or numbers or odd symbols you never use... also, backlit keyboards look awesome :)
@Jeff Kibuule
So extra money for the HDMI license, then extra money for a HDMI to VGA converter box.. or just keep the cost down and stick a VGA port on there which is still more relevant for business use.
Since I'm not a exec and have never used powerpoint in anger I'd prefer to see this with an HDMI port, but since I already have a desktop replacement laptop with HDMI, if I was to get one of these it would be for armchair and on the road use.. the video out port probably wouldn't actually get much use anyway.
I hope the battery life is good..
@Vcube
Or you could spend the same amount of money on the Nokia Booklet 3G, and get 12h battery + 3G + aluminum + hdmi. nuff said.
Not going to lie. That looks really nice. My Timeline looks just a little bit less awesome :(
That being said, battery life? Way to leave out the most important spec....
@Old fogie late bloomer
"the 6 volt battery gets 4.75 hours as quoted, so probably around three in real life. "
???
@Shash450
That wasn't in the original post. It's nice to see they've added it.
@Old fogie late bloomer
I find it strange that Dell seems to be going backwards. My Dell 1318 is about 1 pound heavier, but it has a DVD RW drive, 1280 x 800 display, 4 gigs of RAM, Core 2 Duo processor, loads of connectivity options (Bluetooth, etc), a webcam, and it came with Vista Home Premium (now Win 7). The price? About $525. They must have realized it was too good of a product, so they discontinued it.
@Old fogie late bloomer
Oh, and I forgot to mention: I get about 6-7 hours of battery life- with the display constantly turned up to max. If I tone it down low I can see 9 or even 10 hours of battery life.
@Shash450
If that was in the video, thanks for sharing... I didn't have a time to watch it; I just looked on Dell's site and it wasn't there (at least, not when I looked).
So, yeah. Three hours of battery life is three hours too few AT LEAST. At least, for me. So suddenly I don't have much of a desire to own it, after all....
@Old fogie late bloomer : Who cares about the Timeline series. Have you checked out the Asus ul80vt? Try 12hrs, Turbo mode (OCs the 1.3Ghz Core 2 Duo CULVs to 1.73Ghz, switchable dedicated and integrated graphics, and is the uffin' ish!
Might get one just for the hell of it.
looks good when closed, looks bad if opened.
@mikmik111 same impression here ... it looks like one of those old hp's business series...
@mikmik111
Well... it is supposed to be a 'Business Laptop'. Which I guess Dell thinks is synonymous with 'not shiny when open'. I dunno. It would seem their view of a professional look is just plain, but I can't say I'd be too bothered with the way it looks, its fairly pretty when shut and I don'tmind minimalism when open!
@mikmik111
Worst part about opening it is that there is no nipple! MUST NIPPLE!
@mikmik111
but at least when you put it on your lap it doesn't want to fall backwards whenever you move... something like that.
Adamo who?
Lightest ULV on the planet..wow big claim. Actually MSI X340 is just 2.9 lbs and macbook air, another ULV laptop is 3 lbs. It looks good and well built but battery life is big thing no one seems to talk about.
@kurt711 You can't compare this $450 machine to a MB Air. That just seems unreasonable.
@kurt711
The Macbook Air doesn't have an ULV processor.
If battery life on this is OK (read: 4h+) I'm SO getting one.
Just checked on Dell Germany, and the Core2Duo variant with Windows 7 and the optional 500GB HDD is about 700€. Awesome!
Dear Dell,
Tablet form factor.
Thanks
@7egend
No.
@archkron yes
@7egend
Double yes.
Hell bloody YES!
@7egend Quadruple hella yes!
@7egend tablet: no, because they're utterly useless for anybody who enters more than 3 words per hour. Convertible form-factor: hell yes.
They can throw in the esata, but nothing better than VGA? They need to work on the power plug location and interface as well. Not a bad price, but something is lacking for the $450 price tag.
@gittenlucky: Most people will be glad this thing does have the standard and still dominant VGA port. This system is clearly not designed for multimedia and I still can't find a single projector or monitor using display port in any business or educational center I've been at. Even if they had display port they will have VGA either-way so, what's better for the customer?
This one looks super thin... Nice looking computer, hope the battery's good too :)
I'm not really a fan of the new-ish trend of sacrificing optical media for thin form factors..