If you're lucky enough to live in the US, buying the super slim
Adamo XPS is just a matter of hitting up Dell's website -- and then ponying up nearly $2,000, of course. Those in the UK, however, have been sorely out of luck. Luckily for them, we're hearing that the much lusted-after laptop will be available at John Lewis department stores in time for holiday shopping. That's right, this hinged baby -- which boasts a 1.4GHz Core 2 Duo SU9400 processor, a 128GB SSD, a 13.4-inch WLED panel, a 2 megapixel camera, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, and GS45 integrated graphics -- will be available there as of today, for the base price of
£1750 (that's about $2,800). For a better idea of what this bad boy looks like, check out our hands-on impressions video after the break.
Now if only they would John Lewis that hinge.
THAT is innovation.
Obscene pricing. Even in the US. For the UK price, you could get an economy return to NY from London, and buy the Adamo there.
or buy first class and not buy it and say you did. I would go for a sony if that price was still viable after the awesome British airways ticket
Am I the only one that thinks the way it hinges could be bad if you put too much pressure on it? I mean since the keyboard comes halfway up the rest of the body I can see the keyboard ripping apart for the rest of it. Maybe its just me...
@writemejamie The entire body and the keyboard keys (EVERYTHING) is made out of metal. Metal, doesn't normally bend. Unlike the cheap Gateway laptops that do have a keyboard that bends... So no, it wouldn't. Plus, I'm pretty sure they did some intensive testing. They always do. Why would you put a product out on the market if you will ultimately loose because of repairs and returns?
@Someoneishere
"Why would you put a product out on the market if you will ultimately loose because of repairs and returns?"
Hahaha, i'm sorry, that made me chuckle....
Why is Engadget so in love with this crappy laptop? It has a freakin' leg on it!
@Ned Scott maybe partly because it is, with a wide margin, the thinnest laptop ever made?
@Ned Scott and, you know, one of very, very few laptops out there that try something different. Like it or not, it's definitely newsworthy.
£1,750 is absolutely ridiculous! The MacBook Air can be had for £1,149 with much better specs (and everyone says that's a rip-off). I honestly cannot see these selling much. A straight dollar conversions would see it settle at around £1,230, which is hardly cheap, but the £520 mark-up is really taking the piss.
@martynmcfarquhar good lord how do people not understand this. they don't expect to sell much of these, or even as many as the Air. what they do is design these high-end laptops with new tech, take what they learned, and apply it to cheaper laptops. the're already doing it with that new Vostro:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/dell-vostro-v13-is-450-65-inches-thick/
@maveric101
Then why bother releasing it with such an exorbitant price if this is just R&D for them? Also, there's a difference between releasing a niche product (like the Air) and releasing something that is so sub-niche thanks to its pricing and poor specs that no one in their right mind would buy one.
Do you really think the cognoscenti with money to burn are going to spend it on a back-to-front Dell whose only redeeming feature is how thin it is?
Seriously, whoever approved this at Dell needs a slap to the face.
@Jeff Kibuule
why?
other than the cost (which is still less than what a macbook air cost when it first came out), it seems like a decent machine.
the design IS weird imo, but it doesn't look horrible. Just the angle is scary
@BrianH
The MacBook Air cost $1,799 on release, this is $200 more expensive. The price of Air could be justified (albeit barely) by the fact it truly was a first for thinness, you paid a premium, but now being this thin is not unique so to whack an already crazy price up for even less is madness.
Nice to see some new builds. It's not for me, but it's definitely innovative.
that angle it stands at scares me for some reason
As unique as that design is, there is still a snowball's chance in Sudan that I'm paying that much money for something with integrated graphics. Throw in an ion chip, at the very least, and I'd maybe consider thinking about it
@Greenlantern20x6 ion is integrated graphics...
@maveric101 Really? I thought Ion qualified as discrete... Anyway, doesn't this one have that lousy intel stuff? That stuff is lame.
I wouldnt say they need a slap in the face. i think this is just what Dell needed to do. Show that they are capable of making useless computers like every other ultra portable. It is very thin.
For the love of Peat - ENOUGH DELL XPS news! Its getting as annoying as iPhone news!
@TheJason
You're right! Lets just stop having any tech news at all on engadget!
It is pretty expensive tho.....
two words - manual focus.
While it looks weird - I love the innovativeness, the thinking out of the box. You're not going to get hot legs with this one. . .
Jeez. That video review is horrible. I just want to slap him up side the head so that he gets the words out. Please get someone else to do video reviews, and someone else to hold the camera... those two people suck at video reviews.
And why does Engadget continue to harp on the fact... "oh you can't open up the laptop if it doesn't have any power". So tell me engadget... what scenario will I want to be able to get access to the screen or keyboard if it doesn't have any power? Why on earth do I need to open the device if it has no power? If you can't give me any excuse for this then stop harping on this as a negative for the device.
imho, it's the best hardware that Dell has ever cranked out so it deserves better than this half-ass video review from engadget.
@LMBTFY
Oh, maybe for whenever you want to clean it?
How is this comment high ranked when everybody else in the comments seems to hate everything about it..... It makes no sense! Oooh wait, its because its a complaint about Engadget.. Now I get it..
@LMBTFY
Whatever the case, that's just silly that they didn't add a manual option to open the lid.. Like the guy above me said, you may want to clean it (I do the so all the time), and I don't think its too much to ask to not have the laptop stick its middle finger up at you just because you want to open it lol
$2800? Suuuure.
Anyways, their Studio 15 i7 is coming out near the 29th for $1,200, so that's the one I need to retire the ol' Extensa.
Hm, won't that get uncomfortable after sometime? Doesn't look like wrists will be in a good position at that angle.
Disclaimer : I can't watch the embedded video, if they talk about the positioning, I'll check it out later.
So it doesn't rest flat? You have to have it propped up all weird like that?
One useful thing to come from this is a demonstration of the $2000/$2800 difference between UK (or Europe in general) and US pricing.
Tell Paul to try the smoothscroll extension for google chrome and see if it's still choppy http://www.chromeextensions.org/appearance-functioning/smoothscroll/
UK prices include VAT which is currently 15%, so this price compares to $2470 using mid-market rates.
Still a ridiculous price, but as has been mentioned before, this isn't meant as a volume seller.
this laptop has one thing going for it. yes only one. it's thin. get over it already endgadget. other than that this lappy is full of fail.
Good plan, 'cause after all, you've gotta be crazy enough to shop at John Lewis to even consider buying this laptop.
It actually looks way better when closed than when the lid is open (at least for me).
so how does that physically stay on your lap?
This is one awaful looking laptop
It amazes me some times how websites come to have good ratings on some of the wieredest stuff .
May be I need to align my self to liken some odd products and make myself believe that indeed they are good
Dell is anyways loosing so much of its market share , am sure the Adamo units it might have sold are to company accounts where the end user is not bothered to have another one sitting on his/her desk
why do people insist on having cameras on everything? a camera on a laptop? whoopedy fucking doo matey? i'd much rather have a webcam
A laptop that slices your kneecaps off.
Seriously, the memory metal latch creeps me out.
This is the worst review ever. Shaky cam. Useless comments. The only point of this lappie is bragging rights for Dell and a few thousand people with more money than sense. It was like watching bad amateur porn. Try a tripod.
A design that slices into your knees. An electronic lid that locks tight when the battery runs dry. How very cool. http://bit.ly/SrOfX