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No more Adamo: Dell discontinues gorgeous but underpowered laptop
You had to know this day was coming. After aggressively discounting the Adamo 13 over the holidays and then again in the new year, Dell has finally given up on its eye-grabbing ultraportable and is instead focusing on getting you to buy its new gear. The Adamo's biggest hurdle to overcome has always been its wonky price-to-performance ratio, but we admit we're going to miss its ostentatiously thin design and high-minded aesthetics. You've got to hope Dell has something equally sharp-looking on its future roadmap, but don't despair if all you're after is an Adamo -- you should still be able to grab one for a bargain price at Dell's refurb outlet. [Thanks, Daniel]
Dell Adamo now even cheaper, slightly less powerful
It looks like Dell isn't quite sure what to do with Adamo. First, the MacBook Air competitor was bumped from Dell's marketing roster, then it was reduced from $999 to $899, and now it's got a price tag of $799. Unfortunately, the price isn't all Dell is slashing: last October the Adamo was sporting a 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo SL9600 processor and 4GB of DDR3-800 memory, now we're told it's functioning on a 1.4GHz Core Duo 2 SU9400 and 2GB of DDR3-800 (with no upgrade option that we can find). Everything else is basically the same for the little guy, and Dell's Adamo page still offers the suggestion, "Prepare to Fall in Love," but we're not entirely sure we're the ones who need convincing.
Dell marketing makeover simplifies brands, kills off Adamo altogether
We knew something was going on with Dell's branding with the resurrection of the XPS laptop line, and this morning we caught up with a few of the company's executives to learn all about the entire restructuring. As you can see above, there will now be three core brands -- Inspiron, XPS and Alienware -- all focusing on different "performance seekers." However, you'll notice that Adamo is nowhere to be found on that flow chart. Turns out, the sneaky disappearance of the Adamo XPS from Dell's site hasn't exactly been a coincidence -- it's completely killing off the premium brand and has actually tamped down volumes of the super thin machines. Now, that doesn't mean systems like the original Adamo and the Adamo XPS won't exist ever again as Dell VP Ed Boyd tells us similar products will be coming to the XPS line early next year. Simplifying the brands sure does make a lot of sense to us -- all the Adamo XPS, Studio XPS, Studio laptops have seriously confused us over the last couple of years -- but it's all part of a larger marketing campaign that will attempt to move Dell away from being a low cost brand and instead portray the company as providing choice -- a campaign Dell CMO Paul-Henri Ferrand told Reuters will ultimately cost hundreds of millions of dollars. We look forward to seeing what you've got Dell, but all we know is that we're finally going to say the following words with affirmation: "rest in peace, Adamo."
Screen Grabs: Dell Streak recruited into NCIS:LA for some undercover duty, fights evil Adamo XPS
Screen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com. Dell's product placement deal with CBS apparently doesn't stipulate whether its gadgets will be used for good or evil, as illustrated by their cameo appearances on the network's NCIS:LA crime drama. In last night's episode, lead do-gooder Special Agent Callen is seen preparing a Streak tabletphone for some audio recording action before a meeting with the baddies -- who in turn whip out an Adamo XPS (yes, it's still alive!) to seal a deal for some ultra-advanced weaponry. Yep, it's a non-stop cliché extravaganza! [Thanks, James and Tarek]
Keepin' it real fake: Dell Adamo and HP Mini 5102 feel the knock-off effect
Shanzhai Dell Adamos have been popping up quite a bit lately. We've seen these things in both white and black (um, Onyx), and now MIC Gadget has hepped us to a red model (try getting that from Dell!) that features an 11.6-inch (1366 x 768) display, 1GB RAM, 160GB hard drive and either an Atom N450 processor with GMA 3150 graphics or a 1.2GHz Intel Celeron ULV processor and GMA X4500 graphics. The former will run you 1,900 yuan (about $280), and the latter 2,600 yuan (about $380). If that ain't enough for all of you Shanzhai freaks, we've also spotted yet another HP Mini knock-off, this time branded Phecda and sporting a brilliant blue paint job. The source doesn't mention a price, but we're guessing that the device -- which features a 1.66GHz Atom N450 processor, 1GB RAM, 160GB hard drive, and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi will run you no more than about $360. It does mention, however, that you can order one with an HP logo -- that'll cost you an extra 10 yuan (or about seven cents). That's what industry insiders call "the HP tax."
Dell Adamo XPS alive and kicking, back for order on Dell.com
Well hello again, Dell Adamo XPS. Though the incredibly thin and uniquely designed laptop disappeared from Dell.com last week and we received official comment that it was a "limited edition product with a finite number of systems available," the Adamo XPS has reappeared in its $2,000 glory on the company's site. According to Dell's blog, it was merely just a move to restock the inventory and direct customers to retailers that had fresh stock -- well why didn't you just say that Dell! And do not fear about the Adamo brand, Dell reports that all is well as it starts to apply the design to other lines, just as we saw yesterday with the Vostro V13. We're still a bit confused by the reappearance, but it sure is good to see you again, Adamo XPS. We wish you a long successful life with many many price drops.
Dell Adamo XPS order page falls off Dell.com, discontinued for life?
Where art thou Dell Adamo XPS? That's the question this poor error page seems to be asking when customers attempt to order the insanely thin laptop on Dell's site. Though it only went on sale back in late November, Dell.com no longer has the crazily designed, $1,799 laptop up for purchase. We're currently trying to get official word from Dell, but all is not lost for those that feel they've made the biggest mistake in the world by not ordering the ULV laptop that only lasts less than two hours on a charge -- it's still available from Best Buy and Amazon.com. Stay tuned for more news as we do a bit of digging on this one. Update: Dell confirmed that the Adamo XPS will not be making a reapperence on its site. "While the Adamo XPS was certainly and engineering marvel, it also was a limited edition product with a finite number of systems available," said a Dell spokesperson. Adamo XPS 2 anyone?
Dell Adamo falls to under $1,000 for the first time, tempts you mercilessly
You know what's hard to resist? This. You know what else is difficult to turn a blind eye to? One of the sexiest machines Dell has ever made, at a price point that's below the all-important four figure mark. Starting today, the Adamo Admire is sporting an altogether sultry base price of $999, which nets you a 1.4GHz Core 2 Duo processor, Windows 7 Home (64-bit), 2GB of DDR3 RAM and a 128GB solid state drive. If that's a little weak for your tastes, the upmarket Adamo Desire has also undergone a price reduction, enabling you to get a 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo chip, 4GB of memory, integrated mobile broadband and a 256GB SSD for $1,799 -- a full $500 less than it was in October. You're blowing it off like you just don't care, but you know you'll be back to visit that Source link when no one's looking. And the video after the jump, too. [Thanks, Ben and Ryan]
Motorola Droid and Dell Adamo latest to get Gorilla glass
Corning's darn-near-impenetrable Gorilla glass certainly isn't new -- in fact, we spied it in a few of Motion Computing's tablets just a few months ago -- but it's still not commonplace on mainstream gizmos. Yet. SmartPlanet sat down with Dr. Donnell Walton, senior applications engineer at Corning, in order to discuss the merits of the display technology as well as its importance in the gadget space. The discussion also mentioned that both Motorola's Droid and Dell's Adamo (not to mention Cowon's S9 PMP) are sporting the glass, which acts to make displays "damage-resistant." Not surprisingly, the company is seeing huge demand in the smartphone arena, where touchscreen-centric phones are being shoved into pockets at random and then costing manufacturers big bucks as return rates creep up. It's a pretty interesting read if you're into that type of thing, and yes, we did just give you permission to try and split your Droid display wide open in a moment of frustration. Just don't count on Motorola to accept that as a valid excuse for your RMA. [Thanks, Jeff]
Unused Adamo XPS prototypes reveal touchscreen trackpads, key-less keyboard
Dell certainly managed to cram plenty of inventive, even far-fetched touches into its Adamo XPS laptop, but it looks like it went even further out on a limb during the prototype stage, as PC World was able to discover during a brief hands-on time with a few cast off concepts. As you might expect, one of the ideas Dell toyed around with was a full-fledged touchscreen trackpad, which was apparently rejected because Dell couldn't justify the cost of the panel based how much people would actually use it. Another, possibly even more ambitious concept is one that would have completely replaced the traditional keyboard with a series of capacitive-touch buttons (pictured after the break), which would have allowed for a true zero-profile design, albeit at some potential expense to usability. Hit up the link below for a look at a few more prototypes.
Dell Adamo XPS opens up for Windows 7 festivities, but still not for sale
So much for Business Week's "confirmed" October 22nd launch date from over the weekend, eh? We just spoke with Dell's PR who told us that the company has yet to confirm a launch date for its slender Adamo XPS, and still won't, except to say that it's not reaching the unwashed masses at any point today. That doesn't mean today was all bad for the vigilant in waiting, as we finally got our first public showing of the front of the laptop, proving once and for all that the most recent press photo isn't crooked. So there you have it, a chiclet keyboard and touchpad that likes to curl up close with the screen -- mystery's over, folks, now we play the waiting game. Update: Laptop Mag notes a removable battery and what's likely to be an Intel ULV processor -- it's definitely not Atom.
Dell Adamo Desire gets 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo SL9600, 256GB SSD
Well, would you look at that? With Dell's 0.39-inch thick Adamo XPS just days from hitting virtual store shelves, the high-end Adamo Desire is undergoing a minor face lift... on the inside. Back in July, the Desire editions (available in Pearl and Onyx hues) stooped to $2,299 and shipped with a 1.4GHz CPU and a 128GB SSD. Today, those same machines are available with a 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo SL9600 processor, 256GB SSD, 4GB of DDR3 RAM and Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit). The best part? The MSRP has remained the same. Huzzah![Thanks, Billy]
Dell's $2,000 Adamo XPS launching October 22 with heat-sensing open latch
Dell has been teasing its ultrathin Adamo XPS for weeks now, but all that goofing off will come to a solemn end next Thursday. On the same day that we sit down with Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer (and a little OS by the name of Windows 7 hits store shelves), Dell will also fully reveal the planet's slimmest laptop. The 0.39-inch Adamo XPS will cost $2,000, and while the nitty-gritty details are still under wraps, a new Business Week article notes that it'll boast a "heat-sensing strip on the lip that, when swiped with a finger, glows white and automatically opens the aluminum lid." The glamorous machine is part of a larger effort within the Round Rock powerhouse to revitalize itself and get people talking once again, and while this particular slab will obviously not be a high volume product, it could very well get a few more eyes pointed in its direction. Call us crazy, but we're guessing next week is going to be a wee bit zany. [Via Pasta Tech]
New Adamo XPS image takes a stand
Remember that wild hinge we saw on the Adamo XPS at Dell's characteristically all-too-brief showing last week? The company's gone ahead with yet another side pic, this time showing how the hinge pops out. Of course, showing what is actually on both panels would be too much for the company, so we're left only to guess. A display? A keyboard? Some kind of holographic projector? A hot key for making lolcat pictures? Listen Dell, we get it, you like the slow trickle of teasers, but can we just see the whole body now and move on the part where we wait for scraps of info on the specs? %Gallery-75353%
Dell reveals new Adamo XPS, gives no details
We're currently live at a Dell event where that totally new-look Adamo XPS has just been briefly teased. In keeping with Dell's recent tradition, details are nonexistent at the moment, but we've snapped a couple pics -- if you look closely you can see a pretty wild hinge design. We'll update you ASAP, keep it locked! Update: And... that was it. Seriously, you would think Dell would've maybe learned something from the original Adamo launch and maybe dished out some info, but as usual they just waved it around for a second and then talked about less-interesting things. Still, here's what we know -- it's super thin, and it obviously unfolds in a completely new way. We're digging for more, we'll let you know.
Screen Grabs: Dell's Adamo keeps patient company on House
Screen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com. Heads-up, folks: fall TV is in full swing, and the newest season of House M.D. has already delivered on more than one front. Aside from convincing you that a hospital really is no place to spend the majority of your day, Hugh Laurie's money maker is also subtly whispering to you that a Dell Adamo would suit you just fine. The super sleek ultraportable managed to show its face on this week's episode, and for any of you out there who doubt a glossy screen's ability to double as a mirror, we'd say this primetime showing proves otherwise. Are matte panels not covered under Medicare, or what?[Thanks, Steven]
Dell Adamo gets $500 price drop, whole new lease on life
After no small amount of external pressure, Dell has finally managed to do some major damage on the Adamo's number one drawback: the price. The starting mark for the 1.2GHz machine has been slashed from $1,999 to $1,499, while the high-end model with SSD and a 1.4GHz processor is down to $2,299. Still not in the same general galaxy as most consumer-aimed Dell products, but quite a lot closer to the realm of possibility.[Via LogicBUY]
Dell Adamo torn to shreds for science and bragging rights
The fine folks at iFixit and TechRepublic have teamed up to show us the innards of Dell's new thin-and-sort-of-light ultraportable Adamo. They also set the laptop up against Apple's MacBook Air to compare build quality and specifics. For instance, the Adamo packs a 11.1 volt 40 Watt hour battery, compared to the Air's 7.2 volt 37 Watt hour battery, and comprises a greater percentage of the weight of the computer than its Air counterpart -- who knew? Overall the Adamo seems to pack a good amount more technology into a slightly heavier package, and takes a small win over the MacBook for nixing the screws on the bottom, not to mention the huge win over its Windows counterparts for skipping out on the Intel and Windows stickers.
Dell Adamo battery not user-replaceable, says bearer of harsh truths
Possibly not surprising, but certainly to be filed under "subtly disappointing" is the news that has just recently been confirmed: Adamo's battery is not able to be replaced by the user. No fun, you say? Well, it is, of course, replaceable, should the need arise, it just has to be sent into Dell for the procedure, though we don't yet know how much the company is going to charge for all that. Guess if you have to get a new juice pack for your laptop your "lifestyle" will have to be temporarily put on hold, huh?
Dell Adamo available for online ordering in the US
In case you missed it, Engadget VIP Club cardholders, the tasteful and elegant Dell Adamo is available for online orders in the US now -- not just those other countries overseas with long names that are hard to pronounce. With model names like Admire (1.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB memory, and a 128GB SSD -- starting at $1,999) and later-confirmed Desire (1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB memory, and mobile broadband, also sporting a 128GB SSD -- starting at $2,699) the company's definitely reinforcing the laptop's savoir faire. Options include the "Jet Setter" package (with external DVD-RW) and the "Entrepreneur" (with external 250GB HDD). Available in Pearl and Onyx -- not that the suckers flying coach will be able to tell the difference.
