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GBM InkShow: Dell Adamo XPS is Thin, Thin, Thin

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Dell-adamo-xps 3The Dell Adamo XPS is hitting the market this month as the world’s thinnest notebook. In this GBM InkShow you’ll get to see exactly how thin it is compared to an iPhone, a quarter and another thin and light notebook.

The Dell Adamo XPS is a luxury notebook that has a starting price of $1,799. It will be available online at Dell.com and at select retailers.


Its design is innovative and it will definitely turn heads, but it’s not for everybody. If you want to make a fashion statement, this is the computer for you. If you’re more practical about your tech purchases though you’ll be disappointed by its short battery life and some other trade offs.

GBM InkShows are Sponsored by MobileDemand, a company that makes RuggedTabletPCs

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After spending about an hour with this notebook I still can’t get over how thin it is. Here’s a photo that shows that this thing is about as thick as six quarters stacked on a desk and thinner than an iPhone 3Gs.

One of the neat tricks I like is how the latch is released when you swipe at a sensor on the top of the lid. I’m not sure what happens if you need to open your notebook, but have a dead battery.

Since the hinge isn’t at the back edge of the Adamo XPS the keyboard is raised. The gap is supposed to help with cooling, but a lot of people won’t feel comfortable using it an angle. It was more comfortable for me to use it on my lap, which reduces the angle of the keyboard.

The $1,799 configuration that I saw yesterday will come with the following specs:

display: 13.4″ HD WLED (720P)
cpu: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo ULV (1.4GHz)
graphics: Intel integrated
memory: 4GB DDR3‐800MHz
storage: thin micro SSD (128GB*)
keyboard: full‐size laptop keyboard, metal keycapstouchpad with gestures
comms: 802.11n ; Bluetooth® 2.1
io: DisplayPort, 2xUSB 2.0, audio(ethernet via dongle)
battery: 20whr li‐ion
Starting weight: 3.2lb (1.44kg with 20Whr battery)
dimensions: 340 x 273.9 x 9.99 mm*
OS: Windows® 7 Premium 64‐bit

As you can guess, this system is not a powerhouse like other Dell notebooks that share the XPS badge. The biggest problem I have with this notebook is its battery life. We all know that the “up to” battery life times advertised are lab created. In the case of the Dell Adamo XPS, the advertised battery life is 2 hours and 36 minutes. There is an optional 40WhHr battery available that will run for up to five hours and 36 minutes.

Here are some more photos I shot of the Adamo XPS yesterday:

Adamo XPS Spec Sheet

12 Comments

12 Comments

  1. Alex

    11/05/2009 at 12:52 pm

    Thanks Xavier. Any provisions for a dock (wireless perhaps?

  2. Xavier Lanier

    11/05/2009 at 1:01 pm

    No docking connector and no wireless docking that I know of.

  3. noctilux

    11/05/2009 at 5:17 pm

    Thanks for the fantastic overview! Excellent work!

  4. Toby

    11/05/2009 at 8:12 pm

    Thanks for the InkShow Xavier.
    You said it was more comfortable on your lap. Can you provide more detail of what it’s like to use on your lap – presumably the hinged screen needs to sit off your knees rather than being rested on your legs? How stable is the laptop on your lap e.g. if on a train or vehicle? What about on a plane?!
    Cheers.

  5. Toby

    11/05/2009 at 8:14 pm

    ….though I don’t suppose you’ve yet taken it on a plane, train & automobile!

  6. Xavier Lanier

    11/05/2009 at 8:18 pm

    Using it on your lap isn’t all that different than a normal notebook in terms of angle. It would definitely take some getting used to. It doesn’t seem very easy to change the angle of the display. You don’t have to rest it on your knees.
    It is a little top heavy and I’d worry about it tipping backwards if you suddenly lift your hands when it’s leaning back too far.

  7. Toby

    11/05/2009 at 10:36 pm

    Thanks Xavier, that’s helpful. Although it sounds like it can work on the lap, it’s clearly not intended as a top! Given the cost you point out, I’m looking forward to reading some real life and longer term testing.

  8. Toby

    11/05/2009 at 10:37 pm

    …that should read not intended as a *lap*top!

  9. Xavier Lanier

    11/05/2009 at 10:57 pm

    It does feel different than most laptops. Since it will be available at retail I highly recommend trying before buying.

  10. kadaro

    11/06/2009 at 12:50 am

    i can’t see the inkshow the video wouldn’t come up

  11. Frank

    11/06/2009 at 7:00 am

    I correct the title for you:
    Dell Adamo XPS is Thin, Thin, Thin, but ugly, large, and not a Laptop any longer.

    Sorry, but this design is crap. It does not only make the computer not usable on a lap, it also makes the whole computer gigantic. Just take a look at all the wasted space below the display.

  12. Steven

    11/06/2009 at 8:45 am

    The space below the display is where the battery is.

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