Dell Adamo XPS Review: New Dell Adamo XPS Laptop Wows at Just 9.99mm Thin

November 5, 2009 By Rob Enderle

Cool Features and Hidden Surprises

This thing has a ton of cool tech in it, and one of the first things you’ll notice is that it doesn’t open like any other laptop; It has a capacitive memory wire latch. To open the laptop, you swipe your finger over a sensor, the memory wire heats, and the keyboard unlocks and drops out of its nest in the display. Once open, the keyboard cantilevers out from the display, both angling the keyboard and allowing the display to sit up several inches higher and provide a better screen angle for your eyes. This also helps the laptop run cool (the MacBook Air tends to gate its processor significantly because of heat buildup, which means you typically are only getting 800 MHz, regardless of the speed of processor you buy).

There is a small secondary battery which allows you to suspend the laptop and swap the battery in a few seconds while continuing to work. The batteries are light, so you could carry a number of spares for nearly unlimited battery life if you wanted.

Built-in location awareness allows the laptop to triangulate your location based on network information, and can provide you with information (like the number of Starbucks in your area).

The Secret to Thin

The multi-piece motherboard with integrated fan may be simply interesting for geeks, but it’s also the secret to how Dell got the 9.99 so thin. Engineers basically moved the components around the case, placing most in the display and some in the power supply. Instead of putting the fan on top, they actually had to integrate it into the board to get the height down.

Finally, the 9.99 has a power factor correction (PFC) power supply, which is rare in a laptop (or any PC). It reduces reactive power, which is energy that you pay for from the utility that isn’t actually used for anything. It doesn’t lower your power use; it lowers your power bill.

Page 2 of 3

<123 >

Showing 20 comments

Richard at 8:27pm 30th January 2010 Can you give me a feel for the operating speed using Microsoft Office, web surfing? I don't have a frame of reference to know how to judge the 1.4 GH vs the 2.1 GH of the Adamo Onyx. I wouldn't want to buy a $2K laptop and have a sense that it was slow. Can you reassure me about this?

Thanks!
1gb compact flash at 2:50am 29th January 2010 Dell's Adamo brand of notebooks emphasise design as well as mobility, and its latest offering seems to have an abundance of both.
C Yates at 4:59pm 9th January 2010 It is a cool machine. Dell's quality control, though, has not improved. I ordered one of these in early November received it the week for Christmas. I used it for three days, then in the midst of work I got the message "Operating System Not Found". After 90 minutes or so and about 8 Dell reps (though there is supposed to be an exclusive "Adamo" que), I got through to someone who wanted to trouble shoot the problem. I said that for the cost of this PC, I was not going to keep it and deal with future problems so Dell arranged a replacement. The replacement turned out to be a refurbished machine with a defective motherboard that wouldn't even power up. I logged on to Dell and this time chatted through to a rep who has arranged a replacement -- guaranteed to be new, not refurbished -- that will ship within the next 14 days. I guess I will give it one more shot, as this is really a PC I want. By the time I receive the replacement it will be nearly three months since the first order.
Sykes at 10:36pm 26th December 2009 Andrew, what you suggest though about presentations is that shell matters more than content. Is that really where you want to go? Yes, indeed if you bring out this laptop to a presentation it will first wow the audience but the audience are not dumb. They listen to the presentation and if the presentation itself has no substance to it, it doesn't matter if the laptop wows or not. And a showy piece can potentially backfire when the audience finds the presenter cocky for being showy.
pfffffffft at 2:15pm 24th November 2009 LOL@ Enderle still reviewing products. Better look into the "tend to gate" comment, you hack. You have data to back that up? Of course you don't, Microshill. GTFO with your "reviews".
fabienguibert at 6:42am 19th November 2009 Omg its pretty obviosus you hate apple. you still are in the PC state of mind... trus the macbook air has its defect, not talking of how weak the screen latches are but still, it "feels" premium and whats with this "thin" form factor??? are you kidding me? its wider and longer!! so if i bring a laptop that 14' by 16' BUT only 5 mm thick you'll think its ultraportable?? you got to be joking. The macbook pro is the best laptop thats for sure but the macbook air is pretty good for mobile users...
Qkiller at 12:55pm 13th November 2009 That's not true! new lithium polymer ion battery packs are excellent, laptop batteries have built in intelligent charging so they cannot be overcharged unless they are disassembled to the bare cells
Ian Bell at 11:53pm 10th November 2009 haha, what's the difference between those and Lithium Ion?
The Trutherizer at 11:48pm 10th November 2009 OMG... The Air uses Lithium Polymer batteries! Dangerous... Don't overcharge those babies.
Rob Enderle at 10:01am 6th November 2009 Shame you aren't closer, I'd lone you mine. I mostly work on tables myself but did try it on the couch the other night. Did about 2 hours and no noticable wrist stress but it did feel odd. (I have a tendency towards tendinitis but it didn't flare in use). I think I could get used to it, but, as I say, I don't work off my lap much. Will try it on a plane next week.
Rob Enderle at 8:24am 6th November 2009 Yep that's the way it unfolds. The lap isn't the best place to use it, it's cooler but the angle and stability aren't ideal. It's acutally better than you think though, it just takes a little getting used to. Update on when it will be available. Dell is taking names for pre-orders here: http://www.adamobydell.com/xps/ Look for it to actually show up around the end of the month. They are working out some manufacturing issues as this is really very different than other products they build. And you want them to work out those issues before the product is produced in high volume.
1. Ian Bell at 9:55am 6th November 2009 Will have to try it out. I use my MacBook Air a lot while sitting, so the way it folds out could be a big issue for me.
  1. Dan Gaul at 10:00am 6th November 2009 Me 2. As long as it's still comfortable and you can see the screen ok. My fear would be that it would be sliding off the knees or something along those lines.
    
    Rob Enderle at 10:03am 6th November 2009 Might be a problem for someone with short legs and long arms. Wasn't a problem for me, seem to have a good 4 inches or so to spare.
    
    Dan Gaul at 10:12am 6th November 2009 That's me. I drag my knuckles all the time. :) I am short though, with a big belly, so that is like having long arms.
Ian Bell at 5:42pm 5th November 2009 Has to be weird typing with this in your lap. Does it have to unfold like it is in the picture?
Rob Enderle at 5:08pm 5th November 2009 Should be able to order it shortly, they are holding intil the lines are up and stable but this is now an announced product. I'm trying to get a date and will post as soon as they release it to me. The reveiwers have been told they should get final shipping product to look at in a few weeks and before the end of the year. It isn't bad on your lap, hell of a lot cooler, really needs the larger battery though if you are going to pound on it for long. Good for arout one movie or a couple 60 minute shows off power. It really doesn't weigh much and you don't feel the heat at all.
1. Dan Gaul at 5:14pm 5th November 2009 My macbook pro is only good for abt an hour and a half. :(
Dan Gaul at 4:09pm 5th November 2009 I like the keyboard on a desktop, but I do wonder how well it will work when you are lounging on a couch. That's how I normally use my laptop at home.
andrew at 2:42pm 5th November 2009 I think one for these new 9.99s would make presentations a snap, think about the wow factor of breaking one of these out for your next client presentation. I guess this goes to show that you no longer need an apple to have style. When will these be shipping, I'd like to get one for 2010.