Dell's first Ultrabook is now on sale and it's attracting quite a bit of attention on the web today. Starting at $999, the super-thin XPS 13 is being called one of Dell's best notebook designs to date as its cheaper than the MacBook Air and has a smaller footprint than competing 13-inch Ultrabooks.
The base $999 configuration includes a 2nd generation Intel Core i5-2467M processor clocked at 1.6GHz (up to 2GHz with Turbo Boost), Intel HD Graphics 3000, 4GB of DDR3 memory, a 128GB solid state drive and a 6-cell battery that isn't removable. Additional features include a backlit keyboard, 1.3MP webcam and Intel Centrino Advanced-N wireless, all running Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit.
The chassis is constructed of machined aluminum with a carbon fiber composite base and a magnesium palm rest with soft touch paint. The unit is 0.24 inches at its thinnest point and just 0.71 inches at its thickest. At the default configuration, the system weighs in at just 2.99 pounds.
For an extra $500, users can upgrade to the high-end model that includes a Core i7-2637M processor at 1.7GHz and a 256GB solid state drive. All configurations come with a T-Mobile 4G Mobile Wi-Fi HotSpot and three months of service free without a contract. Systems additionally ship with a one year Skype Premium subscription, Adobe Photoshop Elements 9, Adobe Premiere Elements 9 and McAfee Anti-Virus software.
Dell looks to have a solid system on their hands with the XPS 13 but with Ivy Bridge just around the corner, it might be worth the wait for Intel's 22nm CPU.