The razor thin, ultraportable laptop features an edge-to-edge 13 inch gorilla glass display, durable aluminium and cool, lightweight carbon fiber casing, full size backlit keyboard, solid state drive (ssd), HD sound quality, rapid start and Intel Smart Connect technology, 2nd gen Intel Core I processing and all-day battery life. Ranging from 6mm to 18mm thin and starting at a very light 2.99 lbs, the XPS 13 laptop is sleek in design, ultra-mobile and lightweight.
The XPS 13 itself resembles a wedge from the side--its thickest point is 18mm, but this eventually comes down to a slender 6mm. The lid of this laptop is made of a single piece of aluminum that felt very solid, especially with the Gorilla Glass layer. The chassis uses a carbon-fiber composite, which gives it a rubberized feel that also makes for a nice grip. Dell claims that, compared with aluminum, the carbon-fiber material is cooler to the touch and it certainly felt that way when we handled it.
Another feature that gives the XPS 13 a slight edge over some of its Ultrabook rivals is the presence of a backlit chiclet keyboard, similar in design and layout to what you'll find on Dell's other recent XPS laptops. It's a nice bonus that we're sure users will appreciate.
While we are familiar with the instant resume and quick startup on Ultrabooks (the XPS comes with a 128GB or 256GB SSD), this Dell notebook uses an Intel technology that hasn't appeared on other Ultrabooks in the market--Smart Connect. Basically, this laptop will periodically wake up to download your emails and social networking updates so that you won't need to wait when you're actually in front of the screen.
Dell intends the XPS 13 to be a one-size-fits-all solution. The company has lined up enterprise-specific options such as a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip, asset tagging and custom OS images. This means you can have a stylish and ultrathin laptop for both work and play.